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North-east church lands 'family friendly' recognition

Lanchester Methodist Church in County Durham has become the first Family Friendly Church to be recognised by the UK wide charity, The Family Friendly Churches Trust.

In order to become recognised a church has had to analyse its patterns of worship and activities and sign up to the Family Friendly Churches Charter. Having done all this, a church then has to identify 3 aims and goals that they hope to achieve over the next 12 months. All this is done to ensure that a church is really serious about welcoming families and children to their Sunday Services and midweek activities.

Churches that achieve this status are then allowed to display the Family Friendly Churches logo on their notice boards, web sites and newsletters. They are also listed on the trust’s website, so that people searching for a family friendly church can quickly identify a church that will suit them.

Churches also become members of an email discussion group that gives them a useful forum to discuss ideas and issues around the welcoming of families with children to our churches.

As a Family Friendly Church Lanchester invites families in the area to come and try them out any Sunday Morning at 10:30, and then if they wish, make comments via the trust’s website at www.FamilyFriendlyChurches.org.uk. The website also gives details of the church and even has a link to a map so that it can be easily found.

Rev’d Dr Mike Bossingham, the founder and General Manager of the trust welcomed the church and said, “We are delighted that Lanchester Methodist has achieved this status. We deliberately set the target high, so that only churches who really want to be family friendly can use our name and logo. For too long too many of our churches have been no-go areas for families and children and I founded the trust to encourage those churches who want to challenge and reverse this trend.”

The local church reports that although they have been following this path for just a few months they are already seeing new families joining them for worship on a Sunday morning.

National charity appoints churches' co-ordinator

Rev Richard Hardy has been appointed as the new Churches and Community Development Manager at Care for the Family. He will take up this strategic role in September.

This new post will assist churches and communities across the UK at grassroots level as Richard works strategically to encourage individuals and groups as they meet the needs of their community. He will also be developing Care for the Family's support to both churches and their leaders.

Trained at Spurgeons Baptist College and London Theological Seminary, Richard is also a graduate of the University of Wales. For the past 14 years, he has been Minister of Tangier Road Baptist Church, Portsmouth.

"I believe the churches' role in building good and healthy relationships with their communities is vital. I'm delighted to be joining an organisation which is committed to this task - and am looking forward to this exciting role," said Richard.

In the past Richard has been a Spring Harvest speaker, facilitator of cooperative local church initiatives and is currently completing his Masters degree on Mission Consultancy.

Anger at news that the Pill has been prescribed for 10-year-olds

National charity LIFE has issued a warning that if it heard of any doctor, school nurse or family planning clinic giving the Pill to very young girls, it would immediately report them to the police.

“We are shocked to learn from a study carried out by a team at Aberdeen University that the contraceptive pill is being prescribed for girls aged 13, 12 and even 10 years,” says a LIFE spokesperson.

“Doctors or anyone else who does this are actively encouraging – or at least openly condoning – gravely criminal activity. They should be stopped immediately.

“Giving the Pill to ten-year-olds (without, of course, parents’ knowledge) may seem to be a sensible ‘quick fix’, but in reality will make very immature children yet more vulnerable to sexual exploitation and encourage self-destructive behaviour. It will cause yet more sexually transmitted infection among the young, more teenage pregnancy and abortion.

“The Department of Health has a duty to protect young girls and to combat open flouting of the law, especially by those agencies like the Family Planning Association which it funds generously.

“If the Government will not act, we will.”

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		NEWS North-east church lands 'family friendly' recognition Lanchester Methodist Church in County Durham has become the first Family Friendly Church to be recognised by the UK wide charity, The Family Friendly Churches Trust. In order to become recognised a church has had to analyse its patterns of worship and activities and sign up to the Family Friendly Churches Charter. Having done all this, a church then has to identify 3 aims and goals that they hope to achieve over the next 12 months. All this is done to ensure that a church is really serious about welcoming families and children to their Sunday Services and midweek activities. Churches that achieve this status are then allowed to display the Family Friendly Churches logo on their notice boards, web sites and newsletters. They are also listed on the trust’s website, so that people searching for a family friendly church can quickly identify a church that will suit them. Churches also become members of an email discussion group that gives them a useful forum to discuss ideas and issues around the welcoming of families with children to our churches. As a Family Friendly Church Lanchester invites families in the area to come and try them out any Sunday Morning at 10:30, and then if they wish, make comments via the trust’s website at www.FamilyFriendlyChurches.org.uk. The website also gives details of the church and even has a link to a map so that it can be easily found. Rev’d Dr Mike Bossingham, the founder and General Manager of the trust welcomed the church and said, “We are delighted that Lanchester Methodist has achieved this status. We deliberately set the target high, so that only churches who really want to be family friendly can use our name and logo. For too long too many of our churches have been no-go areas for families and children and I founded the trust to encourage those churches who want to challenge and reverse this trend.” The local church reports that although they have been following this path for just a few months they are already seeing new families joining them for worship on a Sunday morning. National charity appoints churches' co-ordinator Rev Richard Hardy has been appointed as the new Churches and Community Development Manager at Care for the Family. He will take up this strategic role in September. This new post will assist churches and communities across the UK at grassroots level as Richard works strategically to encourage individuals and groups as they meet the needs of their community. He will also be developing Care for the Family's support to both churches and their leaders. Trained at Spurgeons Baptist College and London Theological Seminary, Richard is also a graduate of the University of Wales. For the past 14 years, he has been Minister of Tangier Road Baptist Church, Portsmouth. "I believe the churches' role in building good and healthy relationships with their communities is vital. I'm delighted to be joining an organisation which is committed to this task - and am looking forward to this exciting role," said Richard. In the past Richard has been a Spring Harvest speaker, facilitator of cooperative local church initiatives and is currently completing his Masters degree on Mission Consultancy. Anger at news that the Pill has been prescribed for 10-year-olds National charity LIFE has issued a warning that if it heard of any doctor, school nurse or family planning clinic giving the Pill to very young girls, it would immediately report them to the police. “We are shocked to learn from a study carried out by a team at Aberdeen University that the contraceptive pill is being prescribed for girls aged 13, 12 and even 10 years,” says a LIFE spokesperson. “Doctors or anyone else who does this are actively encouraging – or at least openly condoning – gravely criminal activity. They should be stopped immediately. “Giving the Pill to ten-year-olds (without, of course, parents’ knowledge) may seem to be a sensible ‘quick fix’, but in reality will make very immature children yet more vulnerable to sexual exploitation and encourage self-destructive behaviour. It will cause yet more sexually transmitted infection among the young, more teenage pregnancy and abortion. “The Department of Health has a duty to protect young girls and to combat open flouting of the law, especially by those agencies like the Family Planning Association which it funds generously. “If the Government will not act, we will.” © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.