The Big Sex Chat

Welcome!

This survey is anonymous and the information you provide will be used to help us understand how youth workers view the church’s engagement with young people around sex and relationships.

This survey is for paid or volunteer youth workers, working within church youth ministry in the UK.

Thank you for your help!

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* 1. In churches you have been part of, which of the following messages about sex do you think have been communicated to young people?

Nothing - churches don’t want to talk about sex

Having sex before marriage / outside of marriage is wrong and will have damaging consequences

God created sex and gave us boundaries for our safety and success

Sex is dirty and sexual feelings are dangerous

Sex is only for heterosexual marriage

Other (please specify)

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* 2. What is the impact of the way this church/these churches relate to young people about sex?

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* 3. If you were trying to describe how the UK church's engagement with young people in this area has changed over the last 10 years, what would you identify as the key shifts?

It's not really changed

Churches are realising the need for more open conversations and pastoral support in this area

Churches are more likely to pull back from this conversation for fear of getting it wrong or hurting young people

Churches are more aware of young people’s sexual development so they are more responsive to their needs and supportive of their journey and beliefs

Churches see their job as holding on to traditional views on sex and relationships

Other (please specify)

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* 4. When does the topic of sex come up in your work with young people?

It doesn’t

When they raise it in one-to-one mentoring / pastoral conversations

When we ask young people what they want to discuss

If there’s a situation affecting the young people that needs addressing either individually or as a group

It’s part of the core curriculum of the work with young people

Other (please specify)

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* 5. How often have you initiated conversations with young people about sex in the last year?

Never

Very rarely

Sometimes

Fairly often

Frequently

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* 6. What are the barriers to initiating these conversations with young people?

I don’t know

I don't see it as part of my role

The young people aren’t asking questions about sex so it doesn’t feel appropriate for me to raise it

I don't know what I’d say and would prefer to say nothing rather than cause confusion or damage

I don't know what my church believes or would want me to say. Until they articulate their approach, I don’t feel able to open up conversation with the youth on this topic

Other (please specify)

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* 7. What would motivate you to have these conversations with young people?

My role is about helping young people in all areas of their life, including relationships, sex and sexuality

I want them to know the truth as taught in Scripture so that they can make the right choices and protect themselves from regret, and hurting themselves and others

I wish someone had talked to me about these things when I was a teenager

I think it’s important for the young people to understand their church’s or Christianity’s teaching about sex, sexuality and relationships

I don’t want young people to feel full of shame and confusion with no one or nowhere safe to ask their questions

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Which of the following topics are most important to cover when talking to young people about sex? Please choose your top five (this can be over time, not just in one chat!)

Physical and emotional safety

Identity

Sexual purity

Consent

Moral integrity

Sexual pleasure

Marriage, exclusivity and commitment

Intimacy

Justice

Communication skills

Choices, personal responsibility and consequences

Power, coercion and abuse

Handling regret and shame

LGBTQAI +

Digital technology (online porn, dating apps etc)

Peer pressure

Other (please specify)

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* 9. What has been most helpful in shaping your response to young people on the topic of sex?

My own reading of scripture

Christian teaching, books and talks on the subject

Training, teaching and resources from outside the Christian community

My own life experience

My experience of working with young people

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* 10. Which of the following would help you feel more equipped to engage young people in conversation about sex?

A clear idea of what issues young people struggle with

A chance to reflect more on my own story and how I relate to these topics

An opportunity for deeper theological teaching and engagement to help me understand what I believe

The support of my line manager / church leadership / parents of the young people etc.

More practical training and evidence-based resources to use with young people

Other (please specify)