Friday 13 January 2012

TEENAGE PREGNANCY – A CHALLENGE FOR OUR CHURCHES

A workshop for clergy and youth workers to raise awareness of the issues and look at ways we may address them in our parishes 

Saturday 25th February 2012 from 9.30am to 3.30pm St Michael’s Church, Stourport.

It is still the official common teaching of mainstream Christian Churches that sexual intercourse belongs within a monogamous heterosexual marriage. For one of every three teenagers, the church is therefore a place where they do not feel welcome as the perceived message is one of condemnation should they face difficulties in their sexual relationships. The church has a historical role in supporting those who face a problem pregnancy and yet, in handing over our ‘Moral Welfare’ services to the State in the 20th century, we appear to be failing teenage parents in our 21st century ministry.

Although the teenage pregnancy rate declined by 12% between 1998 and 2009, it is still unacceptably high compared to the rest of Europe. This workshop therefore looks at the problems we face through the perspective of our Christian values and examines practical strategies for our ministry to young people. We welcome clergy, youth workers and lay people working with young people or with a concern for their welfare. We will have the opportunity to share good practice, engage with others working in this field and strategies and materials available to support this work.

The workshop will be facilitated by The Revd Canon Jane Fraser, a Minister in Secular Employment in this Diocese working as a trainer and consultant in the field of sexuality education. She is a qualified social worker, the author of many sex education materials and has acted as Faith Advisor to the independent Advisory Group of the Teenage Pregnancy Unit.

To book a place please email; training@cofe-worcester.org.uk; or ring 01905 732812 with your name and contact details

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