The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
September 2007

Choose the Better Part

Utah Hosts Successful PYE

By Charlie Knuth and Pat McLaughlin

Prospective students and admissions tour guides looked puzzled as they toured Westminster College's campus the week of July 17. Peeking into the Norman and Barbara Tanner Atrium, they were surprised to see an ordinarily quiet-study space transformed into a joyous, makeshift chapel.

Episcopal youth from throughout the West were gathered for the first day of the Province VIII Youth Event (PYE), hosted by the Episcopal Diocese of Utah. This gathering drew 108 youth from a dozen dioceses throughout Province VIII, from Nevada to Alaska, and from Navajoland to Olympia.

The conference theme "Choose the Better Part" reflects the Gospel lesson on July 22nd, and Jesus' comments to Martha, after she complains that her sister Mary is not helping her attend to dinner and guests, explained Caralie Kennedy, 18, of St. John's Church in LaVerne, California, a member of the design team.

—DIOCESAN DIALOGUE photos

PYE gatherings have been held every third year, in all nine provinces of the Episcopal Church, since 1989. Young people who have completed the ninth through twelfth grades are invited to attend.

The Rev. Brian Prior, the Province VIII youth network coordinator, feels that since 1989, the triennial PYEs have been great opportunities for both fun and conversation, but more importantly, for spiritual discernment and leadership development among youth and their sponsors.

"I tell kids all the time that there are lots of great opportunities to experience the breadth and depth of the Episcopal Church," said Prior, rector of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, which he started 10 years ago in Spokane Valley.

"Most of our Episcopal experiences are so parochial; there are so many great people out there that it is more important than ever for young people in the emerging generation to realize that the Episcopal experience is pretty broad," said Prior, who is also vice president of the House of Deputies.

"Our hope is that they make some true friends from other places and gain a sense of being part of a larger family," said Prior. We also hope they learn new and different ways to live into their faith because of what it has to offer them."

The cultural carnival proved to be a favorite among participants and design team members alike. Each diocese set up a booth with the goal of expressing some cultural aspect of their diocese.

Amid giant inflatable carnival activities, the Diocese of Hawaii serenaded their peers with ukulele playing, demonstrated to them the proper way to cut a pineapple, as well as the finer points of lei-making.

Youth from the Diocese of Olympia challenged their peers to retrieve fake banana slugs from a sprinkler-induced "rainstorm", allthe- while quizzing people on the pronunciation of various Washington cities.

The Utah booth provided an ample amount of green Jell-O and taught everyone how to make homemade ice cream.

Daily "Hot Topics" discussions challenged PYE participants to speak their minds about issues within the church and society-at-large.

Topics such as "church and sex" and "homosexuality in the church" drew many participants, who were not afraid to express their dissatisfaction with the Anglican Communion's failure to address these issues in a constructive manner.

Carl Foltz of the Diocese of Hawaii reported that he made a lot of friends at PYE, and that the events of the week have helped him discern his vocation and "get some clarity in my life about going to college next year."

Foltz explains that, "PYE showed me what I need to do with my life. And that is work with youth in any way possible, whether it be as a youth minister, or a teacher, I'll be with children."

On Sunday, July 22, the youth event concluded with a Eucharist celebrated by Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish.

The national youth convention, the Episcopal Youth Event, is scheduled for July 8-13, 2008 at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Volunteers are needed and can visit www.eye2008.org for more information. The theme is "Sown in the Heart of Christ."

Charlie Knuth is a student at Grinnell College and a communications intern with the Diocese of Utah; the Rev. Pat McCaughan is correspondent for Episcopal News Service.

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