Who are the youth of CHPC?  What does the CHPC youth group do?  What do we believe in?  We have been discussing this topic a lot this year on Sunday evenings.  We share with you are findings. . .

CHPC Youth:  Who we are, what we do, and what we believe in:

Top 10 things that we believe:

1.) All people should be treated equally.

2.) We should celebrate uniqueness

3.) in Jesus, God, and prayer

4.) in peace and love

5.) in activism

6.) in welcoming people and acceptance

7.) in justice

8.) in honesty

9.) in walking in other peoples' shoes

10.) in fun!

Top 10 things that we do at youth group:

1.) service projects

2.) Deam Laking

3.) food and fellowship

4.) fundraising

5.) mission trips

6.) fun stuff

7.) discussions

8.) creative projects

9.) Debbie time (choir)

10.) sharing

Additionally, the youth group spent time this year looking at the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and specifically his "I have a dream" speech.  Youth also had the chance to attend an event "It Gets Better" at Highland Presbyterian Church, which focused on combating discrimination against people due to sexual orientation.   Afterwards, we asked our youth what their dreams for the future were.  Below is the response from one of our members, Claire Lockard.

Attending the “It Gets Better” event last week made me see a lot of similarities between the Civil Rights movement of the sixties and the fight for equality we are involved in now. It is hard for me to believe that gay rights have to be earned; it just seems so obvious that as fellow human beings, they deserve every opportunity of a heterosexual person.

Gay teens commit suicide, gay adults are victims of horrifying hate crimes, and every time we seem to make progress towards gay marriage, a law is voted down, and millions of people are left devastated. The phrase “You’re gay” is still used as an insult. Discrimination is still alive and well in the United States.

I believe that it is so important to make sure every person on this planet knows that he or she is valuable, cherished, loved, and accepted. I believe that hating someone for their sexuality is a great way to miss out on so many wonderful opportunities for friendship and new experiences. I believe that being gay is not what defines a person.

As of now, the gay, lesbian, and transgender population of the United States is facing enormous challenges. They are missing out on important legal rights, and the government is all but telling them that they are second class citizens. While improvements have certainly been made, there is still much room for growth. I cannot see any meaningful difference between this situation and the rights for which Martin Luther King Jr. fought so hard.

Like Dr. King, I have a dream. I have a dream that one day, I can attend the weddings of my gay and lesbian friends, and have it be condoned by both God and the U.S. government.

I have a dream that one day, my friends will be judged on their personalities and their characters, rather than their sexual orientation.

I have a dream that my right to be married will be shared with the eight million gay, lesbian, and bisexual citizens who also deserve it.

I have a dream that hate crime will dwindle, that hate itself will become a thing of the past.

I have a dream that one day, a person’s sexual orientation won’t be the only thing that matters.

These are big dreams; these dreams will take a lot of time, a lot of energy, and a lot of advocacy. But I believe that the rights of eight million people are well worth the fight.

I have a dream.