Church Leaders Meet With WWU Students for Open Conversation
Leaders from the North American Division (NAD) met with Walla Walla University students on campus in College Place, Wash., in May for a conversation to address student questions. During the 120-minute Facebook Live “Is This Thing On?” event, Dan Jackson, NAD president; Alex Bryant, NAD executive secretary; and Tom Evans, NAD treasurer, answered questions from a live audience.
“Our church only becomes stronger when we talk to each other, pray with each other and learn from one another,” said Jackson. “Transparent and open dialogue on issues important to young people is something we are able to engage in with this conversation. And it’s something we, as a church, should foster beyond this event.”
Topics discussed included racial inclusivity, women in leadership and how younger generations can connect with older generations in church leadership.
“As students we desire to be heard by older generations. It keeps being said about our generation that we are concerned about issues of social justice, and many of the students on this campus feel that the church has been unjust. An opportunity to talk to them on terms that we can agree with (a live/uncut setting) is meaningful to us,” says Peter Flores, senior theology major and 2017–18 president of the Adventist Intercollegiate Association
The event reached thousands of people outside of the WWU community. On Facebook alone, 8,000 people tuned in to the live broadcast, 107 people shared it, and there were a total of 1,115 reactions and comments. Twitter reached more than 66,300 accounts.
To watch the recorded program, visit www.ittoshow.com.
