Lisa Nolland works with Anglican Mainstream and is something of a world authority on matters of sexuality. She recently wrote a helpful comment and corrective point to our article ‘5 Myths in the Gay Debate’ which will be published in the forthcoming Conversation Magazine. Here she writes more generally on the dangers facing young people:
You may well find this article unpleasant to read.
The following scenario is created from observing kids over the years, and illustrates the kinds of challenges which need to be addressed in the church.
Mid-teen Tessa tells her parents that her friend Clare is going off the rails. From an intact family and active in a lively evangelical youth programme, Clare starts to become sexually active. Neither Tessa nor her parents know what to say. They share their concern with me. I approach Clare’s youth leaders, not mentioning her by name but highlighting the fact that at least some youngsters in their care are being ‘got at’. They deny it — they know better! Clare slowly drifts away, yet one more evangelical casualty.
This illustrates at least three crucial points which keep getting overlooked.
What is missing?
Teenagers in our church youth groups are capitulating to the lure of sex…
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Conversation Magazine 