News
Young people have challenged the World Council of Churches (WCC) to support and encourage today's youth in their efforts to change the world.
In a plenary session on the second day of the WCC Central Committee meetings, presentations from two young Christian leaders brought perspectives from different continents.
Matome Makgoba, president of the South African Council of Churches' Youth Forum, spoke of the difficulties facing young people in his own country, particularly HIV/AIDS, which he described as "the greatest killer of mankind in this time and age".
Speaking of the stigma created by the disease, he declared that "As churches we really must overcome this challenge and let our places of worship become places of open dialogues." Makgoba concluded with an appeal to the WCC to "nurture and develop the talents and gifts of young people as they seek to impact on matters of global importance".
Tale Hungnes, the leader of "Changemaker", Norwegian Church Aid's youth movement, spoke of the continuing injustices of the world. "My impression," she commented, "is that young people of the North are fed up of charity." In her view, "Charity cannot change the world. Solidarity can. Politics can."
According to Hungnes, one of the main reasons for global injustice is the debt crisis of marginalised countries, particularly unjust as many debts were incurred under the auspices of donors accountable to no one.
Hungnes challenged the Central Committee to encourage and support Christian young people in their work for global justice, and to strive for the cancellation of illegitimate debt.
The presentations followed a Bible study by Ashley Seaman of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Referring to Jesus' words, "You are the salt of the earth", she evoked the salt taste of tears and sweat, and challenged her hearers to "get salty" in empathy with the suffering of others, and to labour in God's service.
Young stewards serving the Council during the week of the Central Committee meeting also took part in the session, with a drama and presentation of the projects which they had committed themselves to undertake on their return home.
Speaking after the session, Tungnes stressed that "Youth are not apathetic or powerless. They are aware of the world situation, and they want to take part in changing it."