08 July 2009
Young Methodists challenge Church to broaden its horizons
Young people have highlighted ways in which churches can be more
open and accessible to all, regardless of age or sexuality.
Young Methodists have asked the 2009 Methodist Conference in
Wolverhampton to train preachers in leading services which can
speak to young people in ways relevant to their lives. The
Conference welcomed the Youth Conference's report and committed to
explore the possibility of making funding available for such
training.
Sarah Malik, Youth Conference President, said: "Being able to
relate to young people is quite a skill and so it should be part of
preacher training. Young people have needs in worship and this
resolution is about young people being valued and recognised by the
Church."
The report also requested that vocational programmes could be aimed
at young people to equip them for ordained and lay ministry in the
Church.
"The vocational programmes are already open to everyone but they
are quite specific and a lot of people attempt them but don't
finish them," said Sarah. "If they become more accessible to young
people then they will be more accessible to everyone."
Young Methodists also asked the Conference to help resource
conversations among church leaders and congregations on the 1993
Resolutions on Human Sexuality, which emphasise that the Church is
open to everyone, regardless of sexuality.
Sarah said: "It has not been the reality for all young people that
churches have been open to people of all sexualities. Young people
want to be able to raise these issues and talk about them with
their ministers and pastors, but many feel that they aren't able
to."
The Youth Conference report to Conference informed members that
human sexuality had been an important item of its business this
year.