On the (Summit) Road Again

"How was the Summit?" colleagues inevitably ask when we return home. No, we editors haven't been scaling mountains, but a few of us have been hopping on planes to attend gatherings of Christian Science youth in cities and towns around the world. These "Spiritual Activist Summits," as they've been called, bring together young people, Christian Science lectures, practitioners, teachers, and chaplains, as well as editors from The Christian Science Monitor, the Journal, and Christian Science Sentinel, typically for a day or two of heart-to-heart discussions, workshops, and lectures. The first Summit—two years ago in Lebanon, Missouri—was such a success that others have followed in Los Angeles, London, Chicago, Houston, Washington, D.C., and most recently, Melbourne.

Ingrid Peschke, managing editor of spirituality.com and our sister publication the Christian Science Sentinel; Jenny Roemer, a Sentinel staff editor; and I have alternated at many of these Summits, giving workshops called "The Christian Science Magazines: Your Voice is Valuable." Recently, the three of us sat down for an informal roundtable discussion about what we've observed and learned from these workshops—especially fresh insights and ideas from our Church's wide variety of young people around the world.

Suzanne Smedley: Ingrid and Jenny, what would you say are the most significant observations you've made about the young people who attend these Spiritual Activist Summits?

Jenny Roemer: Well, first, as we know, they come from different places in their lives and from different backgrounds in Christian Science. Many go to schools where they're the only Christian Scientist, and you can see the excitement on their faces when they realize at these Summits that they're part of a worldwide community of Christian Scientists.

Ingrid Peschke: And that encourages them to make new friends—they forge new relationships. The Summits are generally for a wide range of age groups, from twelveto thirty-year-olds. But I've been surprised by how many young people come who are married, have full-time careers, and want to spend their weekend attending these Summits. Also, we see a pretty wide range of where the participants are in their commitment to Christian Science. And I think the Summits even inspire some of them to join a branch church or to take Christian Science class instruction.

SS: I'm always surprised by how many people at the Summits are new to Christian Science and know very little—or maybe nothing at all—about it. In fact, last April on the day of the London Summit, the organizers strung a big banner outside First Church welcoming everyone in the community to come.

Of course, some Christian Scientists go because a parent or friend has given them a strong nudge. They aren't so sure what to expect, or why they're there, and frankly, they may feel they don't want to spend a valuable weekend hearing about "church stuff." I love hearing about these same kids who left on the last day surprised that they've enjoyed the whole experience—and many of them say they loved it.

JR: In the Summit wrap-up sessions, a few people always get choked up when they give gratitude for being there. That brings tears to my eyes, because you see how much these Summits mean to them. I think back to when I was in college. You need a lot of extra support in your late teens and early twenties because it's such a transitional period in your life. The Summits provide that healing support and also an important camaraderie among young Christian Scientists.

SS: OK—I think it's clear how much we've loved seeing the positive effects of the Summits themselves on the attendees. Now, another important element for the three of us is the writing workshops we've been giving at the Summits for the past few years. Let's talk about how each of us perceives the take-away for the participants—and for us.

IP: First and foremost, I think they really see that we value their voices in the magazines. We tell people that it doesn't matter whether or not they're perfect writers. We're there to help them publish their stories, because most have had an experience to share that was healing for them. And if it was healing for that individual then it will help so many more people. I know, Suzanne, that an American teen you worked with was amazed that his article in the Journal reached someone in Africa.

SS: I remember that. We got a touching e-mail from a Sunday School teacher in Kenya about a skateboarding article our young guy had published. What I loved about that e-mail was that it didn't matter whether or not skateboarding was a sport these African Sunday School students could relate to. What made an impression on them was the down-to-earth way this American guy talked about how he prayed to overcome his fear of doing difficult tricks.

JR: Beyond facilitating the workshops, I find it really valuable to observe everybody and act as a reporter, picking up pieces of useful information—the kind of questions teens and twenty-somethings are asking in their sessions—and really listening to their concerns. I'm taking it all in and bringing it back to the Sentinel so we can incorporate their ideas about topics and graphics into the magazine.

SS: I agree. I feel as though we're on a kind of listening tour when we travel to these Summits. And everything we hear and see makes us better editors.

IP: It's such a privilege to be able to meet your audience. Often they'll say, "It's great you all came out to one place to see us." But I always think, It's great you guys came together in one place this weekend.

One thing I try to do in our workshops is to share a healing that I had when I was younger. I've found that sharing from my teen years encourages others to step forward and share their experiences. It's so rewarding to hear their stories and see them opening up. After the Summits, I love it when I'm already getting messages on my BlackBerry at the airport from people who want to write for the Sentinel. A lot of times they have pieces of writing on their laptops that they've been waiting to send. If they don't alreadt have an article written, then the seed has been planted. We've published quite a few pieces for the magazines through our contacts at these Summits.

SS: We have a steady stream of articles coming in for the Journal, too. But we've also learned that not everyone feels they're "good enough" to write. It seems to me that some of the biggest misconceptions about writing for the Sentinel and the Journal are that you have to be a professional writer or that you have to have Christian Science all figured out—or somehow you're supposed to be humanly perfect.

IP and JR (in unison): Or be a Christian Science practitioner!

IP: Or even a Christian Science teacher.

