Five high school youth and three adults attended the Peace Conference at Lake Junaluska together this weekend. We went to “try it out,” and this sign from a local store we visited over our lunch break summed it up perfectly: we [came] curious and [left] impressed. Plenary dialogues unpacked topics around disarming hatred: building beloved community in an age of Christian nationalism, the barriers to peace and harmful theologies, and how we stop the cycle of violence, to name a few; and invited us to consider how we approach these things in worship and teaching (in the church). They offered language around how to understand these things and challenged our thoughts and actions to be oriented towards peace. Workshops offered practical tools for peace making and disarming hatred – building bridges, providing a new lens for understanding the parables, and assessing social change approaches, to name a few. The music was led by incredible musicians Dr. John Henry & Jarvis Wilson.

The youth’s reflections are as such: 

The Peace Conference “helped me realize that the older people that I often stereotype and categorize a certain way are more alike to me than I ever imagined.” – Daelyn, 11th grade.

“This weekend was very impactful and helped me consider my own choices and how they can make a difference…. I look forward to applying what I have learned.” -Adamae, 11th grade

“All of the people that I meant were very welcome and accepting. I had an incredible time learning and reflecting on myself.” -Raegan, 12th grade

“This weekend “helped show that love has such a strong impact and will always be stronger than hate. Truly an amazing experience” – Lyla, 11th grade

“[We learned] you can communicate and be friends with people different than you in different ways.” – Katie, 9th grade

As we reflected together as a group, we were surprised at how it was more inward focused, contemplative, & to some felt much like a retreat. We appreciated the welcome of the youth & their energy and insight and very much recommend this experience to youth who are interested in engaging in this work of considering the intersections of faith and our public life together. 

In truth, we need more experiences like this that weave our theology, faith traditions, and the current realities of our world together. Many pastors and youth leaders don’t engage in this work in their local church ministries, and it leaves people feeling lonely, isolated, and ill-equipped for understanding, let alone challenging the current realities of our world that cause harm (at least, from a faith perspective). The Peace Conference reminded us on the very first day, as United Methodists, our first General Rule is to “do no harm. NOT engaging in this work together as a faith community creates and maintains a disconnect between our beliefs and faith traditions and our everyday life. And it allows the harm that our cultural and political systems perpetuate to continue to oppress and dehumanize and go unchecked.

The Peace Conference meets a need that traditional youth ministry (and perhaps some other types of ministries) often misses – depth and authenticity; an invitation to enter into discomfort and struggle, not expecting a solution, but renewing a desire and commitment to work with others who share in the struggle, who imagine a way forward in the Way of Love that Jesus embodied, and who are willing to do the work to chisel away at the barriers to peace. 

There are youth who want to do this work. There are youth who see and feel the harm and pain in the world and who need spaces like this to know that they aren’t alone in believing that the way things are is not okay. They need adults who are willing to engage in this work with them, as partners and translators and guides. They need adults who celebrate their presence and passion for doing this work together. This is youth ministry. 

Save the Date for the Peace Conference 2027: April 2nd-4th at Lake Junaluska.