THURSDAY'S NEWS

Youth ministry “bearing fruit” – report of the Church of Ireland Youth Department
(from Elaine Whitehouse, Communications Dept, RCB)

The Youth Department reported to the General Synod this year on its new, simplified structure and its policy of devolution of funds, reduction in administrative costs and provision of training and networking.

Proposing the Youth Department’s report, the Rev Paul Whittaker of Armagh Diocese told Synod members that the new structures had been successfully implemented and were beginning to “bear fruit”.

The review process leading to the new structures, said Mr Whittaker, had been “difficult and painful” but the strategy of devolved funding was beginning to show results in the employment of several new youth officers in the dioceses and the organisation of various events and programmes around the country.

Mr Whittaker paid warm tribute to Mr David Brown, Youth Ministry Co-ordinator, the Rev Pat Storey, part-time field worker and Mrs Barbara Swann, Office Co-ordinator for their hard work and dedication. He also extended the Youth Department’s thanks to the Church, the General Synod, the House of Bishops and the RB for their “patience, support and prayers” during the past few years.

Mr David Brown, Youth Ministry Co-ordinator, was given special permission to address the session and said he had been overwhelmed during his first year in post to find that the young people of Ireland were so “full of the Christian Gospel”. There was a deep spiritual hunger amongst our young, said Mr Brown, but they were growing up in a post-modern world with a wealth of choices of lifestyle and the Church needed to help them find the Christian choice that worked for them. He asked for the Church’s prayers, passion, support and permission for the Youth Department’s work.

CIYD’s stated aim of providing a “realistic, sustainable, and fair youth ministry in the Church of Ireland as a whole” was applauded by speakers including the Rev Arthur Minion of the Diocese of Killaloe, who thanked David Brown for his “tremendous efforts to get round the country and get to know people”.

The Rt Rev Richard Henderson, Bishop of Tuam, Chairman of the Youth Department, thanked Paul Whittaker for his work and help, and the Most Rev Robin Eames, Primate and President of General Synod, commented that the report was “one of the most hopeful youth reports we have had for years”.

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