June 22nd, 2022Mennonite Church Canada announces Young Leaders Experience at Gathering 2022
Young adult leaders to share leadership and insights with nationwide church
Ten young adults from across the nationwide church will take part in the Young Leaders Experience (YLE) at We Declare: what we have seen and heard, Gathering 2022 in Edmonton, from July 28 to Aug. 1.
“The initiative comes out of a desire to identify and invest in the young leaders among us,” says Kathy Giesbrecht, director of congregational ministries for Mennonite Church Manitoba and one of the initial planners. “The purpose of YLE is to invite young peoples’ perspectives, insights and deep concerns into our nationwide conversations and discernment.”
YLE participants (ages 17-23) from across the regional churches of Mennonite Church Canada will take part in the Gathering’s main sessions, engage with MC Canada denominational leaders and engage in activities on their own throughout the weekend to build connection and fellowship with one another. The participants are also delegates and will have voting power in the Gathering’s business sessions.
“The formation of leaders within our denomination is priority for Mennonite Church Canada,” says Doug Klassen, executive minister of Mennonite Church Canada. “It’s not only crucial to inspire our future pastors and lay leaders, it’s also biblical. Jethro and Moses, Eli and Samuel, Elizabeth and Mary – God is at work when we share life together.”
Four hosts will guide YLE participants throughout the weekend: Phil Campbell-Enns and YLE Coordinator Larissa Pahl, both from Mennonite Church Manitoba; Liam Kachkar from Mennonite Church Alberta and Christen Kong from Mennonite Church Eastern Canada.
YLE programming kicks off on Thursday evening, July 28, at Evario Events Centre, with a welcome and worship time. Participants will participate in their own workshop on Friday morning and attend Glen Guyton’s plenary at A Day for Spiritual Leaders at Edmonton First Mennonite Church in the afternoon. They will also facilitate the main Gathering workshop, “Young Leaders give voice to the Church” on Saturday afternoon and two local festivals in Edmonton are also on the YLE agenda.
The young adults will also be the Scripture readers throughout the weekend’s programmed worship.
“We are excited to welcome our young leaders to Gathering this summer,” says Pahl. “We want this to be an enriching, integrated and fun experience for them,” says Pahl.
Funds for the Young Leaders Experience come out of the Formation Bequest Fund, a fund designated for leadership development within Mennonite Church Canada.
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Mennonite Church Canada