Leaders Who Are Young
Leader who are young
“Intentional passing on of leadership, engaging and releasing the under 25’s into leadership that shapes the Methodist Church in Ireland”
Training Opportunities
For Young Leaders
Overflow is a weekend dedicated to training young leaders, held in partnership with local churches. We invite churches to identify young people aged 14+ who would thrive by attending a Christian leadership development weekend.
For Young Adults
Volunteering at events is an important way we support young people and young adults, encouraging them to take on leadership roles at our national gatherings, in safe spaces with trusted adults to encourage and support them. Learn more about volunteering at MCI youth and children's events.
Conference Delegates
The Methodist Conference offers a unique opportunity each year for 9 youth delegates to engage in conversations and decision-making within the Methodist Church in Ireland. Discover who will be representing in 2025.
What Made the Difference
How do you give opportunities to leaders who are young in your local context?
“We offer them opportunities to help lead at youth club, Easter Schemes, Summer schemes, they lead our worship at Snass which they totally look after themselves and if there my other opportunities that come up we offer it to them. Our young people also get involved in tech team and we have and of young people that regularly lead worship in church.”
Ashleigh McKendry
Seymour Street methodist
“So far our encouragement to them has come from asking for their help with the different organizations, and both are very willing. We do try to get their input in the planning and that has varying degrees of success but as they get more used to helping that is coming (slowly!). It is their Mum, with their help, who are starting the Drop-in.
Don't think there is anything more I can say. I hope to get Simon (18) to speak after conference (he's one of the district youth reps), and Zoe (16) is going on a trip to Poland with Exodus this summer and I will be asking her to speak about that as well.”
Rev Ruth Watt
Adare & Ballingarrane Methodist Churches
“One of the ways we have included is to ensure that one person under 30 years is elected to Church Council. We might have to extend that to 35 years. So that means that at least one person between 16-30 years is in a leadership position on the Church Council.
We also invite the children to tell us which songs that they like to sing in church, so we include that. Hence, that have a say in leading worship.”
Rev Robin Waugh
Sydenham Methodist Church
“In reality, we have very few teenagers in the Bray & Wicklow churches. We have Sean (Bray) who does the PowerPoint every other week or so, and has been since he was about 15 – he is now in college, but still attends fairly regularly and helps out.
Hannah is on the Sunday School Rota, and is part of our Youth Strategy Team. Last year, she led the first part of the Service, involving young people.
In both churches, we encourage young people to read the Scriptures and Prayers during the Service.
Both Bray & Wicklow churches are in the middle of developing their Youth Strategies with the help of Joseph Ambrose, so we are encouraged to be part of this process and hopeful that by this time next year, we will be answering your question in a more positive way!”
Rev Mark Forsyth
Bray Methodist Church
FURTHER INSPIRATION
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Youthscape - Identifying young leaders
In this podcast episode, the Youthscape Team discuss the topic of empowering young people in your youth group, a.k.a. young leaders.
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Growing Young Leaders: A practical guide to mentoring teens
Book written by Ruth Hassall, available on Amazon.