Today I was leading some GB Young Leaders' training and this year, because the chaplain has a 6 month old baby, I landed the 'Faith Issues' section.  There were some fascinating discussions and a real sense of the difference the 30 years since I did the equivalent courses (scary!) makes.

With the oldest group, aged 16-18, one of the questions we explored was the concept of a perfect Christian.  According to them it is a person who

• Knows the whole Bible off by heart
• Goes to church
• Prays
• Is kind and supportive to everyone whatever they believe or don't
• Respects other faiths

Oh, and when offered to chance to add some kind of 'super power' one of them said 'can fly.'  I was struck by the very inclusive take on Christianity and other faiths that these girls had, not least as I know that some of the churches they are linked with do not! 

With another group (14-15) we talked about God's characteristics - and they came up with a God who was kind, supportive and 'there for you no matter what'.  Given that some of these couldn't't even find the book of Psalms, never mind understand chapter and verse concepts, there was no risk that this lot were 'perfect' Christians knowing the whole Bible off by heart.  I guess it goes to show how culturally out of touch we churchy folk are when we simply reel off a Bible reference and expect people to find it - as my minister said when I was 15 and trying to learn the books of the Bible by heart for some GB test or other, 'they put the contents page in the front for a reason.'  Over the years I've told lots of girls how to interpret chapter and verse references - but it is not exactly part of every day life anymore.

Perhaps most impressive was the middle group who were invited to ponder an image based around a football pitch and identify where they would place themselves - on the pitch, in the stands watching, on the reserves bench, in the changing room warming up, in the showers cooling off!  One (a Baptist) said she thought she was on the reserve bench, as she was keen to be Baptised and waiting to start her preparation classes; another, (a Methodist) said much the same, she'd been confirmed last year and wanted to get more involved but wasn't quite sure how.  One took great courage - masked by giggles - to say she thought she was an observer in the stands, she didn't go to church all that often, but she was 'quite interested' and 'one day' would get more involved.  Just in case anyone thinks I automatically equate church going with Christian faith, I don't.  But I was impressed by the honesty of these girls and their willingness to engage with the ideas.

It is good to spend time working in this way, with people who still have minds open to new discoveries - albeit with the arrogance of youth mixed in.  I have very fond memories of my own YL training back in the late 70's and early 80's, when we used to spend a weekend at Grendon Hall in Northamptonshire.  And even though in those days you could fail for uniform imperfections, spent hours learning colour drill and had to learn loads of useless facts off by heart, it was undoubtedly significant in my own faith and personal development.

All these years on, I am a far from perfect Christian, still don't know the Bible off by heart (!) but am eternally grateful to the supportive, encouraging God who is always there.  Yup, I think these girls got a lot right today.