Should Sex Offenders Be Barred from Church?

[~candice~]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26213656-421,00.html

Some people really do need access to children completely removed. It matters not that they think they are in love with them.

[Believer1997]

I think that sex offenders - especially those who have violated children need to be away from children. In our church, children are very involved and are always included in our services. The law in our state clearly defines the limitations that convicted sex-offenders must adhere to - and that is to stay away from any place and/or event where children are present. There are many ways they can still worship and not violate the conditions of their parole. They can also seek private pastoral counseling. Yes, they need prayer and we need to feel beyond the limits of our flesh and forgive - but allowing them in an environment of trusting children (our children feel very safe in our church) is just not something that is wise or realistic. imo.

[CSLewis]

We have a 7 am service and there are no kids there

[~candice~]

I think that sex offenders - especially those who have violated children need to be away from children. In our church, children are very involved and are always included in our services. The law in our state clearly defines the limitations that convicted sex-offenders must adhere to - and that is to stay away from any place and/or event where children are present. There are many ways they can still worship and not violate the conditions of their parole. They can also seek private pastoral counseling. Yes, they need prayer and we need to feel beyond the limits of our flesh and forgive - but allowing them in an environment of trusting children (our children feel very safe in our church) is just not something that is wise or realistic. imo.

Agreed

I actually don't have a problem with worshipping alongside a (repentent) convicted sex offender in an adults only service or home group meeting. I do feel compassion for them because the impact of their sin is severe and does affect them for life in a drastic way. I think those meetings are hard to find, and that is unfortunate, but I don't see an alternative.

[OnetrueGod]

NOBODY should be turned away from a church.

asecretchord, while I agree in premise to this statement, there are a few problems in relation to sex offenders.

1. Civil law in most States prohibit sex offenders from being in public areas frequented by children, they must stay a certain distance from parks and schools and appently in North Carolina near churches (perhaps with Sundy School). Should the church encourage a sex offender to break the law in this case by attended the assembly.

2. By allowing a sex offender to attend an assembly w/children present, you may be putting temptation in their way, making it harder for them to stay "straight". Phycologists say that Level 3 and 4 offenders are never really "rehabilitated", that the best way to keep them from offending is to keep them away from temptation. having them near children would be kind of like forcing an alcoholic to work in a bar serving drinks.

3. Most States rank their sex offenders by level. The Romeo and Juliet law, which is a statutory rape law, having an adult have consentual sex or even marrying an uderage person (even if one is 18 and the other is 17) is usually a low level offense, still allowing the person to have access to public areas where children are present (but may limit being hired in the education or child care fields)....it varys from State to State.

Having said this, there are more ways to "attend church" than attending an assembly with children present. We have a prison ministry separate from our congregational assembly, where special services are held for the prisoners in the prison, we have home Bible groups that study and worship with people in their homes, who can't attend due to work, or feel uneasy attending a large intimidating assembly, but feel more comfortable in a less formal atmosphere. We have "shut-ins" who because of age or health reasons cannot attend the assembly... we have a team of people who worship with them (usually providing them with a DVD or CD of the assembly.

Christianity should not necessarily be seen as what we do in the assembly. What defines a Christian, is what we do the other 6 days of the week and our own personal work and study etc... Being "in the church" does not necessarily mean they attend the assembly with the rest of the congregation, but rather how they live their lives. I could see developing a "sex offender ministry" where a special assembly just for SO's could be had to encourage and help SO's through their "disease". If God can't turn them around...who can?

Bottom line...A person can still have contact with the church without being in attendance with the children of that congregation. IMO

[OneLight]

I think that sex offenders - especially those who have violated children need to be away from children. In our church, children are very involved and are always included in our services. The law in our state clearly defines the limitations that convicted sex-offenders must adhere to - and that is to stay away from any place and/or event where children are present. There are many ways they can still worship and not violate the conditions of their parole. They can also seek private pastoral counseling. Yes, they need prayer and we need to feel beyond the limits of our flesh and forgive - but allowing them in an environment of trusting children (our children feel very safe in our church) is just not something that is wise or realistic. imo.

Agreed

I actually don't have a problem with worshipping alongside a (repentent) convicted sex offender in an adults only service or home group meeting. I do feel compassion for them because the impact of their sin is severe and does affect them for life in a drastic way. I think those meetings are hard to find, and that is unfortunate, but I don't see an alternative.

When I am working with sex offenders, pedophiles in specific, I get permission from their parole officer and take responsibility for their actions while in church. (Some offender have been refused by the parole officer. Those I do studies with at home.) We do not sit near children and do not attend any of their specific activities. We only have one service on Sundays and only one of Wednesdays. Wednesday evenings are more preferable, but sometimes, they have other meetings and classes they have to attend.

[CSLewis]

I think that is really awesome that you do that - what a ministry and a calling- God bless you -

[humbleseeker]

That is realy cool OneLight. I voted No on this issue in part because I would not want someones sin keep them from church and all of its purposes in our lives. Although I understand the situation and myself who has a child would not want him sitting next to a sex offender. I like alot of the ideas that some have presented. Also there is a stigma and rightly so, but also a unjust stigma in the law when it comes to sex offenders that makes it hard to decide. Some sex offfenders under the law were nothing more than an 18 year old who had a 16 year old girlfriend and mommy and daddy wanted to ruin someones life because there daughter wanted sex and vice versa.

[OneLight]

That is realy cool OneLight. I voted No on this issue in part because I would not want someones sin keep them from church and all of its purposes in our lives. Although I understand the situation and myself who has a child would not want him sitting next to a sex offender. I like alot of the ideas that some have presented. Also there is a stigma and rightly so, but also a unjust stigma in the law when it comes to sex offenders that makes it hard to decide. Some sex offfenders under the law were nothing more than an 18 year old who had a 16 year old girlfriend and mommy and daddy wanted to ruin someones life because there daughter wanted sex and vice versa.

Yes, that is the case for some of these offenders, but in NH, if my memory is working right, there is a rule that it has to be a difference of 3 or 4 years in order to be processed. Two years is not a wide enough spread, but if a 21 year old had a sexual relationship with a 16 year old, they were prosecuted. It is also a law that if you are caught taking a leak in public, you can be precessed as a sex offender for exposure. Some laws are just way out there.

We need to find a way to reach everyone. Christ never refused anyone, and neither should we.

[OnetrueGod]

We need to find a way to reach everyone. Christ never refused anyone, and neither should we.

Onelight, Excellent point to always remember. With SO's, we may have to think ouside the "box" but we need to seek a way to reach people, no matter what there problems are. God always gives a way, if we'll only look for it.