Losing our youth?

I read the tips given by Youthworks on running a good youth ministry. I feel that, as a parent of two boys in their twenties, I might have some insights to offer.
The church is failing our youth in many ways " thus, we are losing our youth to the world. 
Youthworks believes that we are not teaching the Bible enough to our youth " hence their emphasis on Bible teaching.
I believe that, just as importantly, we are not teaching our youth how to relate to one another, how to have fun without sex, drugs and alcohol, and how to care for one another.
Christ is central, but if we do not show our youth a different way to have fun, we will lose our youth to the world, and we will not attract the world's youth either.
So balance is needed.  Talk about Jesus, talk about how to live, but follow his example and involve our youth in a variety of social activities.
Gordon Chirgwin
Marayong, NSW

I appreciated Jeremy Halcrow's article describing how some ministers are using statistics and surveys to understand their areas better, leading up to Connect09. Some people may be tempted to frown upon such methods because of their association with the church growth movement. That would be a bit unfortunate. Surveys and statistics are really just a systematic way of listening to the community, and listening is the first step toward connecting.
Craig Schwarze
Annandale, NSW

Without wanting to detract from an excellent article on tentmakers (SC June 08), the concept of working part-time "in order to be available for ministry" implies a low view of work as "non-ministry".
Approaching work primarily as a means to earn money for "real' ministry impoverishes our experience of work, and creates a disconnect between different aspects of a Christian's engagement with the world. 
Even Paul, the archetypal tentmaker, had a high view of work:  "..whatever you do [whether part-time or full-time]...do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus."
Pauline Davis
Croydon, NSW.

Church receives just deserts
If the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal has taken away our religious freedom (SC June 08, p3), it seems that the fault is ours.
Its decision is based on the observation that "Christianity" includes the acceptance of homosexual relationships. But how did it come about?
It is because for too long we have tolerated false teachers and their ideas within the church. So much so that people outside the church have apparently learned that the church thinks sin is OK.
We have been soft on false teaching for decades, all for the sake of "holding the Communion together".
Perhaps the GAFCON meeting in Jerusalem is the start of something good.
I pray it is not too late for our freedom to follow Christ in Australia.
Trevor Solomon
Barden Ridge, NSW

Fair trade debate turns to economics
Are we "frustrated by the "cold" arguments of economic rationalists who await a utopia that never comes' (Bronwyn Darlington from Rise Up Productions, SC June)? Then be doubly frustrated by the heated arguments of self-interest from the likes of American and European farmers. They are what keep trade-distorting tariffs in place and a better world (not utopia) at bay.
By all means, buy Fairtrade. If it's true to its name, there's a chance it will divert some proceeds to some disadvantaged by market failure. But don't kid yourself that Fairtrade is the answer.
Fairtrade is a workaround, not a solution. It contains distortions including a disincentive to diversify, and places downward pressure on the price of non-Fairtrade coffee, which sounds OK until you consider what that does to farmers who don't have access to Fairtrade.
Whatever you do, don't make buying Fairtrade coffee, chocolates and t-shirts a substitute for turning up the pressure for global trade reform.
Darryl Anderson
Croydon, NSW

My academic research challenges the idea that Fairtrade retards diversification (SC, July). Real-life production decisions are more complex than liberal economic theory allows.
How do you diversify into new higher value crops when you can't afford food for tomorrow, let alone the new seeds and inputs necessary for diversification?
Again, simply put, even if producers know that they can make higher and more stable prices from horticulture (instead of coffee) there is great risk with carrying out this change. Growing something new is challenging because you don't know the best techniques, or if new crops will grow in current soils etc. 
Conversely, Fairtrade makes lives secure by offering stable contracts, providing up-front credit and paying a social premium that is often invested in business and livelihood development. In other words, Fairtrade renders diversification viable in terms of the resources at the disposal of poor agricultural producers.
The key to diversification is building the capability of local actors to carry it out. This is the reason China, India, Taiwan etc have been successful where others have failed; not because they liberalised, but because liberalisation followed after building up the economic capability necessary to achieve success in open markets.
Alastair M Smith
ESRC Centre for Business
Relationships, Accountability,
Sustainability and Society,
University of Cardiff