CHURCHES will be offered resources in a programme launched on Tuesday to help them to address addiction to pornography.

The Naked Truth Project, a UK charitable venture to “open eyes and free lives from the damaging impact of porn”, is to allow churches to acquire membership status, giving their leaders access to resources and training to discuss and combat harmful effects of pornography on individuals and communities.

The Naked Truth Project’s founder and chief executive, Ian Henderson, said: “There are people in our churches and wider communities walking with addiction, betrayal trauma, relational crisis, breakdown, depression — all deeply impacted by pornography.

“We know it takes courage to talk about porn, but our hope is that church membership will aid churches, leaders and pastoral teams from all denominations in being resourced to bring both a pastoral and missional response to all those struggling with porn use.”

The scheme was launched in Westminster School, where a panel of the charity’s clients told their stories of recovery from porn addiction. It was preceded by a gathering at the House of Commons, hosted by the former leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron.

The resources for churches will include sermon ideas, training packs from youth leaders, and material for group courses. Churches will also be given a discount to commission a survey, administered confidentially by the Christian charity Dignity, to provide “insights” into porn use within the congregation.

The Bishop of Bolton, the Rt Revd Mark Ashcroft, has previously endorsed the Naked Truth Project, saying that it “consistently produced resources of high quality, pastoral sensitivity and practical wisdom, rooted in a dependence on God’s love and power to change lives”.

Church membership will cost £230 per year.

www.ntchurches.com