MORE THAN 200 young people arrived in Dundee yesterday for the opening of the Church of Scotland’s National Youth Assembly 2003 at the Apex Hotel.

The four-day conference began last night with a presentation by the enigmatic American preacher Mike Yaconnelli who runs the youth specialities group that trains and provides resources for youth workers worldwide.

During the weekend the delegates—some of whom have travelled to Dundee from the Middle East, Africa and Europe—will take part in a series of workshops and seminars focusing on the relationship between young people and the church.

There will also be four major debates, with the delegates giving their views on ecumenical relations with national and world mission, social responsibility, communication and the Guild.

Politicians including SSP leader Tommy Sheridan and SNP leader John Swinney will attend the conference tomorrow to take part in a question and answer session.

The Church of Scotland’s national youth and young adult adviser Steve Mallon said the conference was a chance for young people to get their voices heard.

He said it was also a chance to demonstrate that the church was not “on its last legs.” He said, “The group that are coming are incredibly diverse and may not be particularly churchy. Most people of this age (16 to 25) who still have links with the church may not be completely comfortable with regular church life.

“When young people come to us they have to find something relevant and dynamic. We hope the young people who come here will go away thinking there is at least one part which is useful and relevant.”