Last Monday this general council received with standing applause the presentation of the Reformed youth forum (RYF). In the days that followed, many of you thanked us, the young delegates and stewards to this Council, for our performances. We were moved by the depth and generosity of your support. You had heard our message.

Last night, we completed the elections for the new executive committee. At the opening of this general council, you adopted a resolution recognizing young people to be those aged thirty or younger. By your definition of youth, you have not elected a single young person to this executive committee.

Yet again, as we said in our youth message, we as young people now feel "pessimistic and neglected". We are disappointed by the hollow words of our leaders.

Where we have hoped for the end of many years of exclusion, the breaking of chains of injustice, we have found that this general council has refused to heed our cries.

Nevertheless, we still yearn to work together, fully respecting the place of all members of our community. We therefore present the following petition.¹

As you return to your churches, we ask you to reflect on each of your communities in the light of this fact:

When we called upon you to accept us as part of the church of today, you dismissed our claim. Who will be the church of tomorrow?

Note

1. The petition urged that two youth consultants be added to the executive committee, one of whom should be appointed to work with the officers, and that any vacancies occurring in the incoming executive committee should be filled by young people. See Proceedings, p.39.