WCC NEWS: Youth commission moderator: “we act and journey together”

World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Young People in the Ecumenical Movement (YPEM) moderator Karen Erina Puimera, is from the Protestant Church in Western Indonesia. As YPEM’s meeting in the Philippines drew to a close on 19 November, she took time to reflect reflect about what inspired her, the challenges that lie ahead, and YPEM’s goal for engaging and inspiring even more young people. Photo: Mark Anthony N. Cuyos 20 November 2024 As the moderator, what inspires you most about the role of young people in the ecumenical movement, and how do you personally hope to impact the journey toward justice, reconciliation, and unity? Puimera: For me, the significance of the participation of young people in the ecumenical movement is the genuine willingness to participate, to be active, and also to make a change and to challenge the church to make a change to work significantly on justice, reconciliation, and unity. I’ve seen so many young people who are brave enough to show and to feel some problems that are so tough, some sensitive issues like gender-based violence, human rights, social injustice, climate injustice, and I feel like it could be dangerous for them. I feel their courage to stand with the vulnerable, being resistant, being resilient—it demonstrates and signifies the value of the role of young people.   What do you believe are some of the biggest challenges young people face within the ecumenical movement, and how does the commission’s work address these challenges both within the WCC and in broader contexts? Puimera: I think the challenges of youth in these days, is that they find it hard to express their voices because somehow, from what I’ve heard so far, what I’ve heard from the commissioners of YPEM, and because of what I observe from my own context is, I find there’s a frustration of young people not being heard enough and not being recognized enough, and somehow society and also the church want to hear us but disregard us because there’s a sense of underestimating the youth based on experience. That’s why this commission is important—because it’s not just expressing young people’s voices but also alongside with youth, they want to act and journey together with the programmes, with the working groups, and also to accommodate and also advocate the voices of young people.    How do you envision engaging and inspiring other young people who may feel disconnected or unsure about their place in the ecumenical movement? Puimera: It is always a good start to remember to look at our community first, our young people, because I remember that words alone are not enough, so we need the actions also. I think what young people did at the WCC assembly three years ago by showing their solidarity at the microphone, and how they also brought the Ecumenical Youth Gathering message, it’s like a statement to prove how serious we are about being part of the ecumenical movement, and also how they want the rest of room, the people, the young adults and also others, to take them seriously. We need always to engage and act to inspire others to join us in companionship on our youth pilgrimage.  Photo: Mark Anthony N. Cuyos How does the youth commission plan to amplify the voices of young people in the ecumenical movement, especially in shaping conversations around justice, reconciliation, and unity? Puimera: In our plans we will work alongside the Youth Engagement programme and also build connections with other commissions toward the issues relevant with youth today. We will also work to ensure that our commissioners—who are also a part of another commission as young people—contribute to their commission discussions, and I believe the representation of youth in consultative bodies, or even in the central committee, will always bring forward the issues of young people’s experience.    The year 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. What role do you see the Ecumenical Year 2025 playing in deepening the themes of unity, reconciliation, and justice within the youth commission’s work, especially in connecting past councils like Nicaea to present-day ecumenical challenges? Puimera: We are so happy to commemorate the anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, and next year the Ecumenical Year in 2025. We celebrate across all the denominations and also the church families. For youth especially, we think the Nicene Creed is the result of ecumenical unity but we believe also that we must also reflect on today’s importance.   As we approach the Ecumenical Year 2025, are there any specific events, projects, or dialogues planned that will highlight the significance of Nicaea for young people and encourage them to explore its impact on the global church’s journey toward unity? Puimera: We want to establish the working groups and have also established the vice moderators. We are happy and looking forward to what we can do in the Ecumenical Year 2025 to highlight church unity.   How is the Youth Commission encouraging young people to actively participate in the WCC's Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity, and what role do you envision for youth as leaders and advocates within this journey? Puimera: It is important for us as young leaders and representatives of our churches and communities to always have a sense of companionship with others so that we can act and journey together in the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity. Our journey involves standing in solidarity with other young people who are facing hard times due to their circumstances.    As we look ahead, what key messages or takeaways would you like to communicate to young ecumenical leaders and member churches, especially about the role of faith in achieving justice, unity, and reconciliation from this first in-person meeting? Puimera: It really means standing with strong roots and strong trunks, and you have to be also rooted in Christ so that your actions and your outcomes are not just about doing good but about doing something useful and something transformative not just for others but for yourselves as well. We have faith in Jesus and we act like Christ, even with our limitations, and the important thing is how we act together and journey together in this pilgrimage to embrace our diversity as a strength, acknowledge wounds with empathy and also solidarity, and find ourselves transformed in our shared process.   WCC News release: WCC youth commission draws inspiration, determination for the way forward- 20 November 2024 WCC News release: WCC youth commission gathers for first in-person meeting- 14 November 2024 Learn more about the Young people in the ecumenical movement Interview with the WCC Youth Commission Moderator, Karen Erina Puimera See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland