Archbishop Emphasises Youth Participation in Church

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rev Rowan Williams is currently on an 8-day visit to the Province of Melanesia, which encompasses the Solomon Islands, the Republic of Vanuatu and the French Territory of New Caledonia in the South Western Pacific. He was warmly greeted by the leaders and congregations of the Church of Melanesia. Around 2,000 people gathered for a service of Holy Communion at St Barnabas Cathedral in Honiara with thousands more gathering outside.

The Archbishop emphasised the importance of allowing young people to participate in the church. He commented that churches tend to overlook the needs of the youth; examples such as they are not given the chance to take part in planning worship or to be invited to speak about their viewpoints. Therefore, to the youths, the church doesn’t always seem the most attractive place to go. This is not the problem for a single church only, but it is for all Churches worldwide.

Archbishop Rowan admitted that the Church of England has begun to discover how to do this a little better, although there is still a long way to go. He highlighted the recent decision to invite young people’s representatives to speak at the General Synod of the Church of England.

He said, “All of us in the Church who are in positions of leadership and authority - and I say this to myself above all - need to be aware of what we have to learn from the concerns, faith, witness and the questions of our young people.”

Archbishop Rowan praised churches and parishes which have worked to include young people’s voices in their decision making and consultation processes. The greater involvement of young people in the church is beneficial to church growth. Not only young people can help to build up a new and creative image for the church, they can also be raised as the future leaders in all kinds of ministries.

The Melanesian Mission was founded by the first Bishop of New Zealand, George Augustus Selwyn, in 1849. He was from England and was appointed by the Episcopal Council at Lambeth. He has made a voyage by the famous “Southern Cross” mission ship and visited 66 of the islands in Melanesia in 1857, pioneering the way for mission.

The Province of Melanesia was formally founded in 1975, independent from the Province of New Zealand. Starting from the early stage of mission in these islands, many English missionaries and local ministers have sacrificed much for the Gospel. Seven members of an Anglican religious community, the Melanesian Brotherhood, were murdered last year during a period of intense inter-communal violence.

Archbishop Rowan felt honour to the persistence of Melanesia Christians in spreading the Gospel despite of the threat of other religious groups. Nowadays, there are approximately 250,000 members in the Church of Melanesia.

Archbishop Rowan said, “Although this may be the smallest province in our Communion, its devotion to the faith is unquestioned. Its commitment to the difficult work of peace making and reconciliation in the recent past has been a shining example of the light of Christ shining in the darkness.”

“...as I look around me I am certain that there is really no such thing as a small church; every church, every part of the Anglican Communion, every part of the body of Christ is a great church because it has a great God and a great hope. I come here therefore, in the hope of learning great things from you,” he added.

Later, as Archbishop Rowan visited Rove Prison, where many of those accused of crimes relating to the intense inter-communal violence last year, he urged the Christians to repent and renew themselves.