Christian Couple not allowed to adopt because of beliefs...

See the original story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-12598896

The stories of Conservative Christians facing the law over their views on homosexuality are not new (see here for example) however this one seems to be different to me.

Providing a service to someone, and discriminating against them purely because of their sexual orientation (as in the example of the B&B) is completely wrong in my opinion. If you are providing a service to the public, then you accept them no matter how what. Discriminating against them because of gender, beliefs, sexual orientation, age colour, whatever is wrong. No one chooses to be either of these things - people are people, and deserve to be treated with respect - the Christian should be the light shining in the darkness in this instance.

However, I believe the case of fostering and adopting is different. As a youth worker, I believe in the ability of young people to make informed choices, and actively work to enable this to happen - however the ruling that Conservative Christians cannot adopt or foster due to their beliefs assumes something a little different about young people.

I grew up in a home where I didn't always agree with my parents - I am sure you can empathise. You see, every young person has parents with outdated views, beliefs, opinions. We all have mums who embarrassed us in school, or dads who said the wrong thing...

Through the growing up period of my life, did I blindly accept their opinions? To a point, yes - but then as I got older, no. I questioned, I investigated, I rebelled, I formed my own mind... Did my parents reject me because of it? When we came to fundamental irreconcilable differences, was I kicked out, or unloved? Of course not...

Why then assume Conservative Christian couples (who many consider to have outdated views) should be any different to 90% of the population, and refuse them the right to have children?

As a youth worker, I believe that child would form their own opinion on the subject of homosexuality in light of, and maybe in spite of their parents... (as is their right). and further to that, I believe if that child grew up and discovered he/she was gay - that couple would love him/her anyway, as nearly every other parent would...

The argument therefore is not about beliefs - because we all have them, regardless if we are atheist, agnostic or Christian - but it is about love and can the parents provide a loving home in spite of their beliefs? It is about acceptance and seeing past 'perceived faults' to love the individual anyway. If they have these qualities, then does anything else matter? Of course it is a risk, but surely no more risky than any other family dynamic...

Perhaps the experiences of young people who have 'come out' to conservative parents should be examined more carefully - to examine how this relationship survived or not as the case may be...

• Of course there are examples where relationships have broken down, where parents have not accepted their children, where gay men and women have not and never well tell their parents out of fear. However this is only one side of the story.
• There are stories where children have come out to parents they assumed would disown them, only for a journey of education and liberation to begin, where the family discover something new, have their long-held beliefs challenged and transformed to accept their child.

Focusing in on this single issue is of concern and narrow minded. This is not the only area where such dynamics are at play... Think of teenage pregnancy for example.

Young people do not blindly follow their parents values, assuming otherwise is disrespectful to the intelligence of adolescents. It's also incredibly naive and ignores the countless experiences of young people up and down the country - I can understand why such a decision makes sense in the corridors of power. Diversity must be embraced, "difference is to be encouraged, narrow mindedness, bigotry and homophobic opinions must be things of the past"...

However does this not edge on the precipice of censorship. Does this not ignores the clumsy reality of family life with it's hurt, pain love and acceptance, all of which goes into the journey of forming a well rounded individual.

I don't know - but what I do know is that this does not sit well with me, not primarily because of the Christian couple's beliefs, but because of what those in power assume about the dynamics of family life and the role young people play in forming their own independent beliefs and values...

Of course, I reserve the right to completely disown all of the above in the future, as this is just how I see things today...

Christian Couple not allowed to adopt because of beliefs...

See the original story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-12598896

The stories of Conservative Christians facing the law over their views on homosexuality are not new (see here for example) however this one seems to be different to me.

Providing a service to someone, and discriminating against them purely because of their sexual orientation (as in the example of the B&B) is completely wrong in my opinion. If you are providing a service to the public, then you accept them no matter how what. Discriminating against them because of gender, beliefs, sexual orientation, age colour, whatever is wrong. No one chooses to be either of these things - people are people, and deserve to be treated with respect - the Christian should be the light shining in the darkness in this instance.

However, I believe the case of fostering and adopting is different. As a youth worker, I believe in the ability of young people to make informed choices, and actively work to enable this to happen - however the ruling that Conservative Christians cannot adopt or foster due to their beliefs assumes something a little different about young people.

I grew up in a home where I didn't always agree with my parents - I am sure you can empathise. You see, every young person has parents with outdated views, beliefs, opinions. We all have mums who embarrassed us in school, or dads who said the wrong thing...

Through the growing up period of my life, did I blindly accept their opinions? To a point, yes - but then as I got older, no. I questioned, I investigated, I rebelled, I formed my own mind... Did my parents reject me because of it? When we came to fundamental irreconcilable differences, was I kicked out, or unloved? Of course not...

