the Outlook Blog

Last night I was told I should swing by the Youth Advisory Delegate (YAD) Caucus to listen to their evening committee reports. And I'm so glad that I did. First, because Bruce Reyes-Chow was given some time to address the YADs; it was great to hear some of their questions (ranging from polity questions to "How do I get you to come to my Presbytery?). You can read more about his visit here.

But secondly because it was so great to hear their committee reports. I wish there was a way that everyone else at GA was able to hear their reports; primarily because they're absolutely hilarious, but also because it gives one some perspective on all that happens throughout the day. The YADs shared stories of their committee spending hours debating about whether the word "one" or "a" should be used in an overture that was eventually voted down. They shared stories of amending an amendment, that was a substitute amendment for the original amendment, and then spending an hour or so discussing whether the substitute amendment should replace the original amendment, and then voting that the substitute amendment should not replace the original amendment, and then they were back to discussing the original amendment.

And it's not that they don't get this stuff - I'd say there are some YADs here who get this polity even better than I do. Some did share of controversial overtures that were talked about and passed through, of heated arguments over some important issues, and they were clearly in-the-know, smart and passionate about many of these issues. One YAD shared about his work on the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee. They passed 07-02, which was an invitation to interfaith dialogue, supporting the document written by 138 Muslim clerics, "A Common Word Between Us and You" and I was pleasantly surprised to hear they also passed 07-01 which calls for tolerance and peaceful relations between Christians and Muslims and states that "though we hold different understandings of how God has been revealed to humankind, the PC(USA) affirms our belief in one God, the God of Abraham, whom Jews and Muslims also worship."

I'm very impressed with this group of YADs this year, and I know that while they get this stuff, and the importance of some of these issues, they also recognize the limitations to things like parliamentary procedures and Robert's Rules and offer a good perspective on the process as a whole. So, if you want to hear the "youth perspective" and feel like you need to laugh after a long day, stop by the YAD caucus Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.