How Do You Deal With Cohabiting Young Adults in Your Ministry?
After mingling and catching up on the past week, your young adult group eases into their time together with announcements. The group is having their annual camping trip this summer, and you slowly pass around a sign-up sheet for those interested. The clipboard makes its lap around the group and into the hands of the co-leader, and their stomach sinks.
The young couple, who’ve been coming for months, walk into church holding hands, arrive together, and even volunteer, have different last names on the sign-up sheet. Quickly, you ring check their hands and notice neither has a wedding ring.
You assumed they were together and married or at least engaged, and honestly, it never mattered until the overnight camping trip just a few weeks away. They’re likely living together. You know it. They know you know it, or thought you did. And yet, the awkward question hangs in the room: Do we discuss this topic, and can or should they join the overnight camping trip?
