To think these were not appropriate images for the age group

[Smithagain]

Genuine AIBU question here ... I need a wider perspective.

We have a large screen in our church, which is used to display the words of songs, notices about events and visual aids of various sorts during the service.

This morning's service was for all ages, meaning that there were children and adults present throughout the service. Children ranged in age from babies to teens, but there were quite a few between 3-11.

During the prayers, images were projected of events in the news. They included scenes from (I presume) Gaza - one of a person carrying a body with very obvious wounds and blood all over his face, and another of pools of blood on the ground.

Neither was on the screen for very long - maybe 5 seconds - and they were intermingled with other images that were less graphic. The person leading the prayers warned us that some of the images were powerful before the start. But he also said that people should look and reflect.

Personally, I thought the two pictures I've described were inappropriate for a service where young children were present. I do not want my children (age 3 and 6) to see such explicit scenes just yet and I don't think they would be broadcast on (for example) a children's news programme - or even before the watershed. DH agrees and has expressed his view (somewhat forcefully!) to the person who was responsible.

My kids are quite sensitive and they don't watch adult TV, so it is possible we're out of step with what most children are used to seeing. I am also employed as a children's worker for the church, so I have to have further discussions with the minister and the person that was leading the prayers. I'd like to get a sense of what other parents think, before I decide whether to take things further.

I think what I'm going to do is initiate a discussion among all those responsible for preparing worship about use of age-appropriate material - whether on the screen or in other formats.

I'm also going to do a bit of research about the guidelines which are used by the BBC, film classification people etc, to decide what is suitable for young children to see.

On the basis of that, I will write and circulate what I think would be reasonable guidelines for worship leaders. I hope that will be a way of starting a constructive discussion without making things too personal. At the moment my DH is still livid with the person concerned, but I'm looking for a way to take the heat out of the situation and move things forward.

I think you are being a BIT unreasonable - do you keep the newspapers well away from your children? These are the sorts of images that are everywhere at the moment.

TBH my children would be scribbling on bits of paper during a church service so wouldn't notice either...

No, I don't keep the papers away from my children. But I haven't seen anything that graphic in the newspaper I buy.

And during all-age service, I'm encouraging them to join in. Although in fact, DD1 wasn't paying much attention at that precise moment, for which I'm grateful!