The YMCA was established in 1844 as a Christian response to the needs of young people. It has since grown into a global movement present in 120 countries, serving over 60 million people annually. Across this diversity, the Christian identity of the YMCA is understood and expressed in many different ways — from strongly faith-based to faith-inclusive and to secular expressions.
We want to take part in a safe, healthy, and enriching conversation across the global YMCA Movement, in order produce a clarifying statement about the worldwide YMCA Movement’s collective Christian identity, in a diverse and ever-changing 21st Century world.
The conversation is not designed to alter the founding YMCA document that is the Paris Basis of 1855, to remove the C in YMCA, or to change what any YMCA does or says. Instead, it is designed to produce an authentic and clear statement – to which each National Movement can relate, and which would hopefully be adapted as necessary and then adopted by the entire Movement at World Council. This statement would be designed to reflect both our YMCA diversity and our collective YMCA identity.
Internally, we wish every YMCA to feel comfortable and know that it belongs in the worldwide YMCA Movement. Externally, we hope to clarify who we are.
