Ya'at'eeh! My name is Gerlene Gordy also known as GJ. I am Native American, an enrolled member of the Navajo Tribe, currently residing in Window Rock, Arizona. My clans are One Who Walks Around born into the Salt Clan. My maternal grandparent’s clan is Edge Water, and my paternal grandparent’s clan is the Mud People.

I was given the chance to take part in Why Serve, and as I come out of it, I believe it has not only provided me with more knowledge, but it has also given me a stronger faith community. I gained the support I needed outside Navajo Land and in doing so; I also gained the resources to accomplish all that I want to accomplish. What I learned at Why Serve is that the opportunities are endless.

During and after the conference, I met and talked to people my age. We talked about the struggles we each face, including: lack of respect, lack of church education, and lack of opportunities for young adults. Collectively we made a great diverse group, not everyone suffered the same problems, but we all had something to offer one another and we all have something to offer the church. I learned that just by being there, sharing our stories and sharing our culture, we were all doing God’s work. "God’s work done in God’s time".

As young adults we have so much to offer the wider church, especially as we move forward in time and technology. In some ways young adults serve as a major hub for communication. Aside from our knowledge of advancing technology, we are also growing up in a fast-paced multitasking world, which is molding us into open minded, enthusiastic dreamers. I dream of working with all my friends in the future, I dream of everyone being connected like a web, helping, sharing, and supporting one another as we walk with and carry out God’s will.

During Why Serve, I took part in workshops on Seeking Healthy Mentoring Relationships, Intergenerational Tension, and Discernment through Story Telling. These topics stood out for me because of real life personal experiences. Working with youth is a passion that I hope to live out. I have experience working with at risk children in a highly populated city, and various non-profit organizations. Because of my life experiences, I hope to work with children and alleviate their physical and emotional distress. Based on previous positive conversations with people who had been in a church youth group, I believe creating one would really be a great building block to introduce youth to church. By providing opportunities for youth to be heard and educating them about the church, we can all learn, and by teaching about respect we can all feel whole.

My walk with Navajo Land Area Mission has been one full of great happiness, and my experience at Why Serve has changed me for the better. I went in with the thought of telling the story of my church, and I walked out with renewed thinking. I need to tell my story, to help everyone understand me, and help all in return, including myself; to help grow people with stories, help myself grow by telling my story.

Gerlene Gordy, or GJ, is a member of the Navajoland Area Mission.

A Place from Which to Serve
Ernesto Pasalo, Diocese of Hawaii

Having gone to the previous Does It Fit? conference I felt secure with where I was heading with my discernment. I attended Why Serve? to better acquaint myself with the seminary and my peers. I was not ready for what God had in store for me. God got me questioning, who am I? How do I identify myself? What culture do I identify myself with? . ... >>>

Episcopal Polity 101
Brian Romero, Diocese of Long Island

I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations with the Ethnic Ministries Officers and my friends from different states and our sharing of callings and ministries. However something that did become apparent during our time together was that these young adults (like many in our church) need Episcopal education. By that I mean that in order for these youth to have as much influence as possible they need to be educated about our governance and structure on all levels. ... >>>

Called into Holy Conflict
Jabriel Ballentine, Diocese of Washington

Now, Sewanee was seemingly an obscure place to call together youth of color...There was something miraculous about confronting the injustices of the disinherited and oppressed in an environment that celebrates the “Confederate Giants” who established the institution... >>>

What's Color Got To Do With It?

I struggle with the idea of segregated events, whether on account of race or culture, gender or age. The body segmented is always incomplete. I felt that pain most acutely this morning as I called to inform an excited young man that he, a self described "caucasian" male, was not the target audience for the event... >>>