Why then assume Conservative Christian couples (who many consider to have outdated views) should be any different to 90% of the population, and refuse them the right to have children?

As a youth worker, I believe that child would form their own opinion on the subject of homosexuality in light of, and maybe in spite of their parents... (as is their right). and further to that, I believe if that child grew up and discovered he/she was gay - that couple would love him/her anyway, as nearly every other parent would...

JNC? - yeah lets stick that on the wish list...

Do churches know what they are doing when they put JNC on the job spec for youth work posts?

The JNC qualification should not be used to whittle down candidates for jobs in churches. It certainly isn't that way in the secular world. Let me quickly give my opinions for why this is.

1. Secular youth work organisations work to youth work principles - those of E.D.I., participation, voluntary relationship etc. The youth worker is expected to come in and work according to the ethos of the employer.
2. Church youth work is not near working to the principles of EDI etc, mainly because the way youth work has traditionally been done, and the way young people are viewed. Namely as part players in bigger structures - their needs are not paramount and working to meet them certainly is not the objective. The role of the youth worker is either to work under this system, or it is to educate the system into the principles which underpin professional youth work.

This leads me to ask the question - if churches are not willing to adapt and change their very ethos of working with young people, why do they very often use the JNC as a criteria for appointing a youth worker.

It seems to me that in using the JNC in the 'desirable criteria' section as a means to whittle down candidates in the context of church youth work appointments quite a few things happen. Not all good. Not all fair. Not all in keeping with the value of equity.

1. The JNC youth worker is immediately given an advantage over all other applicants as they are invited to interview.
2. The JNC youth worker prepares their answers in accordance with professional principles.
3. The JNC worker is disadvantaged in interview because the panel from the church do not understand the principles of professional youth work, and so the questions are tailored towards how youth work has always been done, and away from the very criteria set out in the job spec. The JNC candidate is seen as unsuitable as they do not understand the 'sort' of youth work the church is after.
4. The JNC candidate is then forced to tread a fine line between the professional principles of youth work and the expectations of youth work from the church - which in its current state, could be anything.

The problem arises here because the church uses the JNC as a means to get someone who is trained in youth work. However they rarely want that person to practice in accordance with their training - rather they want them to do youth work how they see it - which could be completely at odds with the professional training the JNC worker has received. This is completely unfair to the applicant as the job spec says one thing, but the expectations from the interviewees say another.

Put simply, if they do not want JNC answers in an interview, then do not ask for a JNC qualified worker. If they ask for a JNC worker and do not value their answers then surely there is something seriously wrong with the interview process.

Here is an example of Essential and Desirable criteria churches are looking for:

Essential Criteria
• A committed Christian faith
• Experience of developing and delivering a youth ministry/outreach strategy
• At least 3 years recent experience of working with young people either in a paid or voluntary capacity
• Demonstrate a passion to reach out and draw young people from
‘the fringe’ into the church community
• Current participation in the life of a Christian Church or community
• A commitment to be a worshipping member of our church
• Self motivated with effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Comply with Enhanced Access NI check
• Flexibility in working hours including evenings and weekends

Desirable Criteria
• Recognised degree / NVQ level 4 or equivalent qualification
• Youth and Community Work qualification
• Experience in a professional youth leadership role
• Organisation and management skills to coordinate others supporting the
programmes
• Good computer skills
• Current driving licence and access to a car

Another main problem arises when the JNC is used as a desirable criteria like in the example above - it simply becomes a tool for reducing the pool - however does not exclude years of experience. This then pits the professional against the veteran with years of experience at interview stage. There is still an imbalance between the two candidates. The JNC yet again is reduced to a box which has been ticked and forgotten about at interview when it was originally the very criteria which the panel was looking for!! The veteran candidate answers in the manner in which the interview panel understands. The JNC worker is left flapping in the wind talking about EDI and participation - 'this does not fit in with the way we do things here...'

The value of the JNC is not in making people eligible for jobs, nor is it to be used to reduce the field of candidates who apply - it is to be used as a marker for professional practice. When churches use the JNC as a desirable criteria then they are being unjust if they do not use the principles of professional youth work to mark the candidate on at interview. Failure to do this is unfair and reduces the value of the JNC and what it stands for.

Churches - wake up otherwise I imagine you will find yourself in some very serious trouble down the line. Even by having a professional JNC worker sitting on the interview panel, they could mark independently on the youth work principles and therefore level out the sense of injustice which otherwise can happen if the JNC worker applies for a job and is rejected because they were speaking a different language.

I know I will not stand by and let my qualification be reduced by good intentioned churches who ask for one thing, then expect another. This reduces the value of youth work qualifications to boxes to tick on an application form, opposed to a sign of good practice and professionalism.

