METHODIST YOUTH

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 47, 19 November 1936, Page 15

METHODIST YOUTH

Decentralisation Policy Favoured WELLINGTON DISTRICT SYNOD Decentralisation of its work into five areas, each with a youth director working in the interests of the three sections of the department, was favoured by the youth department in a special report on district youth director policy which was presented at the annual synod of the Wellington district of the Methodist Church yesterday. The recommendations were approved. The report explained that the three objectives of the policy, of which the first was paramount, were: (1) Concentration on child training, teaching the teachers, by systematic contact and practical demonstration in teaching methods, helpful contact with parents; (2) an awakened and virile youth leadership in every church, and vitalising the local youth committee; (3) co-ordinated fellowship of all sections within the local church, not only of one youth section with another, but of the whole youth section with the church, and conscious direction of sectional energies into one main stream of creative Christian living.

Dealing with the organisation the report pointed out that in place of the three national executive councils, i.e., Sunday school, Y.W.B.C. and Y.M.B.O V each responsible for the work of a full-time travelling director or secretary, who. over a period of two or three years visited each youth section in the Dominion, the decentralisation policy provided for five area youth councils, each with its own youth director. The councils would consist of five representatives each of the ministers, laymen, Sunday school, Y.W.B.C. and Y.M.B.C. representatives, the nomination of the councils to be through synods to conference. Area councils would be responsible for the work of the directors, local youth committees, and the area budget. The national responsibility would rest with the existing Youth Board, who would co-ordinate the policy of the area councils and be responsible to conference. Final approval in all matters of importance would rest with conference. The proposed five areas would include the following synod boundaries: (1) Auckland; (2) South Auckland, Taranaki - Wanganui; (3) Wellington, Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu; (4) North Can-terbury-Nelson; (5) Otago-Southland-South Canterbury. “The gross expenditure on youth work in 1935 was £1603.” continued the report, “With five directors the estimated expenditure is £2BOO, £5OO being available from' trading, grants, etc., leaving £2300 to be raised in areas, an average of £460 each.

•‘The quarterly meetings are the foundation of all Methodist organisation, and it is their responsibility to make provision for all aspects of church life and work, including that of childhood and youth. Therefore, it is proposed that the raising of the area finances-be the responsibility of quarterly meetings. The area councils will recommend circuit allocations through synods to conference, the quarterly meetings to divide the allocation between their local youth committees to raise from church members, Bible classes and Sunday schools. It is proposed that the budget be raised a year in advance. The missionary interest and contributions by Bible class members and Sunday schools would be organised by local youth committees and paid through quarterly meetings. “The five directors will be selected from the ablest men and women available, with suitable training and experience. The Youth Board, after conferring with a national youth convention, will submit nominations to conference for appointment for a term of six years. The importance of the qualifications, training, status and work of the directors is fully realised, and a special report on this matter will be issued for the approval of conference, before any nominations are submitted.”

The president, the Rev. E. P. Blamires, who is also director of youth work, said that in view of the fact that youth to a large extent seemed to be slipping through the fingers of the church to-day, the very future of the church demanded more intense concentration on the spiritual care and' nurture of the child.

Among those who spoke on behalf of Bible class organisations were Miss N. Martin and Mr. E. L. Howe.