Stop All Violence Everywhere: Youth Seminar Scheduled for March 2002

When the Conference Council on Youth Ministries first chose “SAVE: Stop All Violence Everywhere” for a seminar in New York and Washington, D.C., they had no idea what a sad irony it would turn out to be.

Scheduled for Oct. 13 through Oct. 20, the trip had to be postponed following the Sept. 11 attacks in both cities.

But the seminar is rescheduled for March 2-9, and youth leaders are counting on the trip to be even more meaningful in the light of what’s happened. When the Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) first chose violence as a concept, they were thinking of more “localized” issues, such as school or home violence, said Angee Woody, Holston coordinator of youth ministries.

Not anymore.

“This totally changes the focus of the study,” she said. “In fact, when the kids rescheduled the trip for March, one of the first things they said was, ‘We have to stay with this topic. It was meant to be.’”

Up to 40 high-school juniors and seniors from Holston churches will travel by bus to Washington and New York City for a week of guest speakers, panel discussions, role-playing and field trips throughout the cities. Produced by United Methodist Seminars on National and International Affairs, the event is designed with the “intention of planting seeds of thought and nurturing faith that may be transformed into meaningful, bold action for justice and peace,” according to the group’s website.

“I don’t really know what to expect, but I know that I will be more informed about violence, just being there where the actual damage was done, ” said CCYM President Justin Mann. At 17, the member of Central UMC in Radford, Va., said he’s experienced shock and fear along with his first stirrings of patriotism since the attacks occurred.

“It’s amazing how much the Pledge of Allegiance means to me now,” he said.

For more information about SAVE, high-school juniors and seniors should contact (423) 928-2156 or umyouth@holston.org. Cost is $500 before the Feb. 1 deadline, $550 after the deadline. If space remains after that date, registration will be open to college students and young adults. The second and final registration is Feb. 11, 2002.

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