The Growing Young movement developed out of research carried out by the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI), a branch of the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. The research was designed to study and understand why some American churches were healthy and growing, while others were not. Further details. The FYI book Growing Young goes into details; it is available in the Greenbank Church Library.
Churches whose average congregational age increases year on year are ‘growing old’. The Growing Young movement seeks to reverse this trend, so that the average congregational age reduces each year – ‘grows young’ – through the successful attraction and retention of young people.
Greenbank Kirk Session agreed in June 2025 that Greenbank Church should join the Growing Young group of congregations from across Scotland, to discuss research by FYI and to share experiences about effective ways of encouraging the involvement of young people. The Rev Ian Gilmour and Mrs Moira Small attended the first Scottish Growing Young ‘summit’ on 13th September 2025. A larger group of eight Greenbankers attended the second ‘summit’ on 8th November 2025.
The group is developing ideas for doing more to engage young people and their families. If you feel you can contribute, please contact the Rev Ian Gilmour or John Ferguson via the Church Office.
For information on Greenbank progress to date please see Families and Youth.