The IYC is a place to discover yourself, to develop yourself, to challenge yourself, to question yourself, to accept yourself. The Christian Community is there to offer a framework and guidance should you look for it.

Close of Day

Every evening the priest leads a close of day whereby we are given time to reflect on the day’s events and learn from our experiences. It is a peaceful moment with music and candlelight.

The Act of Consecration of Man

The Christian Community believes everyone can connect directly to the spiritual world. They are not there to tell you what is right and what is wrong and what you should believe. The service known as the Act of Consecration of Man is a ritual which can guide you to a deeper understanding of who you are and what your purpose is, and give you the strength to accomplish it.
The ACM is there to guide us to understand and harness the power that flows through the world. The ACMs take place on Sunday mornings on camp as well as a voluntary ACM on Thursday morning.

Why spirituality?

If we are connected with nature we will not destroy her. If we can see the good in others we will try and bring it out in them rather than destroy them. If we avoid contact with our spirituality, we risk drowning in the consumerist world and being easily manipulated.

History

The Christian Community is part of an international movement for religious renewal, founded in Switzerland in 1922 by the Lutheran theologian and Minister Friedrich Rittelmeyer. He was supported by Rudolf Steiner, the Austrian philosopher.

Members of the Christian Community are not required to sign articles of faith, and are encouraged to form independent judgments in religious matters. There is also no formal written dogma. Each priest has the freedom to teach anything which does not contradict the content of the sacraments whose texts form the “bedrock” of The Christian Community. There is room in this modern Christian theology to incorporate such ideas as reincarnation and karma. The Christian Community welcomes everyone and anyone can become a priest regardless of gender, race, orientation or family circumstances.

When participating in the IYCamp it is not necessary to be a member of, or to have a relation with the Christian Community or Christianity in general. We welcome people of other faiths as this gives the camp more cultural richness. However the service and Close of the Day are part of our camp programme and therefore take place with everyone’s presence.