What are some of the key issues the new bishop should be mindful of in relation to children, young people and young adults?
Key issues amongst young people •
The environment and famine
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Financial debt
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Youth unemployment
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Drug and alcohol misuse
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Bullying
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Funding cuts to youth and children’s provision
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Body image and eating disorders
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Mental health
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Self esteem and being judged by others 1
How would you encourage a new bishop to get involved in things that effect children, young people and young adults? Media and social media
The bishop needs to be mindful of how the church and young Christians are portrayed in the media and work to improve this. The bishop also needs to get involved with different forms of social media
that young people use, such as: •
Twitter, Skype and Facebook to communicate with Christians and non-Christian youth
•
Holding a monthly online press conference
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Having a bishop blog/ video blog
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Hosting a prayer website
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An electronic forum to post up current issues/discussions and to allow young
people to comment 2
Participation and voice The bishop will need to listen to the voice of children and young people through things such as: •
An annual youth consultation
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A Diocesan Youth Committee/Council/Forum to discuss relevant and contemporary issues
•
Deanery Youth Councils with representatives that come together at a Diocesan Council
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Questionnaires asking what the young people want or would like
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Encouraging young people to campaign on various issues that matter to them and to the Church
3
Getting out and about
The bishop needs to be out there meeting more children and young people directly, by: •
Getting involved with smaller youth events and visiting children’s groups
•
Actively seeking out young people and speaking to them, when visiting a church
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Hosting more diocesan events so that children and young people can interact with the bishop informally and feel that they are part of the bigger picture
•
Spending a day each term in a few strategic secondary schools and colleges to
listen to the views of all young people not just Christians •
Visiting places where it is tough to be a Christian like challenging communities
•
Visiting more schools rather than churches because that is where the children and young people are
4
How would a new bishop encourage parishes, schools and colleges to engage more effectively with children, young people and young adults? Training and development Provide more training for vicars and other church leadership on how to engage more effectively with children and young people Encourage schools and colleges to present Christianity in more relevant ways
Provide more opportunities and facilities for young people’s training and personal development, such as: •
Developing music skills and other gifts that can be used in the church and in worship
•
Equipping young people for preaching and teaching others
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Equipping children and young people in sharing and discussing their faith with their non-Christian friends
•
Helping Christian children and young people to be proud of their faith 5
Influence and encourage It would be good for the new bishop to influence and encourage vicars and other church leaders to make our churches exciting, accessible and inclusive for ALL children, young people and families, by: •
Every church adopting a Child Friendly Ethos Policy
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Planning for the future and using this generation to help achieve it
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Having more accessible services for young people, using appropriate language etc.
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Encouraging those in power to stop taking away youth facilities and funding
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Supporting all children and young people not just those connected with the church
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Being more media aware when promoting churches activities for young people
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Making better use of church buildings for other community uses or events
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Encouraging vicars to use different buildings and the outdoors for worship
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Taking the church to the community, if the community won’t come to the church
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Promoting unity over division
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Hosting more youth based activities and worship at local level (especially in rural areas)
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Having greater clarity for young people on communion so they don’t feel excluded
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Involving more boys of secondary school age with church 6
What are the main qualities that a new bishop should have? •
A wider vision for the life of the church, and how it can grow
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To be able to relate well to others
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To be passionate and enthusiastic about their job and calling
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To stand up for what he believes in
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To be an ambassador for Christian young people
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To express the fruits of the spirit in their life and ministry
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To be approachable and accessible
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To have a good sense of humour
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To be empathetic, especially to those who are excluded or marginalised
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To be trustworthy and reliable
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To be outward looking
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To have a youthful attitude and tell it the way it is (a bit like us)
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To be servant hearted
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To be positive about women bishops
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To help the church in this diocese to modernise not patronise 7
