Family Ministries

We all have a place in the family

Family Ministries, as the name suggests, seeks to promote healthy relationships within the family.  We are concerned with the needs of married couples, parents and children, the family needs of singles and all members of the wider family circle as they pass through life’s predictable stages and contend with unexpected changes in their lives.

Here you will find a range of useful resources to help individuals communicate more effectively, deepen commitment in marriage, and assist in becoming better parents. You will also find trustworthy and biblical answers to many questions regarding family life and links to other helpful websites.

Our basic areas of emphasis are:

• Needs of singles
• Premarital guidance
• Strengthening marriage
• Parent education (with attention also given to extended families, single parenting, and blended family needs)

 

Family Ministries is about people

Family Ministries helps families grow in love and live in harmony as the family of God. Our over-arching objective of is to strengthen the family as a discipling centre. The family was established by divine creation as the fundamental human institution. It is the primary setting in which values are learned and the capacity for close relationships with God and with other human beings is developed.

Family Ministries reinforces and encourages wholesome families. It helps individuals build and maintain strong family relationships because it recognises that healthy Christian families make strong members for the kingdom of God and present a winsome witness to the community around them. Family Ministries promotes understanding, acceptance, and love within the family and in the larger family of God and fosters the reconciliation and healing between the generations promised in the Elijah message of Malachi 4:5, 6. It extends hope and support to those who have been injured and hurt by abuse, family dysfunction, and broken relationships.

Family Ministries fosters competence in a variety of interpersonal skills needed in relationships. It provides growth opportunities through family life education and enrichment. It encourages individuals, married couples, and families to avail themselves of professional counseling when necessary.

Statements on Family Issues

Throughout its history, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has periodically released position statements on specific topics and issues. A number of these pertain to marriage and the family, or to issues closely related to family life. For a complete collection of statements, access the official website of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: www.adventist.org. Those presented here include the following:

Abuse

• Family Violence
• Statement on Abuse and Family Violence
• Statement on Child Sexual Abuse
• Statement on the Nurture and Protection of Children

Abortion

• Guidelines on Abortion
• Principles for a Christian View of Life

Children

• Statement on the Nurture and Protection of Children

Family

• An Affirmation of Family
• Fundamental Belief on Marriage and Family
• Statement of Consensus on Care for the Dying
• Statement on Home and Family

Marriage

• An Affirmation of Marriage
• Response to Same Sex Unions–A Reaffirmation of Marriage

Sexuality and Reproductive Issues

• An Affirmation of God’s Gift of Sexuality
• Assisted Human Reproduction-Considerations
• Birth Control: A Seventh-day Adventist Statement of Consensus
• Christian Principles for Genetic Interventions
• Seventh-day Adventist Position Statement on Homosexuality
• Statement of Concern on Sexual Behavior
• Statement of Consensus Concerning Female Genital Mutilation
• Statement on AIDS
• Statement on Ethical Considerations Regarding Human Cloning
• Statement on Meeting the Challenges of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Statement on Pornography

 

Have Questions?

If you have questions, please contact the Family Ministries department at: family@croydonadventist.org.