Say hello to Genesis!
Genesis Padgett (them/they) has been elected by children and young people from across the Connexion to serve as our next Youth President from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026.
Genesis, aged 19, is a member of Emmanuel Methodist Church near Barnsley. They have been attending a Methodist Church since they were three, but feel they came to faith at around the age of 12 while attending Cliff Festival at Cliff College, the same college where Genesis is currently studying theology. After the festival, Genesis began volunteering at church, helping serve coffee, undertaking readings and becoming a worship leader. “The more I helped, the stronger I found my faith,” says Genesis and so, at the age of 17, Genesis began training to become a Local Preacher.
“I applied for the Youth President role because I believe I can make a difference,” says Genesis. “I want all the young people in the Methodist Church to be excited about God. I want everyone to know they are loved, to keep everyone interested and excited about God. To be willing to evangelise, to want to be Christian.
“I want to help encourage all young people to understand that God loves them. I want to encourage them all to be as excited about their faith as I am and to help them do more in their churches.”
The current Youth President, Bea Hulme, congratulated Genesis commenting, “A huge well done to Genesis, I’ll be praying for them in the run up to their appointment as Youth President. The Youth Presidency is a really exciting role and I look forward to working together with Genesis from August, as we start the handover process to explore what the year will look like. Please keep Genesis in your prayers through the process of preparing for their year of office.”
Genesis will join the Connexional Team on 1 August to prepare for their year in office and to hand over from Bea. They will be formally welcomed at a service that will take place in September 2025.
Welcome Genesis!