Via No Sex Offenders Need Apply from ReligionandSpirituality.com:
What can a church congregation do when one of their number is a convicted sex offender who says church attendance is important for his rehabilitation? A Reno, Nev. congregation is grappling with just that issue.
According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, clergy and members at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd are in a quandry over how to protect their children while following Christ's example of welcoming sinners.
"Clearly, we are called to love," said the Rev. Rebecca Schlatter, associate pastor. "But is it safe to love this particular person up close?"
Calvin Brugge, the person in question, agreed to sign and follow a convenant of 17 conditions. Among them are he can only attend the 7:30 a.m. Sunday service, he's barred from using the restroom and church-sponsored functions that include children are forbidden to him. The church also plans to have a support team meet with him regularly and an accountability team to watch him on church property.
"I have thought for years that this would be the acid test of a group of Christians practicing what they preach," said the Rev. Carl Wilfrid, senior pastor. "Jesus makes it a priority to include people who mainstream society tends to push out: prostitutes, tax collectors, sinners, whatever. And so it's pretty clear that to be people of Christ you would work to include people."
ME: My experience with churches accepting sex offenders has been overwhelmingly positive. My experience with teh probation office allowing sex offenders to go to church has been overwhelmingly negative. The probation office seems to have developeda speciality of hounding convicted sex offenders into some sort of violation or utter isolation. I have had more than one client forbidden from attending church-even when the pastor and congregation were completely aware of the full record of conviction. The reason given is that "children are present." I have yet to have a client who wants to follow through with a legal challenge but I would dearly love to find someone in this situation who is willing to stand up and be counted.
I am a convicted sex offender, but due to my restrictions, I am unable to attend church because children are present, and that a normal church service includes greeting one another.
Churches should have reserved areas for people with special needs, and those with special legal conditions. If the church had an active prison ministry they would know this. Sadly, they fail in doing what Christ Himself commanded - to visit those in prison.
If someone has ideas that would allow church attendance (even legal ideas) then I (and others) would be grateful.
Posted by: Harry Skelton | September 21, 2009 at 03:23 AM
We have a convicted child prom offender at our church and he is causing an up roar. I do not want him there. I know we are to love people but don't we have the responsibility for our children. It is not the question of IF it happens it is WHEN it happens. God did not make us stupid. Why take the chance on our children. I would rather make one person made by asking them to leave than have many leave because they are scared to have a sex offender/child molester there. Be careful and ask God to open eyes. JK
Posted by: James Knight | June 09, 2008 at 07:58 AM