This is the second part of Josh’s time at 3 Generate. If you haven’t already read part one, then its advised that you do so, either keep scrolling or click the link to go straight there.
3 Generate: Methodist Youth Council 2017 (Part 1)
Day two:
Bed & Breakfast:
Once awake, showered and dressed, I walked towards the Food venue, where I was treated to the British tradition of a queue. There were: Sausage, Bacon and Egg barmcakes/baps/rolls/cobs (or other words to describe the same thing), there was also fruit, Juice Box (Orange or apple), and cereals.
Morning Prayer:
I was invited the day before to join in with a morning prayer session at 9am, in “The Well” which is their version of Adult creche, catering for leaders and the 19+. The morning prayer consisted of a psalm, a worship song, and a reading. After a few minutes of welcoming people in, the leader of the session invited me to read the reading, which I felt was a real privilege given that they knew that I wasn’t of their denomination.
Introduction to 3: Voice
3 voice sessions were about getting young peoples voices into the 3G manifesto as well as letting the Reps know how people felt on key issues.
During these sessions visual recorders drew what was being said, their drawings are well worth looking at:
(Click here to see them.)
The sessions was a little like speed dating, because we had 15 minutes per question to discuss on small tables. The end achievement of these sessions was to make the next years manifesto for the 3 generation Team. Because I was there as an observer I had to say, “I said that I was there only to observe” so that I didn’t have a impact on either what was being said or what was being recorded. Whilst each table leader has sheets to fill in after the question, they also had visual recorders, so that when they write their manifesto then they would have some visualisation of what they were discussing in that context.
3 Voice: Session 1: Mind the gap:
For the first question I was on the same table as the Youth President, Michel Pryke. It was interesting to see the differences of opinions that we had and those that we shared. During the three questions, one of the questions was about what we thought peace was. Perhaps off topic, one of the other tables, of which were from Guernsey said that ‘ Peace to me, is standing on the beach with a hot chocolate.” Whilst other opinions were directed towards politics and war-related conversations as well as the past.
My table looked at what peace could be, we even went as far to imagine what a world we would have if everyone was at peace. We also discussed things that lead to peace and how peace should and could be achieved.
3 Voice: Session 2: Good Neighbours:
During this session, there were questions of how to treat others. The majority of the feedback was that anyone would say, regardless of denomination or faith, such as “extended welcomes” and so on.
For example: If someone was to ask you for a cup of sugar as the shop has closed, then should you give them some or tell them to wait?
Lunch:
This meal consisted of a sandwich(Ham, Cheese and tomato, chicken or egg mayo), sausage roll, Fruit, a Mini-Roll and a Juice Box (Orange or apple). As I was with the Rep group, I followed them. They had a “Den” where people could go to them to ask questions and talk to them about whatever they liked, both as reps and in their own communities. We ate our packed lunches there. The “den” was a gazebo, that had been decorated with fairy lights and photos of things that the reps had done.
Planning for the Election of roles:
I was told that during the elections, that would be occurring the next day, that I could sit in on the discussions or go back to the chalet and do something else. Rather than be idle, I thought that it maybe a better idea to do something more proactive. So I asked if I could help out on the doors and with stewarding, as they said they were struggling with steward numbers, as you couldn’t vote if you were a steward. They agreed and invited me into the group discussion, talking about how it would work and what the entertainment would be during the hustings.
Dinner/Tea/Evening meal:
A contrasting menu between the following options: sausages or burger in a Barmcake/ Bap/Roll served with a choice of mash potato, chips, peas, beans, gravy or carrots.
I went for the burger and chips option it was rather flavoursome. Over dinner, we all reflected on what we would be doing the next day as well as what we had already done.
Evening session 1 :
(A series of biblical stories told through dramatic arts)
This session was interesting to watch as two performers went through the key points of the Bible, telling them in ways which were funny and anyone could understand.
Evening session 2:
(a secular comedy sketch by Tony Vino)
This proved to be a controversial sketch as he made jokes that weren’t for the faint-hearted, as he made jokes around topics that had been discussed in detail at the event and so some people disliked them. He used pyrotechnics during his final piece making the audience use them.
Closing prayers/reviews of the day:
The general consensus was that the day had gone well, especially the discussions on marriage and mental health. There were elements of the day where outside performers/service providers, were badly behaved. As one of the performers had been rather rude to one of the hosting reps, and so did another. The thing that they were taking forward was the general vibes that they got from it is a good event. They also wanted to add the degree of sensibility that the elections needed.
End of Day two.