I’ve spent the morning working with a church council who have gathered to think through the question ‘who do we say we are?’. My contribution was to talk through the Child Friendly Church Award and the implications of the scheme.
Holders of the award get to stick a big sign on their church telling the world they are welcoming to children and young people. I think because of this the process should be one that involves lots of people because everyone has a part to play. That ranges from well trained, well resourced and safe children’s activities all the way through to people not tutting when small children are noisy in church.
It seems in some ways a shame that a Christian community would even need a scheme like this but its value is there to be seen. Is your Church child friendly?