Most of you reading this article would agree that you have attended weddings, funerals and church services where small children have misbehaved. So much so that the service was almost ruined by the insensitivity of the parents. The children do not know any better but parents should.
The article I wrote concerning the demeanor of those on the platform during a worship service affecting the response of the audience hit home. Several comments and letters from pastors prompted this article. Read on.
Dear Mrs. Baggott,
I agree with your thoughts concerning the attentiveness of staff members. But might I add there is another subject that should be addressed. Parents who allow their children to disrupt the service by going to the rest room every single Sunday. This past Sunday one child went three times. Time she would come back ‘nother child would go. Six times the worship service was interrupted.
Dear Betty,
As the minister to children in our church my heart bleeds for our pastor. He is too kind to ask the parents of one baby to please take their child to the nursery (which is well staffed and spotless). For two weeks now off and on during the service the baby cries. The parents do everything to quiet her but get up and leave. Please call to the attention of families with small children that some visitors never come back when they are not allowed to worship without this problem.
Other letters I could elaborate on plus phone calls. Big churches and small churches have this problem time to time and honestly there is no excuse for such behavior. During the years of being married to a minister I have seen the following:
ZA 2-year-old actually playing on the floor in the aisle as the parents smiled as to how cute he was. They would motion for the little angel to return to his seat, but when he did not, they just looked at each other as if to say, “He is so precious.” All the time the poor pastor fumbled to keep up with his notes.
ZDuring a revival my husband was preaching, our hearts were so excited about a man who was saved that afternoon and had planned to make a profession of faith that night. You guessed it. A couple with a year-old baby opted to bring their child to church instead of taking him to the nursery. You would not believe the noise during the whole service. The mother even hummed softly to try to get “little Johnnie” to sleep.
People all over the church were squirming and wishing they could hear the sermon. The Holy Spirit did work overtime that night and the man came forward.
I have witnessed small children who completely ruined a wedding service. These parents did not even sit in the back of the church. They chose to sit down front where the 3-year-old could see. The vows could hardly be heard for the antics of the child.
These situations are hard to handle. No minister wants to keep any family from coming to church. They would not stop in the middle of a church service, wedding or funeral to request the parents take the child and leave. I think we all have to pray that parents understand that there are some places you don’t take small children. If you do and they misbehave, get up and leave.
One wedding I directed some time back, the bride instructed me to request parents who attended the service to take their children to the nursery (one was provided) if the child was under 4 years of age. Not a bad idea.
Please don’t think I don’t love children. I am just standing up for pastors and staff members who are such dedicated people of God that they won’t hurt anyone’s feelings. But it is all about good manners and consideration for others.
Perhaps there are some churches that have figured out how to handle the above situations. If so advise me. There are a lot of churches that need your help.
A good place to start would be to post this article on your bulletin board at church.
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