Methodist Youth President encourages greater involvement with young people
29 June 2023
James Carver, Methodist Youth President 2022-2023, presented the 3Generate report to the Methodist Conference on Tuesday 20 June. The report highlighted the success of last year’s 3Generate Children and Youth Assembly while emphasising the vital role youth ministry plays in the life of the wider Church.
Detailing the success of 3Generate 2022, it was announced that the event held at the NEC in Birmingham last year was the biggest yet, with over 1200 children and young people, 456 group leaders, and 252 volunteers joining together to share and be in communion with God.
Identifying some of the discussions that took place at 3Generate, the report encourages all Methodists to understand the importance of shared learning in the development of children and young people’s faith story.
James explained, “It is incredibly important that all adults within the Methodist Church engage with children and young people outside of the 3Generate weekend. Conversations about God are incredibly important, children and young people can feel as if they have been left on a platform, waiting for a train that will never arrive.”
In his speech to the Conference, James said, “Over the past year I have been asked multiple times how we keep children and young people in Church and the answer is simple. Listen to them, support them, and make sure they know they are a true member of the Church family.”
“Members of Conference, children and young people want to know they are part of something bigger! In a declining church, they want to see and learn more about the full extent of the Methodist Church including its young people.
“Children and young people are keen to meet across the year with other Methodist children and young people from across Circuits and Districts as well as gathering at 3Generate.
You can find out more about 3Generate 2023 here.
The Youth President for 2023/2024 will be Thomas Hart, who lives in Ashby-Cum-Fenby, a small village in Lincolnshire. He attends Keelby Methodist Church and will be welcomed at a service in the autumn.