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Wis. Church Offers Kid-Free Service For Sex Offenders

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A Madison church hopes to draw sex offenders to a special adults-only service, according to a report in the Wisconsin State Journal.

The First Congregational United Church of Christ is trying the service every other Thursday night through May. Rev. Jerry Hancock says the idea for the service came from a call he got from a probation officer who wanted to know if there were any worship services that didn't include children.

Hancock says the services might also appeal to someone who wants an unusually quiet worship experience, but they are designed especially for convicted sex offenders who cannot be where children are present.

Parishioner Susan Heneman tells the State Journal her church truly wants to be a place where everyone is welcome.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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