Last week Bishop Hugh met with our diocesan network of paid Children and Young People Ministers to listen to and encourage them.
He emphasised their work is of great interest to him. He said:
“I said it at my installation service and I’ll say it again, the single most important priority, or area of attention, for me, is our ministry with and to children, young people, their families, and their extended communities.”
He added:
“Jesus said, when he took a child and put him among the people and took him in his arms, ‘Whoever receives one such child in my name, receives me..." (Mark 9:37). I take that quite literally. Most of our churches though are not all ages, not because people have failed or because we don't want to engage with children or because we haven't tried, but because for all sorts of very significant cultural factors over the last 40 years, the culture of the church and that of young people have grown far apart.”
“But I don’t think we can be ‘Kingdom People’ without children. We need children, we can really learn from them.”
Bishop Hugh emphasised that the Children and Young People Ministers are his frontline missionaries, therefore. He said:
“I hope I might hear from you as to how we can help amplify what you're doing, so it's not just the good things that you're doing with a group of children or young people in the place where you serve, but how you can be leaders in this in our diocese and help the whole diocese think younger?”
Finally, Bishop Hugh and the ministers discussed what the joys and challenges of their roles are, what further resources and support they need and what keeps them faithful, hopeful and loving.
