From june 29th till july 7th more than 1.000 delegates from more than 200 presbyterian, reformed and related churches of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) will gather in Leipzig to celebrate their communion in Christ and to look at and to discuss those issues all the member churches are coping and struggling with. In the run up to this General Council (GC) there will be a worldwide seminary of reformed students of theology (Global Institute of Theology, GIT), a Women’s Council, a Youth Council (formed by the youth delegates of the GC) and: the Youth Gathering in Zwochau.

The Youth Gathering in Zwochau will be made up by three groups: most of the youth delegates, the stewards and other individual participants. We look forward to having a good time in Zwochau, to build friendships and to share stories. And we will try to learn about and to discuss the main theme of the General Council “Living God, renew and transform us” by asking: What does that mean for us as the so-called Millennials?

By discussing this topic we don’t start from scratch. Our family of reformed churches is debating and struggling with some issues for decades now. In the last 20 years the main theme has been the ongoing process of economic globalization and its different effects on people all over the world. This implies social injustice, growing migration movements, ecological and economic crises and changing life patterns and cultures. When the reformed churches gathered in Accra, Ghana, in 2004, they condemned the prevailing neo-liberal concept of globalization (“more market, less rules”) in the “Accra Confession” as a devastating and dehumanizing ideology. They described the forces behind this ideology – you can find them by following the money – as an “Empire”, using apocalyptic language.

13 years later the situation on a global scale has not improved; it has even become worse. In many countries the “gospel” of free markets and less rules has gained even more ground. At the same time, the devastating effects of globalization without social and environmental concerns have provoked and reinforced racist and nationalist movements all over the world. Yet, there are also thousands and millions of positive stories, stories of communion and respect, stories of common values and solutions.

Our personal lives, the cultures we live in and the churches we belong to have changed in the last decades. Today, they continue to be transformed. But in what direction? The youth gathering in Zwochau is a unique chance to share stories of those transformations we’ve seen in the life of our families and communities. And to ask: What could renewal and transformation inspired by the living God mean for our lives, for our churches?

Starting from biblically inspired concepts of the “good life” we ask how we can foster and share a way of life that does not violate the environment and the quality of life of other people and societies. We will learn from researchers developing social and economic concepts towards a world in which “all may have life in fullness” (the main theme of the General Council in Accra 2004).

We will do engage with our topic in different ways:

• By experiencing and celebrating our union in Christ.
• By listening to experts who can tell us more about the theological and economic backgrounds of these issues, both in plenary sessions and in workshops.
• By sharing stories of change and transformation from our own families, communities and congregations.
• By creating art & formulating our vision for a good life for all.