Living and Gathering Together as Orthodox Christians
Introduction to the OYP Community Guidelines
OYP is a fellowship of Orthodox Christian young adults seeking to grow in faith and service. Whether we are gathering for a local meet-up, an online study group, or our flagship residential retreat, we want our spaces to be marked by love, attentiveness, and the spirit of Christ. We all come from different spiritual and professional backgrounds, and this document sets a shared standard, so that expectations are clear, no one is caught off guard, and, should any issues arise, there is transparency around how they will be addressed.
Our hope is to build a community where people feel safe, respected, and able to grow. We each bring different gifts, stories, and struggles and part of our calling is to make room for one another with grace. While these values apply across all OYP gatherings, they are especially important during larger or longer events such as OYP CON, where we spend extended time together in close community. Some of the examples and guidelines below are written with that context in mind.
1. We Are Christians – First and Foremost
Our calling as Christians does not pause when we step into a retreat setting. In fact, it becomes more visible. Let us speak with love, act with humility, and treat every interaction as an opportunity to reflect Christ. This includes how we speak, how we listen, how we handle disagreement, and how we carry ourselves throughout our events.
2. Fellowship Rooted in Christ
OYP is a gathering for worship, reflection, and renewal. It is a place where we seek to deepen our life in Christ through shared prayer, learning, and friendship. With the growth of the Church, we recognise that those attending may be at very different points on their spiritual journey. People may come with longstanding experience of Orthodox life and others may be newer to the faith or returning after a time away. Let us meet each person with patience, grace, and gentleness. We want to be attentive in how we speak, act, and carry ourselves, not everyone is in the same place, and kindness creates space for others to feel welcome and at peace. Our relationships with one another should reflect the love of Christ.
3. Let us Attend!
We invite you to be present: in conversations, in services, and in silence. Please be mindful of phone use, especially during worship, talks, or shared meals. We do not expect you to attend every talk and event – although we would love you to do just that! However, please try to arrive on time if you plan to attend. The schedule is set with intention and purpose.
4. Confidentiality and Safeguarding
During our time together, you may find yourself in deep or unexpected conversations. Please treat what others share with confidentiality and respect.
If something comes up that causes serious concern, especially anything related to safety, please speak to a member of the team or clergy. We are here to support and respond with wisdom and care. If needed, we will involve appropriate support: pastoral and/or external.
5. Joyful Temperance
You are welcome to enjoy moments of celebration and rest. If you choose to drink alcohol, please do so with moderation and mindfulness of those around you. Let us avoid anything that might make others feel unsafe, excluded, or uneasy. Not everyone consumes alcohol. Choose joy that includes, rather than isolates.
6. Honour the Space and One Another
We are guests of the Abbey and other venues where we host our events. Treat the grounds, buildings, and those who maintain them with respect. Clean up after yourselves, keep shared areas tidy, and support the volunteers and clergy who have offered their time and care. Please be mindful of noise after a certain time. Many of the venues’ staff also live on site. Let the OYP committee know if you are going outside the grounds late at night, for your own safety. Everyone should return to their own dorms by the time set.
We encourage modesty, not just in dress but in speech and behaviour as well. This is an event with many spiritual components alongside leisure activities, but the aim is still for it to be a place of prayer and reverence. The key is consideration, not legalism.
7. When the Code Is Not Upheld
We recognise that the Church is a place of healing and that many who come to OYP CON and other events may carry unseen struggles, past wounds, or personal vulnerabilities. This is a space of grace and support, and we aim to walk with one another in gentleness and care.
Those in positions of leadership, whether clergy or lay, are also held to these same standards. They are here to serve the community in love. Please feel free to approach the organising team or clergy not only with concerns but also with questions, support, or reflections.
We are here to walk alongside you. However, if someone’s behaviour seriously disrupts the wellbeing of the community, the organisers may speak with them privately to seek understanding and resolution. In rare cases, for the good of the wider group, an individual may be asked to leave the event. We trust that these moments, if they arise, will be handled with discretion and prayer.
This is about holding one another to the high calling we all share: to be living witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A Final Word
Thank you for taking the time to read and reflect on these guidelines. They are not just policies; they are a shared commitment to love well, to live with integrity, and to honour the presence of Christ in each person we meet. As we grow together in fellowship, let us be patient with one another, quick to forgive, and joyful in all things. And may our time together, especially during OYP CON, be marked by peace, kindness, and the quiet work of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Let all that we do be done in love.