Joint statement for children and young people

4th February 2025

Senior Church Leaders in South London make Joint Statement for Children & Young People

In a meeting during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, church leaders who make up the

ecumenical partnership of Churches Together in South London issued the following joint

statement:

As we pray for Christian unity, we recall the words of Jesus, who said “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Luke 18:15-17)

We stand together united in supporting our young people and their families. We celebrate this young generation and remain steadfast in our commitments to protect and nurture their futures. This year, we have tragically already witnessed children killed and injured in our capital city. We grieve with the families and call on the government to advance their plans to create safer streets for the young members of our communities.

Churches remain amongst the largest providers of youth and children’s work amongst many of the most deprived communities, and we are keen to continue to share our ongoing experience through our partnerships with the statutory authorities. As church leaders, we provide a broad range of youth activities and welcome all families to participate. We pray that our projects and programmes can bring joy, friendship and hope for more young people this year.

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