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Keeping the faith
25sep03 Churches in Australia are struggling to remain relevant to young people, as Religious Affairs Reporter REBEKAH DEVLIN discovers.
JESUS said "let the children come unto me" – and yesterday, 25 girls followed and were confirmed at St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School.
But most of these girls probably don't go to church regularly and are even less likely to attend church in the future.
Anglican Archbishop Dr Ian George says the church faces an uphill battle to attract and keep young people.
"It is a huge struggle," he says. "Confirmations are diminishing in numbers, as are baptisms."
He says confirmation is an important step for young people in their spiritual journey.
"It's the opportunity for young people to make the decisions themselves to become an adult in the life of the church."
The release of the National Church Life Survey last year gave a most concise snapshot of the church. The survey is conducted once every four years and about 435,000 people from more than 7000 churches across 19 denominations took part. Those denominations cover 80 per cent of Australians who go to church.
The survey found people in their 20s comprised only 9 per cent of churchgoers, however, the pentecostal and protestant churches do the best at attracting and retaining young people.
It also revealed attendances were falling across most denominations.
Archbishop George says being a Christian is tough these days as religion is no longer the social norm.
"It's counter-cultural, certainly not a trendy thing to do; it means taking a stand against many things society is trying to tell you, which can be a hard thing to do, especially when you are a teenager," he says.
He says while the students are at school, they receive biblical teaching and learn the fundamentals of the faith.
"However our problems begin when they leave school. How do we try and keep them interested in church? How do we get them to want to come to church on Sundays?"
He says he has spent much of his time as Archbishop encouraging parishes to update their music and service style in a bid to attract more young people.
But he says many churches have resisted change.
"The older ones at the churches have not embraced new styles, which makes it very difficult.
"We really are very good at caring for the aged and elderly and we have good children's programs, but teenagers and young people are not catered for terribly well within the church. We used to have quite a lot of young parents who came so their children could be baptised, but we're not very good at hanging onto them, either, lately."
Twins Elizabeth and Suellen Lynes, 13, in Year 8, were excited about making the pledge yesterday.
Although they don't regularly go to church, they say faith is still important in their lives.
"We were baptised when we were young, but now we are saying it for ourselves. It is our choice, not our parents"' Suellen says.
The girls undertook classes once a week for two terms preparing for the confirmation.
For Mum, Jo Lynes, and sponsor Rosemary McDonald it was an important step for the girls to take.
"It's a nice thing to do, plus they learn a tremendous amount about selflessness and commitment and doing the right thing," Mrs Lynes says.
Within the Uniting Church, there is a move to place more importance on confirmations. National consultant theology and discipleship, Uniting Church of Australia, the Rev Dr Rob Bos, says confirmations are integral in the development of people's faith.
"Previously, most people were baptised as children and confirmation gave them the opportunity to say 'the Christian faith is for me – I'm going to follow Jesus. I accept what he has done for me and from now on, I'm going to live as a Christian'," he says
"However fewer and fewer people are getting baptised as babies. Many parents no longer go to church, so the significance of getting your child baptised has been lost.
"This follows on to confirmations, young people are not making that decision for themselves."
But some churches are winning the battle. The non-denominational youth conference Planet Shakers held at Paradise Community Church attracted more than 9000 young people from all over Australia earlier this year.
With praise and worship resembling a rock concert, organisers say it meets young people's needs.
"Young people are not anti-God – they are still very spiritual," Pastor Scott Hawkins says.
"They want to see Jesus presented in a way that is relevant, easy to understand and fun.
"The music and preaching and even the atmosphere of the place is one they're used to at a nightclub or pub.
"Planet Shakers clearly shows church doesn't have to be boring, but that it should be a fun and exciting environment."
Many pentecostal churches are also sponsoring school chaplains in local schools to try and break down the stereotypes young people have of Christians.
Exodus youth worker Cass Tompich, 24, goes into Henley High School to run a fun lunchtime program once a week in conjunction with the school chaplain.
"Our aim is to come alongside young people and let them know there is hope, that people do care about them, that they're not alone," she says.
The Catholic Church has also tried to make changes in a bid to attract more young people. On the last Sunday of each month youth masses are held at St Francis Xavier's Cathedral.
With upbeat music, a band and lively singing, as well as cafe-style discussion before the service at 3.30pm, the church is hoping to attract a new generation of followers. Interestingly, the number of Catholic confirmations has risen dramatically over the past five years – from 2533 in 1998 to 4529 in 2002.
Archbishop George says the battle for the hearts and minds of the young is one all churches must win.
"We must make changes. People have to see that young people are the future of the church – without them, we are headed for trouble," he says.
