Church of England Youth Council
Encyclopedia
The Church of England Youth Council is a body of young Christians from diocese
s though out the Church of England
. Its present incarnation was founded in 2004.
in Westminster
to keep up with current affairs within the Church and in the wider national community of England, to ensure members are available to attend any one-off events in which either the church or young people should be represented and to talk through report of our longer standing seats on councils and committees (such as their two Board of Education
representatives or their three General Synod
representatives, and to plan for the national meetings which take place in Autumn and Spring.
They aim to have two representatives, aged 16 to 25, from each of the 43 dioceses in the Church of England - not including the core group members who are seen to represent the national council and not their home dioceses; however the regular number of members (between 30 and 50, excluding the core group) are spread widely between the north and south of the country and recently has included a member from the Church of England Diocese of Sodor and Man
.
Regional Youth Councils are also beginning to emerge; the strongest of these is in the Diocese of Derby
which holds its own elections for national representatives from the council.
CEYC has strong links with members of groups such as FURY
, the Methodist Youth Assembly, the Quakers and members of the Evangelical Church in Germany
, all of whom are welcome visitors to CEYC meetings. Some members have also had, on occasion, various international opportunities, travelling to such places as New York and Germany. They have attended meetings such as the Ecumenical Youth Council of Europe, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church and, as part of an Anglican Observer group, the United Nations
.
"Through worship, prayers and the building of friendship, CEYC...actively represents the young people of the Church of England by:
It enriches its members by providing the opportunity to:
It actively engages with young people by:
The councils signature Bible Verse is taken from 1 Timothy Chapter 4 Verse 12
Key steps along the way are highlighted on the council's website.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s though out the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. Its present incarnation was founded in 2004.
Functionality
The council's 'core group' committee meets monthly at Church HouseChurch House
Church House is the building that serves as the headquarters of the Church of England, occupying the south end of Dean's Yard next to Westminster Abbey in London....
in Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
to keep up with current affairs within the Church and in the wider national community of England, to ensure members are available to attend any one-off events in which either the church or young people should be represented and to talk through report of our longer standing seats on councils and committees (such as their two Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
representatives or their three General Synod
General Synod
-Church of England:In the Church of England, the General Synod, which was established in 1970 , is the legislative body of the Church.-Episcopal Church of the United States:...
representatives, and to plan for the national meetings which take place in Autumn and Spring.
They aim to have two representatives, aged 16 to 25, from each of the 43 dioceses in the Church of England - not including the core group members who are seen to represent the national council and not their home dioceses; however the regular number of members (between 30 and 50, excluding the core group) are spread widely between the north and south of the country and recently has included a member from the Church of England Diocese of Sodor and Man
Diocese of Sodor and Man
Sodor and Man is a diocese of the Church of England. Originally much larger, today it covers just the Isle of Man and its adjacent islets.-Early history:...
.
Regional Youth Councils are also beginning to emerge; the strongest of these is in the Diocese of Derby
Diocese of Derby
The Diocese of Derby is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury, roughly covering the same area as the County of Derbyshire. Its diocesan bishop is the Bishop of Derby who has his seat at Derby Cathedral. He is assisted by the Suffragan Bishop of Repton.The Diocese of Derby...
which holds its own elections for national representatives from the council.
CEYC has strong links with members of groups such as FURY
Fury
Fury is a form of anger.Fury may also refer to:In fiction:* Bryan Fury, a video game character from the Tekken series* Fury , two superheroine characters...
, the Methodist Youth Assembly, the Quakers and members of the Evangelical Church in Germany
Evangelical Church in Germany
The Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of 22 Lutheran, Unified and Reformed Protestant regional church bodies in Germany. The EKD is not a church in a theological understanding because of the denominational differences. However, the member churches share full pulpit and altar...
, all of whom are welcome visitors to CEYC meetings. Some members have also had, on occasion, various international opportunities, travelling to such places as New York and Germany. They have attended meetings such as the Ecumenical Youth Council of Europe, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church and, as part of an Anglican Observer group, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Vision Statement
The Council's Vision Statement was created when the full council met in Paddington, West London in April 2008. Those present agreed that it would provide a distinctive 'way forward' for the organisation to follow and pursue, now and for years to come. A verse from Paul's First Letter to Timothy also now features as part of the CEYC Vision."Through worship, prayers and the building of friendship, CEYC...actively represents the young people of the Church of England by:
- discussing and debating issues impacting on the youth of today
- engaging in dialogue with the Church of England and the wider community
It enriches its members by providing the opportunity to:
- participate fully within the CEYC community
- develop their gifts and callings within the wider context of the church
- gain knowledge of the Church of England and the differing traditions and views within it
It actively engages with young people by:
- debating issues affecting all young people in order to improve their quality of life
- encouraging and supporting young participation at all levels
- take action to create change where needed
- supporting them in their spiritual journey"
The councils signature Bible Verse is taken from 1 Timothy Chapter 4 Verse 12
History
The active participation of young people in the management of their own learning and development, and in decision-making process at all levels, lies at the heart of youth work practice. Empowering young people to have a voice has been a challenge for the church at all levels and the creation of CEYC provides a platform from which young people can participate in the life of their local parish and diocese, as well as nationally. The Church can stand alongside other organisations (faith-based and secular) in the way that it approaches young people's participation, but this is an ongoing work and ministry that needs continuous championing and support.Key steps along the way are highlighted on the council's website.
External links
- http://www.ceyc.org/index.html - the Youth Council's website
- http://www.churchofengland.org/education/children-young-people/youth/church-of-england-youth-council/ceyc-structure.aspx