Church and Society Host Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum in Ministry for Justice and Peace
Last week, United Methodist young adult clergy gathered to attend a three-day Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum at the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
The Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum is an opportunity for participants to learn from Church and Society staff regarding key legislative issues debated on Capitol Hill, gain tools to relate the newly adopted Social Principles to their ministry context, build relationships with other young adult clergy from across the United Methodist connection, meet with their members of Congress, and connect with the ministry of Church and Society. See the list of the 2024 Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum participants here.
For the past two decades, the Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum sponsored by Church and Society, has supported over 700 young adult United Methodist clergy participants in their ministries for justice and peace.
“This marks the first Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum since the pandemic, selected from a diverse pool of nominees put forward by their Annual Conferences, said Aimee Hong, Assistant General Secretary of Programs, The General Board of Church and Society. "The forum clergy were chosen for their deep commitment to justice and peace, and we are thrilled to offer them resources, tools, and supportive networks as they continue their vital ministry. This group embodies a strong dedication to advancing justice and peace, and the important work of social holiness in our world.”
Some Feedback from Young Clergy, 2024 Leadership Forum
Rev. Madison Ailinger, Provisional Elder, Virginia
"There were so many young clergy in this group who are passionate, who are excited and not letting anything bring them down. So, if you are out there and wondering where is my place in the church? How do I fight so many things going on? Know that we’re in this together. God’s got us and we’re going to be OK.”
Rev. Moritz Mosebach, Elder, Southern Germany
“We are a church in times of global conflict and global crisis and to know there are people out there working on those things together with me in the United Methodist Church encouraged me to keep up the work I’m doing…and reaching out to other people to make a difference in this world.”
Rev. Bayo Ogungbade, Local Pastor, Virginia
“I was grateful to learn alongside all the many great leaders I met, and to be connected with other clergy from across the connection and the world. I’m looking forward to seeing how this work continues to transform the lives of young people to become more civically engaged in their ministries for the transformation of the world.”
Rev. Leah Pekesenak, Elder, Indiana
“I’m the sort of person who has a lot of passion and energy around social justice issues, but I don’t always have the strategy… don’t know the best way to take all that passion and aim it into an effective direction. The most valuable part of being here is getting the tools and resources to plan a strategic campaign and having the contact information of people who specialize in this work who want to support me.”
Rev. Angel Rivero, Elder, California Nevada
“I really appreciated learning more about the work of The General Board of Church and Society… seeing what they do here in Washington, D.C. and across the connection to resource our churches for advocacy through the lens of our social principles. It was so nice to have this opportunity to gather and share our experiences, and look forward with hope for the United Methodist Church.”
Rev. Edison Toe, Provisional Elder, Great Plains
“Being able to learn from great people on social justice issues has been an amazing and wonderful experience for me. I can’t wait to get back and share my experience with the rest of the conference.”