JR: Right. And I think that's because people see an article in the magazines, and they think, This looks so polished. We explain that writing is a collaborative process between author and editor, and an article may go through several iterations. I always like to say, "You know, some of those people whose articles you love and who write all the time—their final piece is usually not their first draft." That encourages people. It doesn't have to be perfect and tied up with a bow the first time around.

SS: That's so true. In fact, one of the articles that I got the most positive feedback about was by a young woman in India who was very new to Christian Science. She was so grateful for the transformation she felt after studying Christian Science that she sent us an article—unsolicited—about her experience. The writing was sincere and full of love, and it really spoke to readers. Her first draft was a bit rough, and I went back and forth with her a few times to clarify a few things, but it had a lot of heart. And that's what counts.

IP: The way God communicates with each of us is so individual, and we're trying to encourage the free expression of that inspiration so the language is fresh and original, not jargon.

SS: Yes! I hope we've been successful in addressing misperceptions about writing for the magazines.

Getting back to the whole Summit experience, after the first one at CedarS Camp two years ago, a young woman remarked to me that the experience had changed her life. That's a pretty dramatic statement, but I think many of the participants find some direction and a greater sense of purpose.

IP: At the Summit earlier this year in Houston, a college student stood up at the end and said that when he arrived on the first day, he didn't know what he wanted to do with his life. But after he went to the talk on the Christian Science chaplaincy, he realized that he could serve in the military—which he'd always wanted to do—as a Christian Science chaplain. And he just wanted everyone to know. He was so genuine. All of us started clapping.

JR: I think what's so cool is that Christian Science lecturers are at all these Summits—dressed casually—and they're interacting with everyone. That means a lot to the attendees. A highlight for many of them is just getting to talk to these lecturers face to face, and seeing that they're regular people!

SS: Yes, they see that the lecturers haven't had a perfect human life or past either, but here they are, really dedicated to learning more about Christian Science. That's so encouraging—to hear how Christian Science practitioners and teachers have had to overcome some of the same things these young people are grappling with—stress, sexual promiscuity, drug addiction—and yet these challenges didn't stop the lecturers from becoming the healers they are today.

IP: And another highlight in Houston was when the Christian Science Board of Directors talked to the group—and the Directors were in their jeans. Everyone loved it! They wanted more. I've seen that these Summits help break down any lingering formalism that's crept into Christian Science churches and whatever else makes young people feel like Christian Science is out of touch or out of reach.

SS: It's clear that we've all benefited tremendously from attending these Summits. Can you nail down a specific high point—and maybe even a low point—that you'd like to share?

IP: If there's a low point for me, it's not being able to talk to enough people. Because there are a lot of workshops going on at the same time, no one can go to every workshop. As far as a high, I've never left a Summit without feeling inspired.

SS: I always leave with a light heart and a great sense of hope. Hope for the future of Christian Science, because these young people are thinking deeply about what it means to be a Christian Scientist, and practicing what they understand. And as far as a low point, I can't think of any, except to say that the three of us agree we wish we could talk to every single individual at these Summits about the Journal and Sentinel, as Ingrid said. These young people are our future writers and subscribers.

JR: One high point for me that comes to mind is the unselfishness you see. It really impressed me. Here we are, all of us with our own challenges to pray about, yet you get the feeling that people are sincerely interested in getting outside of themselves and being healers in the world. If there was a low point at all, it was just that we all wanted more time to spend together. These weekends fly by so quickly.

SS: A lot of young people are already active in various causes—whether environmental, social, or political—and we mention in our workshops that writing for the magazines is a great way to be an activist—a spiritual activist. That's something that hasn't occurred to many of them.

JR: Being a reader of the Journal and Sentinel magazines and supporting them are good ways, too. Really, these Summits are like gatherings of modern-day disciples, or you could say, spiritual activists.

IP: In his opening comments at the Houston Summit, Bill Warrick talked about the Bible account of two of Jesus' disciples walking to Emmaus after Jesus' crucifixion. I love the part about their hearts burning within them when the risen Jesus joined them on their walk and spoke to them [see Luke 24:32]. That's what these young people are doing in a way—walking that same path with the Christ. The Summits open up to all of us this same burning desire for the Truth, for being on fire about Christian Science.

JR: Even if it's a little ember that gradually builds and builds—

IP: I think the Summits fan that fire, honestly. At the end, you feel like it's a bonfire! I think everyone walks away with a feeling of being inspired.

JR: There's so much love, too. You learn the letter of the teachings, but most of all, you feel the spirit of Christian Science. It's a powerful combination. You see all the care that goes into making the Summits happen, and you see all the thought that people bring to them. I feel that this is where we need to be going as a church—emphasizing unity and common goals over things that divide us. I wish everyone could attend one of these Summits and see what's happening. They would be so encouraged.

IP: Some churches spend as long as six months planning every detail of a Summit they host or support.

JR: You see generations meeting at them—the older church members are so enthusiastic about ushering and volunteering and talking to the participants. And you see that these Summits aren't really about age, but about youthful thinking and different generations coming together.

SS: That reminds me of something a friend said to me once: The future of our church isn't just our youth. The future depends on us all—not only on students and parents, but on everyone—and our degree of spiritual understanding. That's the purpose of these Summits, really—to rouse that understanding, which Mrs. Eddy defined, in part, as the real purpose of Church [see Science and Health, p. 583].

IP: At these Summits, we're all kind of on a climb together—going up to the mountaintop, getting a broader view of what our purpose is, of who we are as Christian Scientists, and of what we have to offer the world.