In this interview, Abigail Bolado, World Council of Churches’ (WCC) programme executive for Youth Engagement, offers her reflections on the spirit of the gathering and the growing call for justice and accountability.
Can you give us an insight of what the Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly was about?
Bolado: The Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly, organized by the Christian Conference in Asia, a WCC partner organization, brought approximately 200 young people (20-35 years old) from 22 countries across the region to Chiang Mai, Thailand, from 17-21 April. This year’s theme, “Break Every Yoke,” based on Isaiah 58:6, resonated with multifaceted challenges, oppression, slavery, and burdens that young people face in their everyday lives. The Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly is a platform for young people to share stories, learn, celebrate, and be in solidarity with what other young people are facing in different parts of the region.
What were your most meaningful takeaways from this event?
Bolado: The global overview of geopolitics and geoeconomics and their impact on the region and different countries, and the lived experiences of every young person who has attended this event, were evident in how they become a domino effect, and communities in the margins are always the ones who get a drastic impact. The reality of these “yokes” has made the young people’s lives in Asia difficult, challenging, and oppressive; from the issues of conflict and war, migration, mental health, social, economic, and ecological problems.
The assembly brought together young people from diverse cultural and faith backgrounds. Were there any particular conversations or moments that stood out as especially impactful or transformative?
Bolado: Part of the Asian culture is being “resilient” amidst all odds. In almost all conversations that I had, the thought of being resilient remains intact. However, this question is also what I have asked while listening to their stories: "How long are we going to depend upon the resilience of the people and start to demand justice and accountability?” When in fact, many of the challenges that young people face are rooted in greed and egoism that result in corruption, violence, and exploitation, which also result in war, poverty, high unemployment rate, lack of educational and healthcare resources, lack of spaces for freedom of speech, and even having the basic needs of the people, and so on.
For the past couple of years, many young Asian people, including millennials and Gen Z, have demanded accountability from their government or power structure in different leadership spaces. This is evidence that young people want accountability, justice, and freedom from the yokes that bind them. Breaking every yoke should not be only the responsibility of young people, but an intergenerational responsibility. As Christians, we should be practicing what we preach, not only to be confined in the walls of our churches but to bring the church into our communities, to share the love of Christ with those who are experiencing injustices.
Moreover, from more personal stories that I have heard, injustices remain an issue in some of the churches. We must be aware of these injustices and act upon these issues, such as intergenerational leadership, where many young people are still striving to take leadership roles in their contexts. Intergenerational leadership means including young people in leadership spaces to learn from each other, not just a one-way approach. Second, young church workers and leaders, even those who work in church educational institutions, receive low salaries but it does not mean they should not get their basic needs. Third, issues of mental health and LGBTQ remain taboo in some churches. Lastly, how the Asian context glorifies overwork and exhaustion in church and ecumenical spaces. Just a disclaimer, that these issues were not the main topic of the event, but these stories were heard over meals and break time, and these are part of their lived realities.
In what ways do you hope the insights and connections gained in Chiang Mai will influence your ongoing work in the WCC?
Bolado: As this event is vital in understanding the Asian context, specifically in countries that we do not normally hear in global news; stories from 22 countries, 170 lives; this strengthens solidarity and motivation to continue walking and working with them; not only to listen to their stories, but to be an accompaniment in their healing process, and to strategize in our programmes and actions. Many of these realities are not only the reality of the Asian context, but also in different regions. Thus, the Young People in the Ecumenical Movement will continue to be a “movement,” moving beyond our walls and will continue to break every yoke, to share the love of Christ, be His hands and feet in this fragmented world. The work never runs out, but as we walk together, from region to region, we as the Body of Christ will be a channel of justice, love, hope, and peace everywhere we go.
