CHRISTIAN YOUTH

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 24, 28 July 1939, Page 6

CHRISTIAN YOUTH

WORLD CONFERENCE

A GREAT PROGRAMME

Mention is made in the cables of a message of greeting which was received from Queen Wilhelmina by the delegates to the conference of Christian Youth now in session at Amsterdam. This conference is highly important and significant. It represents a definite world organisation whose headquarters are at Geneva. Responsible world organisations which also stand behind the conference are the World Alliance for International Friendship Through the Churches, the Universal Christian Council for Life and Work,- the World Alliance of Young Men's Christian Associations, the World's Young Women's Christian Association, and the World's Christian Student Federation.

It will be seen that the conference is really representative of the Christian youth of all nations, from seventy of which delegates are in attendance at Amsterdam.

The subjects discussed "embrace all the problems which have arisen ■, in the world of today. The agenda has been prepared in the form of study books prepared by an executive who has been in touch with youth groups and organisations of nearly every land. These face, in the fearless and challenging attitude of youth, every realm of human |iie and relationship. The goal is action, concerted and organised" through youth organisations in every land, to realise Christian ideals in domestic, economic, national, and international relations. The subjects dealt with are:

1. Nationalism: "Christian Youth in the Nation and the State." This deals with the entire relationship of the individual citizen to the State, and faces the problems of nationalism and State absolutism, which have emerged in totalitarian nations.

2. Internationalism: "Christian Youth in a World of Nations." The basis of a world community is discussed; as also problems of peaceful change, or by the violence of war; and the practicability of the Christian ethic under existing world conditions.

3. Economics: "Christian Youth in the Economic Order." The changed conditions of labour due to scientific dis-, covery and invention, mass production, and the rationalisation of industry are discussed. And problems of vocational training, transference of groups from a languishing Industry to new series, and unemployment are faced.

4. Racial: "Christian Youth and Race." This reviews the trends towards racial superiority complexes, and seeks an orderly application of «ihe underlying principles on which racial ties should be valued, arid responsibilities to other races fulfilled.

5. Education and Culture: "Christian Youth and Education." These discussions cover the whole field in its pre-sent-day aspects.

'6. Sex Problems: "Christian Youth and Family Life." The attitude of the conference here is indicated in the introductory words of the study: "The subject is one of the most vital for a World Conference of Christian Youth (1) because such relations are of the very staff of life; (2) because all traditional standards which governed these relations have been called in question, and there is urgent need for evolving new standards which take into full account the changed conditions of modern life; (3) because it is on young people who will be forming new centres of family in the immediate future that the responsibility for the future development of the family rests: (4) because the intrusion of the State into family life is of paramount importance to youth; (5) because non-Christian assumptions about .the relations between men1 and women so often prevail in novel and film; (6) because there is an explicit Biblical, teaching on the subject."

7. "The Church: Its Nature and Mis-! sion." Here the discussion is directed] towards "a clear understanding of the | mutual responsibilities of youth and the Church. The Church's duty to understand and meet the needs of youth; youth's duty to understand the problems of the Church and to help in facing them constructively." ,;. NEW ZEALAND'S INTEREST. Delegates from New Zealand are in vattendance at Amsterdam and two Zealand organisations concerned for youth are in touch —the New Zealand Council of Religious Education and the .Christian Youth Council of New Zealand. >

Under »the auspices of the latter a Round Table of Youth leaders from all, the churches has met for some months weekly at the V.M.C.A., Wellington, and has taken the studies which are being discussed this week at Amsterdam. Affiliated with this Dominion Christian Youth Council are youth movements with an approximate membership of 30.000 young people.