UMC young adult clergy at the Church and Society 2024 Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum, Washington, D.C., October 28-30, 2024. (photo courtesy of umcjustice.org)

Twenty-six clergy from across the United Methodist connection were invited to attend the recent Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C., hosted by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.

Rev. Stephanie Eliason, associate pastor at Canyon Lake United Methodist Church in Rapid City, South Dakota, was among the attendees.

"It was really great," said Pastor Stephanie. "First off, it was just a great group of young clergy and time of community. Everybody just brought so many different experiences, and as we talked with each other, we just kept coming back to 'This is why we're connectional.'" 

Since its inception, the Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum has provided over 700 United Methodist pastors with the opportunity to be educated and inspired to engage in ministries of reconciliation and peace, including the Dakotas. Participants are nominated by their Conference and selected by GBCS.  

"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," said Aimee Hong, Assistant General Secretary of Programs, The General Board of Church and Society. "This group embodies a strong dedication to advancing justice and peace and the important work of social holiness in our world."

The three-day gathering was held at the historic United Methodist building, located across the street from the Supreme Court and Capitol Building. The itinerary included presentations from Church and Society staff regarding current legislative issues as well as the broad scope of work done by the general agency. 

Staff from Church and Society provided opportunities for learning and networking for young adult clergy from across the connection.

"We got to hear some of the stuff that Church and Society does, what they keep an eye on and respond to, and how they try to get that information out to us so we can partner with them in the ministry that they do and the resources that they have," said Eliason.

Participants were also provided resources to relate the newly adopted Social Principles to their ministry context. The General Conference establishes our Social Principles as a guide for the social witness of United Methodists worldwide. They are not doctrinal, and individual United Methodists may agree with some and disagree with others. However, they provide a means to enter the conversation and be equipped to think theologically about political and social matters. 

"I have been considering doing a Bible study reflecting on the Social Principles in the coming year, and they pointed out that they have a curriculum that does that, and you can tailor it, and I'm like, well, that's awesome," said Pastor Stephanie.

In addition to the educational components and networking with other United Methodist leaders, attendees met with their members of Congress.

 "I got to sit down with a staff member of Senator [John] Thune'sThune's and speak with him about gun reform legislation and how both of our [Rapid City] high schools have lost students to gun violence this year," said Eliason. "Being able to share how these legislative things that are before them really make an impact on the personal level was something that I probably understood in my head but hadn't quite gotten into the practice and the feel of it in my heart."

Learning how our faith informs our civic and political involvement and the importance of relationship-building in the work for peace and justice were vital takeaways for Eliason who found the experience incredibly educational and impactful. 

"It was just amazing," she shared. "I am so grateful that I got to go and that the Conference was willing to nominate me. I will be unpacking all of this information for a while."