2018 SYNOD OF BISHOPS ON YOUNG PEOPLE
ADDRESS OF REVD MARTINA VIKTORIE KOPECKÀ[1]
Representative of World Council of Churches
Your Holiness, Your Eminences and Excellencies,
brothers and sisters in Christ,
many warm greetings from World Council of Churches!
This Synod becomes a sign of hope for every man and woman of all ages because it highlights and celebrates the most important values – Faith, Hope and Love.
This is a unique moment for all young people, for every young men and women who belong to the 350 member churches of the World Council of Churches. All young people are called by God, who sent them on the most important mission, to proclaim the good news. Youth are integral part of the Pilgrimage of justice and peace, our common journey as Christians. Young people are often a “mirror” of the reality of our world today in society and also in the churches.
Young people are capable to become mediators and build bridges on their pilgrimage with Christ, with sisters and brothers and people of good will on the way. I have experienced this with the ECHOS commission of the World Council of Churches. The ECHOS is a consultative body of World Council of Churches, it is a commission on youth engagement in the ecumenical movement. The ECHOS commission offers space for open-minded, meaningful and sustainable networking and dialogue with young adults from local, regional and global ecumenical organizations, etc. In 2015 we experienced all this during a meeting in the Al Azhar university in Cairo (Egypt) which was actually the starting point for further discussion and important inter-religious dialogue, but also for practical work with young people in Egypt.
Young people in the various contexts have one thing in common. Their emotions, their feelings. And it is also deeply connected with the need to find a sense of life. The meaning to live in the world that provides so many great things to enjoy, but it is also world full of suffering and wounds. In 21st century we still struggle with hunger, lack of human dignity, gender, economical and ecological injustice and violence.
We all can change our mindset, we can do things better together, we can pray and move together. There is a huge difference between fixed and growth mindset. Young people need to be inspired that learning is the goal, learning and continuous small steps and effort are changing the reality. This is the calling of our God – go and do it.
We can help young people to share their abilities, education, and professional skills, to be ready for action, facilitation, advocacy and reconciliation. The church is called to be a safe space to support the fulfillment of the potential of every man and every woman. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, invites us to share and develop our gifts and talents together for the good of all mankind in atmosphere of mutual love and universal brotherhood among men and women all over the world.
The true ecumenical movement must be lived and shared together, it goes beyond the differences of culture, age, denomination, and religion.
When I heard the voice of God, I left everything and I followed that inspiration. I was baptized in age over twenty, I studied theology in Charles University. I was ordained in Czechoslovak Hussite Church three years ago when I was thirty.
Our age, gender and life stories are very different. But what is really important is something else – we all are beloved children of God.
Thank you for your attention.
Psalm 71, 5.19
For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Your power and your righteousness, O God, reach the high heavens.
[1] Rev. Martina Viktorie Kopecká - Czechoslovak Hussite Church and World Council of Churches – Executive and Central Committee member, moderator of ECHOS commission on youth engagement in the ecumenical movement