The PHILIPPINE ECUMENICAL YOUTH MOVEMENT (a brief historical sketch) Introduction The Movement for Christian cooperation and

ecumenicity in the Philippines started with the organization of the Missionary Alliance in 1900. The alliance established the Evangelical union in 1901, which became the National Christian Council in 1929. Ten years later, the Council became the Philippine Federation of Evangelical Churches (1939). After World War II (in 1949), the Philippine Federation of Christian Churches (PFCC) was formed. With the birth of PFCC came the birth of National Council of Christian Youth in the Philippines (NCCYP). And in 1963, the Federation became the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP). Theirs The first known expression of the Ecumenical Youth Movement (EYM) in the Philippines is in November 1926 with the formation of the Protestant Youth Movement. Ecumenical leaders positioned by this time were Rev. Enrique Sobrepena from the United Brethren and Atty. Juan Nabong from United Methodist Church The goals and principles of operation of the Movement were enshrined in its Decalogue of Protestant Youth that emphasized evangelism, social righteousness, church union, self-support and indigenous leadership. It expressed the best aspirations of the Filipino Youth. The Movement had a penetrating influence in the development of Filipino Protestant Churches, leading to the formation of the greatest union of protestant churches at the time in 1929, known as the United Evangelical Church. March 1948 during the National Youth Leaders Planning Conference in Cebu City, the Philippine Federation of Christian Youth Fellowships (PFCYF) was organized. Delegates attended this Conference were from the Evangelical Church in the Philippines, Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, Philippine Methodist Church, and United Evangelical Church. Its purpose were: a) to establish and promote inter-denominational cooperation fellowship among Christian youth groups; b) to present a solid front in challenging the young people with the Christian Gospel and society with Christian standards;

c) to serve as instrument in vitalizing and strengthening the youth programs of different Christian churches; d) to instill among the Christian youth a deeper sense of responsibility through their active participation in the formulation of their own programs; e) to relate the program of the Christian Youth Fellowships of the Philippines to world youth organizations; and f) to work toward a common Christian Youth Fellowship for all the Christian churches in the Philippines. The governing powers were vested in the National Council, and in the interim, the Executive Committee composed of the officers. The first set of officers were Ms. Luz Ausejo Chairperson, Dr. Susana Santos-Reyes Vice Chair, Mr. Bonifacio Amor Secretary, Ms. Delia Cruz Treasurer. The Council organized four commissions on Faith and Worship, Evangelism and Community Service, World Missions, Recreation and Leisure, which represented the general areas covered by the youth program of study, worship and action. By August 1949, during the second National Youth Leaders Planning in Iloilo City initiated by the Young Peoples Department (YPD) of PFCC, it was agreed upon to form a body that shall serve as an organ in which the church youth could meet together for inspiration, fellowship, sharing of programs, plans and problems, and formulation of recommendations to the YPD. This led to the formation of the National Council of Christian Youth in the Philippines (NCCYP) in June 1950 at Los Banos, Laguna. Through the NCCYP, the PEYM sought to help young people of different churches to become aware of Gods seeking love as shown especially in Jesus Christ, and to respond in faith, love, and service to the end that they may develop self-understanding, self-acceptance, and self-fulfillment under God; increasingly identify themselves as sons and daughters of God and members of the Christian community; live as Christian disciples in all relationships in human society. The EYM tried to provide various experiences in meeting the needs of young persons in all aspects of the Gospel and in the light of the situation in which they lived. The challenges faced and the issues confronted resolved around the following areas of concern: 1. Christian faith Christian beliefs Personnel enrichment and growth Meaning of Christian membership

 Bible Study Prayer 2. Christian Witness Evangelism (personal and group) Churchmanship (participation in the life of the local church) Christian Vocation Stewardship 3. Christian Outreach Mission of the Church Peace and world order Ecumenism 4. Christian Citizenship Service to the church Service to the community, to the poor and the less fortunate Industrial relations Economic problems Social problems (alcohol, gambling, juvenile delinquency) 5. Christian Fellowship Recreation Leisure time activities Creative arts drama, music Boy-Girl relations Thus, you can see that the EYM at that time was concerned with every aspect of life and reaches into every corner of meaningful human existence. The aim was to help young people be aware of Gods self-disclosure in such a way that they may respond as children of God to every aspect of Gods creation. EYMs vision was to be a dynamic, vital community of young believers from various denominations, dealing with the crucial problems of life in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In short, the EYM endeavored to help the youth to discover a more meaningful Christian life, to give meaning to life. On another front, during the term of PFCYF came the formation of the Student Work Committee (SWC). This development came about due to the need for a particular ministry to the

student constituency of PFCYF, which at that time was continuously growing. The SWC was the forerunner of the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP), a national democratic ecumenical mass organization as defined by its present Constitution and By-Laws. The period that covered the life and works of NCCYP was a glorious era in the history of the EYM in our country, according to Bp. La Verne Mercado (one of the prominent ecumaniac by that time). The birth of NCCP marked the end of NCCYP. Possibly because of oversight then of YPD of the then PFCC was not retained in the NCCP. Since that time, the denominational youth groups went their separate, individual ways. Joint undertakings were sporadic and minimal. Ministry and work to and with the church youth and students became a concern of NCCP through its Commission on Christian Education, particularly under the Division on Youth Ministry (DYM). This however, happened only a few years after NCCP was established. After several years of lobbying (1969) only did NCCP strengthened its ministry to young people by upgrading the DYM into a full commission of the Council the Commission on Youth and Student Ministry (CYSM). During the mid of late 70s, church youth leaders again started sounding-off the need for the formation of a national ecumenical youth body that shall embody and foster the ecumenical spirit among church youth. Ours In 1984, an ecumenical youth consultation was called by CYSM in order to prepare for the celebration of the International Youth Year (IYY). Among the significant results of the consultation was the agreement to plan for the formation of a federation among Christian Youth Organizations (CYO). Thus, during the IYY Assembly in Baguio City in 1985, representatives of CYOs of some NCCP member churches, other Christian youth groups, and some Regional Ecumenical CouncilYouth representatives agreed in principle to form the said federation. The Assembly then constituted a preparatory committee to pave the way for its founding congress. It took two years before the Founding Congress was held, until in October 21-25, 1987, the Kalipunan ng Kristiyanong Kabataan sa Pilipinas (KKKP) was organized at the Oblate Missionary Immaculate Retreat Center in Quezon City. The first elected officers by then were Tony Santos as

Chairperson, Gessen Rocas as General Secretary, Jojo Samson as Finance Officer, and Marilyn Raboy as Auditor. Since its establishment, the KKKP upholds the following beliefs: 1. Lordship of Christ in our lives and in all our relationships. 2. Participation of the youth in the life and mission of the church here and now. 3. Active and responsive commitment to the needs and aspiration of the hurting and less privilege for a harmonious relationship of Gods creation.

The Continuing Ours The EYM in the Philippines have gone through its success and failures. We must altogether learn from it and make the most out of it. As youth of the Ecumenical Movement in the Philippines, we are challenge to provide a new generation of leaders, a new breed of leadership that would best be described as a leadership with a social conscience a leadership that is not concerned in power for ourselves, but power for a cause.