The church, teenage pregnancy and parenting
30% of teenage girls in South Africa fall pregnant.
Prevention work is essential, and while we strive to reduce that statistic, there are still hundreds of thousands of children being born to children. The church has an important role to play.
Being a good parent is a big responsibility at whatever age. Teenage parents face additional challenges that negatively impact on their capacity to consistently provide what their child needs. They may experience rejection from family, community, health facilities and their church. Pregnancy makes this teenager a vulnerable child.
Every pregnancy story is unique. And the unborn child did not choose its parents or the context in which he or she was conceived. To give this baby a good start to life, and to set him or her up for success into the future, the teenage parent needs additional support and care. And at Sikunye, we believe local churches can play a unique role in strengthening these young families.
We recognize that this topic is complex, with many factors that can make it difficult for a church to respond to teenage parents in a caring and supportive way. At the heart of this series is the desire to see local churches play their part in ways that are good for mom, good for dad, good for baby and good for the church.
Join us to better understand and respond to one of the biggest issues facing our society today.
This first session unpacked the issues of teenage pregnancy, and the risks for mother and unborn child. We also explored why teenage pregnancy is a challenging issue for church leaders and congregations. This event featured health practitioners, theologians and teen parents.
The Issues of Teenage Pregnancy
This event was held on 20 November
There are practical things that churches can be doing to support and bless families who have teenagers as parents. This session features presentations from pastors, health workers, and NGO workers who deeply understand the issues facing teenagers.
Caring for Children and Their Children
This event was held on 27 November
This is a complex topic! When we work with others, we can ensure a range of support that will help teenage parents thrive. This event hosted pastors who are actively caring for teen parents, as well as a theologian and doctor.
Panel Discussion: Partnering for Our Children’s Future
This event was held on 4 December
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