Put simply - if Churches don't want it, then don't ask for it...

Why does church do such a good job of being everything we don't want it to be?

I don't know about you, but I hear a lot of opinions on church. Everyone is an expert about it - and every 'expert' opinion is nearly always critical.

This is a good thing I think - because without a sense of disappointment in the establishment, the establishment can lose a sharpness or a prophetic edge. Of course it must be an objective disappointment - there has to be something good about church.

I used to go to a church which I loved. One which I had a tremendous commitment to as this was the one I first went to when I came to faith. My family went there before me, my grand dad, his dad - that sort of thing. I served on the vestry. I volunteered with the youth organisations. I gave a lot because I really felt wanted.

This church experience laid the foundation for me to explore youth work as a vocation.

---

You know that saying which goes something like 'church is not the building - it's the people'?

I know now I loved my church because of the people in it, no other reason. That unique make up of people was what I loved - not the location, the vision, the ethos. Those people welcomed me. They cared for me, they encouraged me. They prayed for me.

Today those people have changed - some dead, some moved on, some left the church completely. Some are still there, but they are in the minority. That church is no longer the place I remember it to be.

Time to move on from the memories and be to others what those people were to me. To try to help create those memories for someone new.

But it won't be with my old church.

The cul-de-sac of youth work???

I never got involved in youth work to get a degree, I did a degree so I could get a job in youth work. This is my stock answer when I talk about my CYM experience to anyone bothered enough to listen, and it is true, however the nature of my degree is vocational. It has lead me down a path which does what it says on the tin - namely that I am a trained youth worker doing youth work.

Anyone about to embark on a CYM degree or equivalent is well warned to expect that in a few years in the Christian sector at least - you may be facing a bit of a head scratcher of what to do next...

Now I frequently get asked 2 questions in my job 'Will you ever train for the ministry?' and 'What will you do after youth work?' The former drives some of my colleagues up the wall, but I want to focus on the latter here.

What will I do next? Well before I answer that, I want to give you a very brief history of my experience in youth work.

I have both voluntary and paid experience in Council youth work, detached work, working with Travellers, private sector, sheltered housing and church based work. I have my degree and am studying for a Masters in Inclusion and Diversity and training to become a Lay Reader with my Diocese.

The reason I reveal that is so it gives you a context to understand where I am currently at with my career. Where do I go next?

Let me explain, before I go on - this is by no means me saying 'I have so much experience, where will I choose to use my vast experience and knowledge next?' (note the sarcasm). No I am currently at a fork in the road.

Where are the jobs for a graduate of 3 years in Northern Ireland? Where are the JNC level 3 jobs? They are not in the Christian sector anyway. At least not in the last 2 years that I have been working here, and if they are they are usually have external forces which drive the appointment process.

This leads to the obvious scenario whereby the Christian sector continually produces enthusiastic youth workers, trains them up and loses them to the statutory sector after a few years. Not necessarily a bad thing I suppose - afterall the more Christian youth workers in the statutory sector there are the better.

The 'brain drain' on the Church is a relatively new thing. Never before has so much energy been put into training youth workers - both through OCN (youthlink course) and the new CYM course. It is these organisations which need to be at the forefront of recognising the importance of their own courses and leading the discussion in this area on shaping what a career in youth work in the Christian sector looks like.

Thats something which needs to happen now so there is incentive for future graduates and those with experience to stick with the Christian sector in the future. However I am still left with my initial question... Where do I go - what do I do?

The fork I face is to stick where I am (I am not planning to move, but my contract is up next Summer), choose a different career altogether, or (if I want to move up the pay bracket in youth work) it'll probably be applying for a funded fixed term post outside the Christian sector.

If I can get an interview for one that is...

Vs Vs Vs

Having read through my posts, I am aware that alot of my titles contain the words 'vs' - I guess its because in this line of work working for an agency which promotes faith and its ownership as a method of acceptance results in a lot of conflicts and tricky ethical and moral scenarios for a youth work professional.

In saying that however, I will try to be more imaginative in my titles in the future.

Victims first

In light of todays report into abuse in the Catholic Church, I feel deeply saddened that the church which campaigned for childrens rights in the formative years of youth work then turned and abused its position of trust with children.

I feel ashamed that a Christian Church has so horribly let down a generation of young people - THIS is why the youth work sector in Churches needs to keep striving towards professionalism.

The only decent thing the Catholic Church can do is disband the Christian Brothers as a religious sect and hand over the names of those abusers to be prosecuted.

The victims are the ones who need to be listened to here - this is a Gospel imperative. If the Church doesn't listen and act, then who will...?