To be totally honest with you: I came to this ‘mission conference’ with mixed feelings.
I was really happy to have the chance to join this meeting, on behalf of both YMCA the Netherlands and the Christian Orientation Group (COG) of YMCA Europe.
I was looking forward to meet YMCA-people (always nice, open and social). And I was looking forward to certain parts of the program.
I was also a little concerned. Unify is a mission conference and the experiences from former years showed that it has an evangelical approach, especially in its prayers and worship. I hoped this would not lead to an exclusive approach, also because my personal faith is more liberal…But, my fears were not realistic.
Yes, the approach of the conference was rather evangelic, but at the same time it was open to others. Who does not like to stand up during worship can sit down, who does not want to pray aloud, can pray in silence or through icons, or…
And yes, my positive expectations were met. So many nice people, interested in each other, open to share their faith, and open to hear from others. It was really YMCA at its best. The speakers were all very experienced in their own fields and they gave me some new ideas, or a wakeup call. The workshops were very useful and inspiring. The program as a whole was varied and well taken care of. So organizers and participants: thank you for the great experience!
On behalf of YMCA Europe COG was invited to speak about ‘inclusive Christianity’. What does it mean to be inclusive and also Christian in a diverse context as the European?
We let the word to some younger people from different contexts throughout Europe.
We heard the voices of people from Muslim countries – how to be Christian even if everyone else officially is a Muslim?
From people from a secular context – how to be a movement if the government will not subsidize a Christian program?
From people dealing with an Eastern Orthodox church that feels threatened by YMCA.
From people from a YMCA with ‘open membership and Christian leadership’ – can one grow into leadership when he/she is not a Christian, is this really inclusive, and, is this Christian?
And of course there is the question whether we are inclusive to those who have a different belief …
It will not come as a surprise that we did not find the final answers to all these questions. But it was great to see how people were involved in the subject and how great and open the responses were.
I challenge every reader to discuss this subject for their own YMCA:
Where can you see inclusiveness in your movement? And: where does our Christianity (‘the C of YMCA’) show?
Do they have borders?
What does someone from outside YMCA experience of both?
And of course: where do inclusiveness and Christianity meet, and where do they collide (with each other, with your movement, with you in person)?
Looking forward to your remarks on the subject via email, or to meet you and speak about this interesting subject in person.
On behalf of COG,
Marloes Meijer (chairperson)
Meijer.marloes@gmail.com
Photos by nathanaelvolke.de
