Don’t lock young out of church — Bishop (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Don’t lock young out of church — Bishop

11:55am Thursday 1st March 2007 in News By Peggy Clatworthy

Churches should open their doors to young people and welcome them in, not lock them out - according the Rt Rev John Went, Bishop of Tewkesbury.

He was speaking after the pastor of Sycamore Chapel in Northway revealed that he locked his church during services to keep out disruptive youngsters.

He also admitted that he had in the past asked young people to leave because they were unruly during the service.

Pastor Mark Till, who took over the chapel in July, said that in the past he has put someone on the door to welcome people in, and take the appropriate action if people arrived late.

He explained that some young people were arriving up to half an hour after the service had started, and if the door was open, were just marching in loudly, sometimes at a very quiet, contemplative part of the service.

"I did not want to exclude someone from the service by posting them at the door, it is simpler just to turn the key in the lock," he said.

Rev Went said: "The church should be about sharing unconditional love with all people, especially young people who are sometimes adrift with no proper sense of commitment.

"It should be welcoming them and opening the doors to them.

"This might mean doing something special for them and I do accept that this is not always practical, depending on resources, and I do have some sympathy with the church in this area. It is very sad and I do hope they try and engage with them"

Pastor Till said that they were a very small congregation, but had tried running a youth club in the past. They are planning to try again, possibly organising football games.

"This is all part of the on going issues with young people on the Northway Estate," he said.