3Generate and the Voices of Children and Young People

The 3Generate and the Voices of Children and Young People report to the Methodist Conference meeting in Telford highlights the perspectives, experiences and priorities of children and young people across the Methodist Connexion, drawing particularly on feedback from 3Generate. 

3Generate 2025, held at the NEC Birmingham, was the largest to date, with over 1,700 young attendees, reflecting steady growth since 2021 with improved facilities, including dedicated worship spaces and a wider variety of activity zones. The event theme, ‘A Journey of a Lifetime’, encouraged engagement with scripture, supported by interactive resources.

Youth Representatives actively gathered feedback by engaging participants in conversations and structured questions on their faith. Young people in the Methodist Church value their worship, community and opportunities for personal faith development, but often feel current church practices do not fully meet their needs. Many expressed a desire for more accessible and age-appropriate worship, greater involvement in leading services and clearer teaching of the Bible. They want to feel seen, heard and trusted as active members of the Church rather than passive participants.

Social concerns were also prominent for young people, including mental health, inequality and global issues such as poverty and climate change. Young people highlighted the importance of inclusivity, suggesting churches should better accommodate diverse needs, including neurodiversity. Community and belonging were recurring priorities, with simple acts such as shared meals seen as meaningful expressions of welcome.

The Methodist Conference received the report and encourages circuits and districts to equip and enable those involved in ministry with children and young people to support them in biblical exploration and study, including a broad range of texts and perspectives and directs that connexional resources be promoted in ways that are accessible to children and young people. The Conference encourages more frequent and local gatherings for children and young people within circuits and districts, which enable the development of faith formation and fellowship in the context of a larger community.

Genesis Padgett, Methodist Youth President, commented, “I want to acknowledge that youth leaders and all those who work with children and young people work hard to allow opportunities for their youth.

“Thank you for all that you do, for creating safe spaces where young people feel like they can share their thoughts, needs and ideas in the Church. Thank you all so much.”