Methodist Conference: 3Generate and the Voices of Children and Young People

The Methodist Conference, currently meeting in Telford, has heard from the Youth President that last October’s children and youth event, 3Generate, was the most successful yet but that the Church needs to make a greater commitment to encourage young people to remain as they grow.

3Generate 2024 was the largest to date, with 1620 children and young people, 520 leaders, and 310 volunteers in attendance. Youth Representatives facilitated questions and activities during 3Generate, as did the Youth President as she travelled across the Connexion. Questions considered young people’s experiences of church, faith and of their community.

When asked about inclusivity, children and young people identified two groups where the Church could improve accessibility, for those who with neurodivergent conditions and those unfamiliar with Church.

“We have a great opportunity. Young adults are showing more interest in spirituality and faith, but we are not doing a good enough job to nurture that interest and engage meaningfully,” said the Youth President, Bea Hulme. “From talking to the young people, it is clear that retention remains a challenge in our churches. It’s very easy to get children and youth engaged and attending events, but it takes more effort to adequately engage older teenagers and, where this does not take place, we are seeing them disinterested and not eager to stick around.”

“The Methodist Church needs to change to be more accessible to its children and young people. Children and young people do not even feel able to invite anyone to church because it is difficult to understand and alienating without prior experience. Things like explaining when to sit and stand, going over new songs, and having the words of The Grace or the Lord’s Prayer on the screen can help massively.”

The Conference received the report and encourages churches and worshipping communities to find ways to make their services more accessible and relevant by updating resources in order better to welcome those who are not familiar with church practice.

The Conference encourages churches and worshipping communities to make full use of available resources to make worship inclusive of all abilities, particularly for those with neurodivergent conditions and for churches to involve their children and young people in EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) training.

The Conference urged Circuit Local Preachers’ Meetings to consider how they can involve children and young people in the planning and execution of acts of worship and recommends that Circuits and Districts bring together dispersed youth populations, especially in rural communities for activity-based sessions.