Children & Our Church

Children are very important to the life of the Greyfriars Parish Church. When the children are not part of our worship on a Sunday morning many people feel that there is something missing from our worship and the atmosphere is somehow different.

We take the place of children very seriously and try our very best to ensure that they are listened to and heard as well as having activities that are relevant and meaningful.

In 2002, after extensive consultation with children in local congregations throughout Scotland the General Assembly adopted a policy statement that congregations adopted when working with children. This policy is important to us in Greyfriars Parish Church.

We, the children of the Church of Scotland, ask:

We, the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, commit ourselves:

To be supported in making choices for and to be involved in, the planning of how we worship

To find ways of ensuring that children are actively involved in worship, both in planning and participation

To have our voices listened to and considered

To bring alive the significance of the sacraments of baptism and holy communion to all the children of the church

To be recognised as a full part of the community of the church

To create opportunities to hear and act upon the voices of the children in our parishes

To feel safe and welcome around the church

To enable children to develop a sense of belonging and community in their church

To have the significance of our organisations and activities recognised

To recognise that children, of all ages, can possess a strong faith and have ministries to offer the church

 

To be appropriately supportive to those groups which children feel are central to their lives

 

To respect and care for all the children of our communities

 

We hope that children find Greyfriars Parish Church a welcoming place for them to explore their own faith and relationship with God. We try to involve children in all the we do. From sharing in communion to participating in worship we hope that children, and their parents, feel that they are valued and an important part of our church family.

Above all, we aim to make the church a safe place for all children and young people in our midst. The Church of Scotland have a stringent child protection policy that we as a congregation follow. All of our leaders and volunteers who are in a position of responsibility with children are accredited volunteers who have undergone the process of recruitment and training as laid down by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. That policy states:

The Church of Scotland has a deep concern for the wholeness and wellbeing of each individual. It seeks to safeguard the welfare of all people, regardless of age, who come into contact with the Church and its organisations. It is the responsibility of each individual within the fellowship of the Church to prevent the physical, sexual or emotional abuse of children and young people.The Church of Scotland has a deep concern for the wholeness and wellbeing of each individual. It seeks to safeguard the welfare of all people, regardless of age, who come into contact with the Church and its organisations. It is the responsibility of each individual within the fellowship of the Church to prevent the physical, sexual or emotional abuse of children and young people.  

As a congregation of the Church of Scotland we follow a Code of Good Practice which allows children and parents to feel that our church is as safe as we can make it for the children we care for and work with.

We have many activities for children within the life of our congregation.  Please see the ‘Our Activities’ section of our website for more details.