Young members of the executive committee present themselves

Meet the five young members of the World Council of Church's executive committee! The member churches of these five people nominated them to serve on the highest governing body of the WCC at the 9th Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 2006. We look forward to the gifts of their time, talent and energy as they serve the executive committee over the next seven years.

Omowunmi Oyekola:

"E pele o! (yoruba language meaning: Hello)

My name is Omowunmi Oyekola. I am from Oyo state, Nigeria.

I am presently the national general secretary for the youth in my church and we are involved in various dialogues amongst young people in my country.

My church is the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide. I have been involved in some interfaith dialogues between Christians and Muslims with students from different tertiary institutions in Nigeria and some other African countries.

Some issues that interest me in the WCC program are ensuring grassroots relationships among different denominations in the world, and the various public issues mainly reconciliation, settlements at different levels of crises. I particularly appreciate the contribution of WCC to the African continent.

People that have inspired me mainly in the ecumenical movement is Rev. Samuel Kobia and Philip Potter who started out as a young person like me.

I have brought with me a learning spirit to WCC as a young representative from Africa. I hope to be able to learn from the experience of the people that have gone ahead and in turn be able to help WCC in facilitating a good relationship with the grassroots people of churches in Africa especially among the young people.

Churches and ecumenical movement can support the programs of young people by putting in place financial structures to help in facilitating our programs and to help in our various campaigns all over the world especially by letting the government know that we need their support to realise our dreams by giving us a chance to be heard."

Carmen Lansdowne

"Yo ('Hello' in Heiltsuk language)

I am Carmen Lansdowne from Vancouver, BC in Canada.

I am currently 30 years old and a third year student at the Vancouver School of Theology (VST), a member of Ladner United Church, and a member of the Heiltsuk First Nation (Bella Bella, BC). I'm a candidate for ordination in the United Church of Canada.

During my first year at VST, I served on the Board of Governors of VST as the Student Association Representative, the VST Student Association Executive, the VST United Church Students Outreach Committee, and the VST Choir. I received a Certificate in Christian Studies from VST in May 2004, which included my first year Denominational Studies in United Church polity and practice. I was also one of two first year students admitted to a 3rd year pastoral theology class which included a 10 day trip to Guatemala in February 2004. My interest in enrolling in the Guatemala class trip was driven by my interest in macroeconomic systems and how economic 'unfreedoms' are perpetuated by civil 'unfreedoms', and vice versa.

My undergraduate degree is in Canadian History from the University of Victoria. When I left UVIC in 1997, I worked as an articled student in the Chartered Accounting program at the multi-national accounting firm KPMG LLP for 2 years. While at KPMG I was a member of the Aboriginal Services Group, performing audits of the financial records of First Nations government structures for reporting to the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.

I left KPMG to explore a call to pursue theological education, and decided before entering seminary to go to Japan for the experience of living in another country, as well as to decide if I was well suited to an educational vocation. I taught English at a private English Institute in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan for a period of fifteen months. The area of Japan where I lived was generally 12-17% Brazilian population, and my Japanese Brazilian friends were among some of the closest relationships I formed in Japan.

At the General Assembly in Porto Alegre, I served as a youth and an aboriginal delegate. Being Heiltsuk (one of Canada's indigenous peoples) is part of who I am. My experiences living in other countries, and interacting with other peoples – specifically other aboriginal peoples and youth - make up a huge part of my pastoral identity.

My hope is that the churches (all of us!) start to think outside the box. We've become trapped into a mentality of scarcity that prevents us from seeing God's great abundance in the world. We hold too closely to tradition sometimes, for fear of the unknown not working out - but what does that say about our faith in God? At the same time, I think ecumenism also holds great potential for the continuance of those traditions in Christianity which are life-giving and spiritually centring.

Someone that has inspired me is Marion Best (former vice-moderator from Harare to Porto Alegre). She has been my personal mentor, in so many ways! Also have great admiration for Gordon How (also a past central committee member from my denomination) Konrad Raiser (who facilitated my bible study in Porto Alegre), as well as the writings of His Holiness Karekin I from Armenia.

I feel called to the work of the United Church within the World Council of Churches context because of my interest in globalization and macroeconomics. I hope to offer the WCC a lot of enthusiasm. Those on Executive Committee already know I'm never shy to speak up!

Churches and the ecumenical movement can support young people by putting your money where your mouths are and send your best, brightest and most enthusiastic young people to participate in all types of ecumenical encounters. It's not enough to agree with WCC policies in principal and then refuse to send your young people in favour of sending Bishops or whoever. Send the people you THINK or HOPE will be bishops in the future. If we are truly to work towards Christian Unity - it has to be forward moving and thinking that will get us there - and those people who are 30 and under are more than well enough grounded in their own traditions to work towards that in partnership with those who've been involved in the ecumenical movement a long time. We may have something to share with you in return."

