Christian Emphasis
The concept of Christian Emphasis is as old as Y’s Men International itself. It reflects our YMCA heritage, honours the vision of our founder, and is embedded in both our Mission and Constitution.
When we speak of “Christian” in Christian Emphasis, we are referring broadly to the values expressed in the teachings of Jesus Christ, such as “love your neighbour as yourself.” Members are encouraged to put these words into action in their daily lives, guiding their decisions and methods of service.
The purpose of Christian Emphasis is to ensure that the voice and activities of our movement consistently reflect these core values. It is about sharing our philosophy and vision openly, and promoting YMI as a worldwide fellowship of people committed to making the world a better place — a fellowship open to all, regardless of race, creed, colour, nationality, or faith tradition.
As part of Strategy 2032, YMI reaffirmed that love, compassion, sacrifice, and selflessness are upheld as core values based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Key Elements of Christian Emphasis in YMI
- Living our mission: Ensuring our programmes and statements align with Christian values and ethical service.
- Dialogue in a multi-faith world: Promoting respect, understanding, and cooperation with people of all faiths, focusing on shared principles such as the Golden Rule found across many traditions.
- Inspirational messaging: Sharing motivational statements that encourage members to live virtuously and work for a fairer and more sustainable world. These messages are often tied to YMI events, council meetings, Founder’s Day (December), and major Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter. In multi-faith contexts, recognising other significant religious observances is also encouraged.
Through Christian Emphasis, Y’s Men International reaffirms its identity as a service movement rooted in Christian values, while also embracing inclusivity, mutual respect, and shared service to humanity.
The Christian Basis
Article 2, Section 1, of the International Constitution sets out the Christian basis of Y’s Men International and its loyalty to the YMCA:
The International Association of Y’s Men’s Clubs is a worldwide fellowship of persons of all faiths working together in mutual respect and affection, based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, and with a common loyalty to the Young Men’s Christian Association, striving through active service to develop, encourage and provide leadership to build a better world for all mankind.
Guideline 201 gives an interpretation of the words “based on the teachings of Jesus Christ” in Article 2, Section 1:
“Based on the teachings of Jesus Christ” means that club members acknowledge what Jesus Christ has taught and that the acceptance of those teachings leads club members to be prepared to put His words into action. They become guidelines for club members’ decision-making, for their mode of operation as clubs and as an international association and for the way of life of club members as individuals.
As the YMCA, Y’s Men International is open to all regardless of race, creed, colour or national origin, but while the YMCA has “open membership and Christian leadership”, Y’s Men International does not have any restrictions on its leadership. We therefore have members and leaders of other faiths than the Christian faith in our ranks.