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Cosmin Julian Cirstea, a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Youth in the Ecumenical Movement commission from the Romanian Orthodox Church, shared an opening reflection entitled “Man as Priest of Creation: Between Eden and Mamre.”
He noted that creation does not belong to humanity but is entrusted to humanity by God.
“Human beings are presented as stewards—stewards of creation, stewards of God’s work,” said Cirstea. “Through the body they are connected to earth and through the soul they are connected to God. They are, if you will, the meeting point between heaven and earth.”
WCC programme executive for Young People in the Ecumenical Movement Abigayle Bolado offered an overview of the WCC, and expressed appreciation for young people who want to become involved.
Spyridoula Fotinis, who is from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and part of the commission’s Networking Working Group, described the hope for the future of these gatherings. “This is very exciting so let’s keep that going,” she said. “Our hope is that we create this space online that allows us to meet one another and be in prayer and solidarity.”
Young people then divided into regional groups, to share about their churches, and the issues in their communities. They lifted up each other in prayer, and also shared the ways in which they are feeling inspired or hopeful by work happening in their regions.
Emma Gunnarsson, a member of the WCC central committee from the Uniting Church in Sweden, closed the gathering in prayer.
“We pray for the network that we are creating for Young people in the Ecumenical Movement,” she prayed. “Let us learn form each other. Let us together amplify the voices of young people.”
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WCC
