5 Steps to becoming a Single Friendly Church
We invite churches to take 5 Steps to become a Single Friendly Church. These Steps cover 5 key areas of church life where single people are sometimes not considered or feel excluded.
The 5 Steps help you to make small changes in each of these areas, which will make a big difference to single people’s experience of church.
The 5 Steps
- Who is single?
Who are the single people in your congregation?
Consider different types of singleness and their different needs. - Language
Review the wording and images on your website and noticeboards. What message are you giving out?
Consider how you use the word "family". - Welcome
Do you notice and welcome those arriving alone?
Is there a social opportunity after the service?
Are single people included in the social life outside of the church? e.g. invitations of hospitality - Teaching
Do you have any single people preaching?
Choose sermon themes and illustrations relevant to single people as well as couples and families. - Leadership
Do you have single people in leadership positions? E.g. service leading, small groups
Each Step can be looked at in as little or as much detail as you like – the greater the detail, the greater the transformation in your church.
The 5 Steps Audit
The most effective way to make positive changes in your church is to use our 5 Steps Audit. This self-assessment audit will help your church to:
- Increase your awareness and understanding of what a Single Friendly Church looks like
- Recognise what you are already doing well
- Identify areas for improvement
If you commit to doing the Audit, we can feature your church on our Find-A-Single Friendly Church map!
Once you have successfully completed the audit, you will be invited to become a Single Friendly Church.
Training
- Online workshops
We run regular online workshops that explore the 5 Steps in more detail. We also run workshops at key times of year like Mother's Day and Christmas. - Further resources
Check out our resources for churches, including a pastoral guide for leaders.