CODE OF CONDUCT
Guidelines for Children's activities in the Church:
1. In liturgical services children may sit for much of the service in accordance with the disciplinary standards of the parent. However, it is expected that parents have them stand during at least the creed, the Anaphora through the consecration (Epiklesis), the Lord’s Prayer, and Communion. Little children (ages 7 and under) should be permitted to sit more than older children 8+ who have undergone first confession. Those who have undergone first confession should stand for the entire Creed and Anaphora through the consecration, as well as for the Lord’s Prayer (unless it is a weekday service in which we are bidden to kneel). Young children make noise, and this is not to be overly worried about. Christ loved children and realized that, especially those under the age of confession, are still in the molding stage. Orthodox Christian parents, whether at home or in church, do not tolerate tantrums, they do not say yes to everything their child wants, but rather teach them temperance. They teach them responsibility, they teach them how to take responsibility, they teach them to respect their elders, they uphold the fact that other brothers and sisters in Christ may admonish their children.
If the child makes an overabundance of noise to the point of distraction of all around, the child may be removed. However, older children should behave at all times and there is no excuse for anything else to be tolerated.
2. It is expected that every family that is part of this church exercise temperance and teach their children temperance (i.e. that there are certain times when certain things are off limits, that there are limits to everything, that we don’t intrude upon other people’s space and property--including the priest’s and his children’s).
3. It is expected that parents maintain discipline at all times and are responsible for the supervision of children while on church grounds. We have had incidents of late where some children have been playing disturbing games with guns. No longer will this be tolerated. It is asked that, in general,
a. the time after church be a time when time is set aside for wholesome things (like Sunday school, sitting down with their families at a meal, playing wholesome games with the children outside with complete adult supervision). It is asked that, for at least this small time during the week, that children up to age 17 (and, adults for that matter) be restricted from gameboys/video games, prolonged cell phone conversations with friends, portable emails, and things of this nature.
4. In general, except for very small children, it is expected that parents do not feed their children in church. There is no doctor in the world that states a child cannot go an hour and a half without food, nor that this is bad for them. IN FACT, DOCTORS SAY THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE WAY OVERFED. All of us as parents must do our children a favor and teach them temperance with eating that that there are times when certain things are off limits. The irregular eating habits of smaller children make an exception.
5. CLEAN UP Father and Pani are constantly having to clean up after everyone’s mess. There are several children that leave their soda cans sitting outside, and LITTER their trash on church grounds thereby desecrating it. This, of course, will be tolerated no longer. It is expected that parents clean up after their children on Sundays in the Church and in the hall, and have their children clean up the messes that they have made and all trash and put them in a trash can.
5. DRESS CODE Children should be dressed appropriately for Church. This includes respectful clothes becoming one who visits the house of God.
a. No Tshirts with messages or logos should be worn
b. Shoes should be appropriate and clean
c. After Church allow the Children to get something to eat, and then go into Christian Education (generally during the school year). We as Orthodox Christians sit down and eat meals together. Anytime there is a meal, children ought to sit and eat. Children eat without a requested donation, so there is no reason not to have them sit and eat. If they are sick or “not hungry” they can still sit down for the meal. No one needs to stay for the meal, but if you do, children should sit down and eat as a discipline befitting Christians. Also, practically speaking, there is no one to go out and be with them during this time period as well and supervise.
d. After the children sit down so that everyone has had enough time to eat, they will then proceed in helping clean up the Sunday School. These things don’t get done by themselves and helping them become responsible children who help take care of their church is an important lesson in helping them grow toward adulthood.
d. All parents are expected to help in shifts with the supervision of children, and to meet with other parents to organize those shifts.
e. Children should be supervised at all times.
f. Toy guns are unacceptable, as well as any “death games”, or any adult oriented games (such as CSI/Crime Scene Investigation type games) or video games (such as anything that is “rated” above age 14 generally has content now that is unacceptable for Christians of any age), as well as videos or video productions which are age inappropriate or unapproved, and those films or movies which are approved are approved assuming that the adult that made the request will fully supervise the children.
All children must be supervised by at least one adult while doing any activity on church grounds
Acceptable ways of children’s activities on a normal Sunday are as follows:
1. Sitting down with everyone during coffee our or the meal
2. Cleaning up after themselves
3. Playing nice with the other children without foul language, put downs, insults. No pushing, cursing, hollering at one another, or other such unacceptable activities
4. Cleaning up the playground and putting away things where they belong both outside and in the Christian Education room.