Graham McGeoch

"A'right

My name is Graham. I am a member of the Church of Scotland (a church in the Reformed tradition).

My Ecumenical experience ranges from helping to coordinate the celebrations to mark World Aids day in my city, Glasgow in the late 1990s and voluntary work on HIV/AIDS in local church settings in Zimbabwe with the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa and the Church of Christ (an independent African Church). I also participated in the Roman Catholic Youth Pilgrimages as a representative from the Church of Scotland.

I am interested in seeing the churches make the prophetic "option for the poor." I believe that the poor are the good news to our churches and to the world. Within the ecumenical movement, I understand that it is important to listen to and accompany these signs of the times in our following of Jesus.

I studied theology in Brazil to look at the world and the church from the "underside of history". It widened my horizons and let me learn a new language and a new culture.

In terms of Ecumenical inspiration, there is no one figure that inspires me... just the people of God. I see in our communities many people living the faith (ecumenically) and sometimes ecclesiastical figures complicate community living because of church theology or dogmas. There needs to be a deeper understanding of the ecumenical journey for the people of God.

I was involved in the WCC by accident. I did a voluntary placement with the Zimbabwe Council of Churches one year after the Harare Assembly and there I learned about the WCC and its work. I lost contact with this when I arrived in Brazil and very late on I learned that the 9th assembly was to be in Brazil. Through conversations with my church it was agreed that it would be good for me to be a representative at the assembly as I was already in Brazil, but also on my way back to Scotland.

I am keen to see the WCC pick up more on its role as a movement. From what I have seen (very little it must be said) the celebration of the ecumenical journey comes from the people on the journey, but there is also a very professional side of constant meetings that is very distant from the journey of the people. I look forward to learning from others on the journey."

Outi Vasko

"Hei! (Greeting in Finnish language)

My name is Outi Vasko and I come from Finland. I am a member of Orthodox Church of Finland, which is a small, but lively church in the middle of mostly Lutheran Scandinavia. I have been involved in Orthodox youth work in national and international level for ten years through Orthodox Youth Association in Finland and Syndesmos – The World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth.

The most interesting issue for me in the Ecumenical movement is ecumenical formation and learning. Christian tradition consists of different ways to follow Christ, practice faith and to live according to Gospel. These valuable and enriching forms of life in Christ can lead us towards unity, if we want to use them in a fruitful way. I see the theological dialogues, conversations and experiences concerning ecclesiology, anthropology and spirituality very important for the ecumenical movement. I am interested in creating space at local, regional and global level for sharing and learning and as well as living Christian life into real life.

Someone that has inspired my life and ecumenical commitments is Saint mother Maria Skobtsova, martyr of Ravensbruck. She was a person who was not afraid to face the problems of her days and to follow Christ.

I hope to offer the WCC my seriousness, tenderness and enthusiasm in Christian life.

Churches and the ecumenical movement can support by giving a real guidance and more responsibility for youth. An important way to support youth is to include ecumenical studies as part of theological studies in all theological schools and institutes as well as in parishes too. Support for youth is too often mentioned only in festal speeches, but it should be shown in practice by focusing financial support for youth participation."

Nerissa Celestine

"Hello and God's richest blessings!

I am Nerrisa Celestine and I hail from the warm and sunny Caribbean region. I live on the beautiful and small island of Grenada which is home to just about 100, 000 people. I represent the Church in the Province of the West Indies (Anglican) and I serve in many, many capacities within my church both on a local and regional level. Fortunately, my positions all deal with youth advocacy and ministry.

I serve as Youth director with responsibility for developing and co-ordinating programs which are youth- related, youth- centred and youth- focused. It is my view that youth participation is fundamental for the growth of the Ecumenical movement. It is on this premise that I regard youth involvement is my main concern in the ecumenical movement. The world today and activities that occur in our respective societies mandate the ecumenical movement to be proactive. The ecumenical movement is needed now more than ever and I am quite sure that we, as young persons are cognisant of this fact that we all can aid in making the ecumenical movement the success that it should be.

In the next seven years, it is my dream to market WCC throughout the Caribbean. It is my dream to strengthen the Ecumenical movement in my region. It is my dream to ensure that youth not only benefit from WCC programs and activities, but also that they are prepared to make significant contributions to the growth of WCC as well.

I think that churches should initiate leadership workshops and seminars that would result in trained young people. Churches must always be prepared to invest in their young people by making the necessary budget allocations for youth programs. Also, it would be quite a plus if churches can form a network where young people from the various churches can share and learn with each other.

Youth - not the future, but the present!"