Accents
Ecumenism, anyone?
Never has ecumenism struck me to the core than it did last week when I shared a breakfast table with three Australians: Pastor Peter Girdlestone, his wife Hope Girdlestone, and their companion Sylvia Rollings. All three are with the International Youth Ministry that embraces the youth of all religions, regardless even if he/she is an agnostic or an atheist.
Ecumenism is the operative word in their efforts to let the young know that 'Jesus wants their heart,' whether or not he/she is Catholic or Protestant or belonging to any other sect. Doubters and non-believers are welcome, and I dare say, the need for a working ecumenism is even greater in this group. Working ecumenism? What's that? Believe me, the phrase just surfaced in my mind. I wanted a phrase to encapsulate the total absence of prejudice in doing what is good and just and fair. Church and religion are of no account. No dogmatic converting of the other fellow to a particular faith or sect.
My familiarity with the term is limited to the activists' symbolic acronym EMJP (Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace) that has pursuits I know to be noble and exemplary. To gain more ground about the word, I consulted Mr. Webster. Among the nuances of meaning, I got this as the most encompassing definition of ecumenism as practiced by the International Youth Ministry: 'principles...[that] promote through functional organizations cooperation on such common tasks as missions and work through conferences, mutual understanding on fundamental issues in belief, worship, and polity and a united witness on world problems.'
Hinging on the last word of ecumenism's dictionary meaning, Pastor Girdlestone said they are confronting the youth's three main problems: cigarettes, alcoholism, and drugs (shabu). In Roxas City before proceeding to Iloilo, they made jail visits and tried to grapple against these problems. A meeting here and there to win the hearts and minds of the youth 'for Christ.'
'Our passion is to save the lost.' This passion they will carry with them to Tacloban and other parts of the Visayas and Mindanao before going back to the home base in Queensland, Australia. 'For a recuperation of finances,' said the pastor. 'Get a job and work again to be able to finance future travels. We are a self-funded group. We don't ask for money.'
Why this interest for the youth? Sylvia Rollings said their concern for the youth springs from their having a big brood of grandchildren. She has 12 while the Girdlestones have 11. They gave me a copy of the BOOK OF HOPE, International Youth Edition, which I think is a must read for the young. Outright, the book tells the youth: 'It is not about religion and church. [Ecumenical, see.] Rather, it is designed to help you live your life to the maximum potential intended for you.'
Appropriately, the BOOK OF HOPE has pictures of young people representing different nations on the cover. It has nine sections that highlight 'the most critical areas' of a young person's life: Self-Esteem, Love, Sex, Family, Health–Addiction, Friendships, Keys to Success, Wisdom, and Facing the Future. The last section has thought-provoking catch lines for the young: 'What lies ahead for you? Is it possible to know the future? Your decisions and how you live today can help you determine what your future will be.' It is helpful that the book is on the worldwide web. One can get it live and experience it on line at www.hopenet.net.ph.
At departing time, the Australians asked about my own concerns. Among a hodge-podge of things, I gave a spur-of-the-moment reply: 'Family planning and the healthy, proper way to do it. Population explosion is a big problem especially among the poor in my country.'
'Keep up your work on the population,' they said as we bade each other good wishes in 'whatever little difference we are making for humanity.'
(Comments to lagoc@hargray.com)