wfn.org | ACNS Archbishop urges Church to do more for the young

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 3857     |     MELANESIA	  |	21 JULY 2004

Photographs for this item can be found here:
http://www.aco.org/acns/articles/38/50/acns3857.cfm

Archbishop urges Church to do more for the young

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Rowan Williams, who is on an
eight-day visit to the Church of the Province of Melanesia, has told a
gathering of more than a thousand young people that the Anglican Church
has to do more to relate to them and their concerns.

Speaking in St Barnabas Cathedral in Honiara, Archbishop Rowan declared:
"The church doesn't always seem the most attractive place to go. We
don't always take account of the needs of young people or let them have
a part in planning worship.

"They will come when they feel they are being taken seriously; when they
have the opportunity to ask questions and when they have the chance to
develop as people within the church. And the Church in our country is
beginning to discover how to do this a little better, although we have a
long way to go.

"All of us in the Church 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 and the faith and the witness and the questions
of our young people."

Archbishop Rowan praised churches and parishes that have worked to
include young people's voices in their decision making and consultation
processes. He also highlighted the recent decision to invite young
people's representatives speak at the General Synod of the Church of
England.

During his second day in the province of Melanesia, Dr Williams made
courtesy calls on the Governor General of the Solomon Islands, Mr
Nathaniel Waena, and on the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, the
Hon. Sir Allan Kemakeza, who hosted a lunch in the Archbishop's honour.

The Archbishop then visited the National Referral Hospital in Honiara
and led prayers for staff and for some of the three hundred patients. Dr
Williams also paid a pastoral visit to Rove Prison, where many of those
accused of crimes relating to the recent inter-communal unrest are
detained. Appealing to fellow Christians he emphasised the Gospel
message of repentance and renewal:

"It cannot be easy for you to listen to someone who comes from the other
side of the world and who doesn't know you. And yet I know that you are
brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. I can say to you, not as an
Archbishop, not as a leader, but also as a brother in Christ, a brother
who is also called to change, called to discover forgiveness and also
called to be patient and trustworthy and joyful, in order that we can
change to show God more faithfully."

The Press Office, Lambeth Palace
Tel: 020 7898 1280/1200
Fax: 020 7261 1765
www.archbishopofcanterbury.org

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