YAF conference response late better than never

From May 23-26, 2008 Young Adult Friends (YAF) (18-35) conference Living as Friends Listening Within met in Richmond, Indiana to talk about what it means to be in the Religious Society of Friends across branches. YAF epistle

I was excited to go to the conference because I am trying to become more connected with my own age group. When I first left the meeting people would ask me how it went and I had no response. I was not sure what had happened for me while away. My favorite part was driving nine and a half hours in a packed rental van with six other people some of whom I did not know until I got in the car.

Now looking back there was lots that was remarkable. The first night (Friday) during programmed worship we were asked “How can so many college students abroad in other countries for four months or a year when we can’t look at our own brother and sisters here in the United States of America who are part of the Religious Society of Friends?” This was an eye opening experience. I am looking at spending my time abroad in England studying Quaker history, does this count as looking at my brothers and sisters since I come from a Liberal Unprogrammed Meeting but am now worshipping with Conservative Unprogrammed Friends in North Caroline. While yes I think it does because some of the same conflicts that have separated us in the US are hot issues in Britain.

The next evening (Saturday) we were talking about spiritual gifts with in the YAF community. I have struggled since I was 14 with what YAF’s do and how are they part of the greater Religious Society of Friends. A few friends were asked to talk first to start the conversation about what leadings and gifts they have/had. These were very moving for me but then when we settled into worship it felt like we might have moved into the common worship for Youth empowerment that we can do everything to change the Religious Society. I tried to stand up at one point and someone else had stood up so we had a moment in silence of passing off to each other. After this friend, I was clear not to stand quickly and give a message so I was okay when worship was closed. Since I was still trying to discerning if I had a message I did not join in with the singing. I stayed seated and held the meeting in pray because we were not done. Once the song was done though there was some silence and I was given a chance to give my message:
Friends we need to go home to what we call our meetings and get the help we need. We cannot do all this good work with out the help of our meetings. When we come to these gatherings we need to have more rooting than ourselves. Youth won’t be able to get anywhere without our elders and older peers.

What comes to me now is a sense that George Fox was not able to do his work alone. It took a community of other friends make his movement sucessful. Yes youth do have a role in the Religious Society of Friends but it is first going to take us being rooted and having help more than once or twice a year when we see large amounts of our age peers.

I also said something about being one of the youngest friends because I am 19 and at the end of the spectrum but do not always feel lead to come to YAF events because I need the more spiritual groundedness. The meeting had turned into popcorn worship, which is not easy for me when I am trying to hear what God is saying.

The next night (Sunday) we had two speakers and one of them had asked me to accompany him. I was pleased to work with him. He came in Saturday night and I was with him for the rest of the weekend. Their message was very powerful and the worship was deep once we got passed the surface issues that were bugging us. The most moving of the stories was a young friend who rose to tell us that she had finally heard God and he said that he loved her. It was a very tender place for all of us but the affects were big.

There is a lot of energy from Young Adults to continue working on bridge building and to get to know our sister and brothers who are also part of the Religious Society of Friends even if they worship differently and use different language.

I felt at home the whole weekend and would be willing to go to anther conference as a grounding force.