1 From a ministry for youth to a ministry of youth _____________________________________________________________________________ Aspects of Protestant youth ministry in Sydney 1930-1959 Ruth Lukabyo A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Ancient History Centre for the History of Christian Thought and Experience Macquarie University February 2018 3 Abstract In this history of Protestant youth ministry in Sydney, the years 1930-1959 are shown to be a time when significant changes occurred in the way that ministry to youth was conducted. There was a new methodology, a change from a ministry for youth to a ministry of youth. The change came about because of the impact of war and depression, the development of secondary education, the resurgence of Conservative Evangelical theology, the creation of new institutions and the influence of key individuals. This new methodology had certain characteristics which can be seen in ministries in the university, schools and local parishes. It nurtured the leadership of young people and gave them agency. It formed peer groups where young people constructed a robust Christian identity and every member was encouraged to be active in fellowship and witness. It moved towards a co-educational model that fostered a partnership between young men and women. This thesis identifies two different streams of youth ministry, Conservative Evangelical and Liberal Evangelical. The streams used the same methodology, but had different ultimate goals. The Conservative goal was revival through evangelism, and the Liberal was the nurture of Christian character and the Christianisation of civilisation. After the war, the Conservative stream came to predominate. This new model of youth ministry, especially in the Conservative stream, was effective in surviving the challenges of war and heterodox theology. After the war, it flourished, and in the Billy Graham Crusade the fruit of the model is evidenced by the extensive engagement of youth and the many young people who made ‘decisions’ to commit their lives to Christ and the church. The success of this model may help to explain why, despite the challenge of secularisation in the mid-1960s, youth ministry in Sydney is still vibrant today. 4 Acknowledgements The main person I have to thank for helping me through the arduous effort of research and writing is Dr Stuart Piggin. He is a remarkable model of Christian service and academic generosity. He was always positive and kind to me and meeting with him regularly provided accountability, guidance and encouragement. This was especially important in the times when I was unsure of my direction or lost in detail. There were other people who read my work along the way and gave me valuable feedback. I want to thank Dr Alanna Nobbs for being a helpful associate supervisor. Thanks to Anya Williamson for the many hours she gave up to edit the thesis so it would read well. Thanks to Hugh Chilton for his ideas on how to strengthen the argument and write clearly. Thanks also to Bill Salier for seeking clarity in my overall direction. Finally, thanks to Geoff Treloar, Malcolm Prentis and Paul Cooper for their willingness to share their time and expertise. I have been amazed by the generosity of those who write Christian history. They really are a community of scholars who encourage and support one another in the pursuit of understanding the past. It has been helpful to have belonged to various groups of researchers, as being a solitary researcher can be lonely and demotivating. My research writing group at Macquarie University has been a ‘safe place’ to learn how to communicate ideas in ways that are more easily understood. My year working at the Moore College postgraduate study room provided friendships and prayer support. The International Association of Youth Ministry and their conferences have been invaluable for feedback and thrashing out ideas in community. I would also like to thank the librarians, archivists and administrators who have helped me in my research. Thanks particularly to Erin Mollenhauer, the archivist at Moore College Library. Thanks also to those that helped me at the Ferguson Library, Fisher Library and the State Library of NSW. Finally, administrators at Crusader Union, Scripture Union NSW and Youthworks were very helpful. Some of my favourite moments in the research process were interviewing those involved with youth ministry in the past. What a privilege it was to hear their stories, especially stories of God working in their lives when they were young. I think many of them enjoyed the experience as much as I did. Some of them are now with the Lord. I am also thankful for the financial support I have received. I was able to take a year off from work to study full time because of the generous support of the Anglo Australian Christian and Charitable Fund. The Anglican Deaconess Ministries gave me the Maureen Cripps Ministry 5 Award as well as a travel scholarship to speak at the Ecclesiastical History Society summer conference in Edinburgh. The Australian College of Theology gave me a book scholarship as well as a travel grant to speak at the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry conference in London. To my friends and family, thank you so much for your help. Thanks to Rowan and Jenny Kemp who generously allowed me to stay at their house in Katoomba for numerous writing retreats. Thanks also to Ruby Holland, Catherine Thompson, Caroline Andrews and Careena Street who retreated with me. Thanks to my work colleagues at Youthworks who have given words of encouragement along the way, especially Graham Stanton and Bill Salier; and to many other kind friends who helped keep me sane. Finally, to those closest to my heart: Alan, Hayley, Lucy and Calvin; thank you for your love and support. 6 Abbreviations EU Evangelical Union CE Christian Endeavour CEF Church of England Fellowship CEFDOS Church of England Fellowship Diocese of Sydney CICUU Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union CSSM Children’s Special Service Mission CU Crusader Union GFS Girls’ Friendly Society ISCF Inter-School Christian Fellowship IVCF InterVarsity Christian Fellowship IVF InterVarsity Fellowship PFA Presbyterian Fellowship Australia PFU Presbyterian Fellowship Union REA Religious Education Association SCM Student Christian Movement SRI Special Religious Instruction SU Scripture Union SVM Student Volunteer Movement VPSC Varsity and Public Schools Camps WSCF World Student Christian Federation YFC Youth For Christ YMCA The Young Men’s Christian Association 7 Declaration of Originality ........................................................................................................................ 2 Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 4 Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 1 ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 10 Why study the history of youth ministry in the early 20th century? ............................................. 10 The extent of this study: ‘Youth’, ‘Sydney’, ‘1930-1959’ .............................................................. 12 Generational theory, sub-cultures and agency ............................................................................. 15 The emergence of youth culture ................................................................................................... 20 The study of youth ministry: historic phases and the influence of theology ................................ 23 Causes of change ........................................................................................................................... 29 Structure ....................................................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 2 ............................................................................................................................................... 36 Youth Ministry in Australia before 1930 ............................................................................................... 36 1788-1880: Revival and Reformation ........................................................................................... 37 1880-1930: The Societies and nurture .......................................................................................... 46 The challenge of the 1930s ........................................................................................................... 63 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 71 Chapter 3 ............................................................................................................................................... 73 Protestant Youth Ministry at University and the formation of the Evangelical Union ......................... 73 University