Children The Church of Tomorrow?
As a church we are lucky enough to find ourselves in the position where we are starting a new youth group on March 5th. However this does raise the questions about how we involve young people in the life of our church. Does the old Victorian maxim still apply ‘children should be seen but not heard’ or should they be as valued as any member of our church.
I spent some time as the district youth secretary for Cheshire and used to become cross when people told me how children and young people were important for after all they were the church of tomorrow. I would politely correct them and tell them they were wrong. Children and young people are in fact the church of today and the leaders of tomorrow.
How do we ensure they are represented in all aspects of our church life? Should for instance we be canvassing their opinion as to whether or not the worship meets their needs. Should we be offering an alternative youth service, perhaps this could be an ecumenical venture. How are children and young people catered for in the social life of the church?
Perhaps the more contentious question is how are young people catered for in the power making bodies of our church? How would the church feel about a young person being represented on the elders giving their views about how the church should move forward?
These are just ideas to be floated, discussed and added to, feel free to agree or disagree, modify or dismiss and I look forward to your comments.
posted by Sale and Ashton URC @ 5:35 PM
3 Comments:
Greeting from Korean Grace Church
First of all, on behalf of Korean Grace Church, I would like to thank you all of Sale and Ashton URC members for letting us use the Ashton URC building.
I spent about 2 years as s Sunday school teacher. My conclusion is they feel more comfortable and focused when they offer their own service. The thing is, though, it might lose a connection between the youth group and the adult group. I would suggest a joint service, say once a month. It could be a family service, for example. By this way, they would feel they are cared for, yet independent.
I hope this little step can fill the gap between different generations.
I am looking forward to meeting you all at our joint service on March 5th.
Don Lee
Board Member, Korean Grace Church
Don Lee,
Thank you for your comments we too are looking forward to worshipping with you on March 5th.
I think what you have picked up on is that, regardless of age, we all appreciate being valued. It does not matter how old we are as we are all able to contribute to the life of our church. The responsibility we have as adults and as those who hold power is to ensure that power is exercised fairly and inclusively.
Once again thank you I can take your thoughts and they can help inform and guide any further discussion we may have.
Thanks
Stuart.
I have also spent time serving as a district youth secretary and during that period spent many occasions worshipping at services within church communities that were aimed directly at the youth element visiting or belonging to that particular church.
Meeting the congregation after the service I often became aware that many of the 'older' members of the congregation had appreciated a different format to their regular worship e.g the inclusion of dance, acting etc.
I think that maybe once in a while it does not do any of us any harm to have an alternative way of prasing and serving the Lord on Sunday mornings.
Sharing experiences of faith does not only have to be descended from adults to children but can also be shared upwards.
Children always see new things in a simple way, they do not deal with complexities, maybe we as adults every now and again should visit our faith through the eyes of a child.
I would therefore support that occasionaly a service directed at or held by the children and young people of the church family to be held.
Diana Lister
Ex- district youth secretary South West Manchester District
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