Church Offers Adults Only Services.

[Liz]

(I'm pretty sure this isn't the right place for this, but I couldn't decide where the right place was, so if a mod could please move this to the right place---Thanks!)

MADISON, Wis. – A Wisconsin church has started providing adults-only services so that sex offenders can worship without violating their parole.

The First Congregational United Church of Christ in Madison started the biweekly services late last month as part of its prison ministry project, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

First Congregational's Rev. Jerry Hancock said the church was approached by a probation officer last year with the idea to provide a service for sex offenders who cannot be where children are present.

Local psychologist Jim Gerndt told the State Journal that the adults-only aspect eliminates an environment that could be problematic for the recovering sex offender and Hancock stressed it isn't a "sex-offender service."

"It's not designed to be therapeutic. It's not a support group. We are using the same text, the same order of worship and the same sermon topic that was used the previous Sunday," Hancock said.

The church initially did not widely publicize the services out of fears it may attract protesters. Instead it spread the work through other churches and religious groups, the State Journal reported.

The first adults-only service on Feb. 23 did not attract anyone from the target audience, but other parishioners turned up to be supportive. The church has since expanded its outreach efforts.

---I wish this had been started by the SDA Church, what do ya'll think?

[Woody]

This is a really cool innovative idea. Thanks for sharing it Liz. Perhaps our church will catch on with the idea. (And perhaps they won't.) :(

[phkrause]

Very interesting that's for sure. Seems like a good idea.

[Gail]

Wow... though if a child is thought not to be safe during a church service, when CAN it be safe?

How about making adult-only potlucks or SS classes? It seems to me that these are situations where the offenders would have more direct access to children. I think that often those in the newspapers have been those who were youth leaders or involved with Boy Scout type groups.

Just a thought.

[Naomi]

[phkrause]

Good thought Gail.

[Bravus]

I'd like to have had the option for a different reason: I think the church can do a better job of teaching about marriage, including the sexual aspects of that, so a church service without kids present might present an opportunity to do that work. I'm not talking about anything graphic, just frank talk about the joys and pleasures God has in store for married people... and the ways to avoid spoiling that.

[phkrause]

I'd like to have had the option for a different reason: I think the church can do a better job of teaching about marriage, including the sexual aspects of that, so a church service without kids present might present an opportunity to do that work. I'm not talking about anything graphic, just frank talk about the joys and pleasures God has in store for married people... and the ways to avoid spoiling that.

I that Bravus. Great post.

[Naomi]

I do understand the pros and cons of adult only services. In this case the church must have had several sex offenders who wanted to attend. It appears they were heavy into prison ministry.

If you have a small membership or only one or two sex offenders who are attending this might present a problem. Should there be young people in the church, they cannot be within a designated number of feet from the offenders. Where would they worship?

Dealing with sex offenders on a community level can be tricky, in a church setting it would be even more of a challenge. I would think you would have to have all activities designated as adult only and completely separate services for the youth and children.

It is a good idea and don't have any answers ... just thinking out loud.

[cricket]

Wisconsin must have different rules than my state of residence. In my state, sex offenders (known persons who struggle with history of pedophile behaviors even!) are allowed to be in the vicinity of children in a church setting. It's the schools and the parks where they're not allowed.

[M. T. Cross]

Wow... though if a child is thought not to be safe during a church service, when CAN it be safe?

How about making adult-only potlucks or SS classes? It seems to me that these are situations where the offenders would have more direct access to children. I think that often those in the newspapers have been those who were youth leaders or involved with Boy Scout type groups.

Just a thought.

The child might be safe as safe can be there. But the paroled offender would be violating their parole by being near them.

[Woody]

I'd like to have had the option for a different reason: I think the church can do a better job of teaching about marriage, including the sexual aspects of that, so a church service without kids present might present an opportunity to do that work. I'm not talking about anything graphic, just frank talk about the joys and pleasures God has in store for married people... and the ways to avoid spoiling that.

Good Point Bravus. This is also an opportunity to have church more relavant for kids. Many churches have Kids Church or Childrens Church services.

[LifeHiscost]

I'd like to have had the option for a different reason: I think the church can do a better job of teaching about marriage, including the sexual aspects of that, so a church service without kids present might present an opportunity to do that work. I'm not talking about anything graphic, just frank talk about the joys and pleasures God has in store for married people... and the ways to avoid spoiling that.

Although without the attendant responsibility for accepting marriage as a covenant for better or for worse, it will be seen the joy will not continue, to which of course your final comment does allude.

God blesses!