Delegates offer solutions to nation's problems

Sydney Morning Herald, April 14, 2008
It might have been lunchtime in Martin Place: men in suits were tapping on laptops, women in heels were punching notes into BlackBerries. But it was Sunday and some of the workaholics had braces on their teeth. The 100 delegates, aged 15-24, of the 2020 Youth Summit in Canberra over the weekend wanted to influence policy affecting their future. They handed the Prime Minister a list of solutions to what they saw as the country's most pressing economic and social problems. more...

I include this, not so much for the list of recommendations that were brought forward (although these will be of interest to our Australia readers) but because it made me reflect on the value of such a process for our churches. What about having a similar "Summit" for 15-24 year olds in your church and allow them to brainstorm and dream of solutions to the church's problems. If politicians will listen to young people's recommendations do it why not pastors? Who knows what might emerge...