Planning Underway for 2018 Global Young People's Convocation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Oct. 23, 2016 /Discipleship Ministries/ – A planning team is being assembled for the 2018 Global Young People’s Convocation (GYPC), which brings together the voices and ideas of United Methodist young people from around the world every four years.

The GYPC is scheduled for July 18-22, 2018, at the Indaba Hotel & Conference Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, said Michael Ratliff, Associate General Secretary at Discipleship Ministries and head of the Young People’s Ministries (YPM) division.

“The Global Young People’s Convocation gathers young people from across to United Methodist connection to worship, learn and provide leadership for the church,” Ratliff said.

Formerly Global Young People’s Convocation and Legislative Assembly, the event name was changed to the Global Young People’s Convocation after the 2016 General Conference approved a change in the way delegations and individuals can propose legislation related to issues of concern to young people.

“The Legislative Forum, approved at the 2016 General Conference, will provide the basis for new ways to develop legislative proposals for submission to the 2020 General Conference,” Ratliff said.

Mighty Rasing, program development director for the Central Conferences, said YPM is working to ensure that all regions of the church will be represented to the event, where about 400 delegates are expected to participate.

“We are in the process of assembling the Planning Team, which will come from different Jurisdictions and Central Conferences, to help us design an event that reflects the global experiences of young people,” Rasing said.

Applications to become a member of the GYPC Planning Team will be accepted until Nov 30, 2016. For more information and to apply, go to https://umcyoungpeople.org/the-latest/apply-to-be-a-part-of-the-planning-team-for-the-global-young-peoples-convoc.

Ratliff said several countries and venues in Africa, including Zimbabwe and Tanzania, were considered as the location for the convocation, which has been held every four years since 2006.

“The event will return to the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg, where facilities, transportation and local laws, create a setting for young people and their leaders to gather and grow together,” Ratliff said.

The Indaba was the venue for the first Global Convocation in 2006.

The mission of Discipleship Ministries is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, Discipleship Ministries is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.UMCdiscipleship.org, the Press Center at www.UMCdiscipleship.org/about/press-center or call the Communications Office at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 1726.