Trustees' Perspective: 'Christ is already at work'

The Rev David Cameron highlights the importance of the intergenerational church and resourcing work to sustain faith in children and young people.

‘WHERE are the children?

This poignant question was posed by the Very Rev Dr David Lunan as Moderator of the General Assembly in 2008. I remember the silence that followed, as the Assembly seemed to hold its breath, waiting for a response. Whether an adequate answer was given remains unclear, but the depth of the question continues to resonate. Seventeen years later, the absence of children and young people in the church has reached a critical level. If we are to build a church that future generations can inherit, we must revitalise our youth ministry by prioritising young people and investing in their spiritual formation. Their energy and perspective are not ancillary to our mission – they are central to it.

We stand at a critical moment for the Church – a time to reflect on the opportunities before us and make them count for God's mission in Scotland. This is not just about survival; it is about resourcing the Church's mission in new ways, leaving behind approaches that no longer serve us. This is a call to community-focused evangelism and to training ministries for an intergenerational Church – one that sees opportunities for witness and service in every corner of life. Our message must be clear and accessible, resonating with local congregations and energising the Church to move forward.

The Seeds for Growth initiative is aimed at proactively facilitating this recovery. It was launched to:

Develop mission through new church communities including church planting and funding training in Pioneering and Pioneer Ministry
Develop and nurture faith in those under the age of 40 including engaging in intergenerational approaches to church through new worshipping communities
Fostering discipleship and revitalisation within established congregations, with the aim of growing the existing congregation or developing a new worshipping community I am delighted that Seeds for Growth Level 3 funding has recently been approved to support a further eight local church projects aimed at church growth, reaching out to young people who do not belong to an existing congregation. All projects must have faith-based outcomes relating to spiritual and numerical growth, and financial sustainability within five years. The sixteen projects approved to date are targeted at bringing around 650 young people into the Church. These are described as youth and children's incubators, mostly of primary/ secondary age, and is the beginnings of a concerted reach to the ‘lost generations'

Evidence suggests whilst engagement with children and young people starts well, by mid-late teens this starts to fall away. By the time our young folk leave home, embark on further education or employment, we lose them almost entirely. For this reason, we need to develop the next experience of Church, the Student or Resourcing Church, planted in locations where young people live and study, that supports a style of worship which is contemporary to their expectations. The Trustees are excited by this vision which requires further development.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:18-19

Seeds for Growth investment in a core number of new style Resourcing Churches could transform our current position of losing the young from the Church of Scotland. This vision is only possible if the next generation is envisioned, empowered and equipped. We know this vision needs much prayer! What a responsibility we all have.

Christ is already at work calling the next generation to follow him. We must be tuned into the nature and purpose of that calling, trusting that He will move and bring His transformation. God has given us the resources we should never be afraid to use them to make it so, for there lies the beginning of an answer to a question posed 17 years ago.

Rev David S Cameron

Convener, Assembly Trustees