A disturbing report was made to last year's General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. Alarming statistics showed that only one in three people baptised in a church had any connection with the denomination at the age of 30. A response was the creation of a Youth Ministry course by the Youth Board in conjunction with the professors in the Union Theological College, Belfast, and others.
Described as "new and groundbreaking", the aim of the course is the support of lay and ministerial youth leaders "on the ground". It is believed that this is the first course of its kind developed by a church in Ireland to deal with the problems and opportunities posed by ministry to young people today. The course is part-time over a 10-week period. Subjects dealt with in detail are "The Biblical Basis for Youth Ministry"; "Adolescent Development"; "Teaming up with Parents"; and "Understanding Culture and Environment".
Much-experienced lecturers with a reputation for excellence in communication included a university chaplain, a full-time youth worker in Dublin, and the minister of a large suburban church. Thirty people took the course and all of them graduated.
So successful has this course been judged that a second has been arranged, beginning in February.
Since 1838 in different premises and places in Dublin, different kinds and degrees of care have been provided in what became known, in 1975, as the Harcourt Home.
The object of the home is to provide comfortable accommodation, at affordable rates, for elderly ladies. To meet these objectives, besides ongoing general maintenance and improvements, it is found that there is an urgent need to replace the roof. Work begun in October last is to be completed in February.
The cost of this will be £300,000 at least. James B. Hodgins, a prominent Presbyterian elder, and David Wilkinson, chairman and manager respectively, ask that every church give the home their maximum support. Cheques may be sent to the Manager, 22 Harcourt Terrace, payable Harcourt Home 2000. Other means are by legacies, and by fund-raising events in congregations. This last is greatly encouraged.
February 6th has been designated Education Sunday, although the church and education may be themes on any other suitable Sunday. The purpose of the Sunday is to inform all our people of the importance of education. Provision is made through work in the Sunday school and the youth organisations, and through influence, in school-based education, and the pastoral care provided throughout university and college life. Adult education programmes are provided in the Christian Training Centre.
The Rev R.F.S. Poots, deputy clerk, has provided full informative notes on the church's wide-ranging work and urges the fullest use of these.
A general comment from the Church and Government Committee on the Patten Report is: "The vision we have of Northern Ireland is of a community at peace with itself, with Roman Catholics and Protestants of both the unionist and nationalist traditions working together in a political structure and culture which embraces and honours the obvious diversity of its citizens. The composition, culture and style of policing should reflect and be supportive of that vision and should receive and earn the support of both sides of our community."