21 June 2026 – Fathers’ Day

It is widely recognised that there is a crisis in fatherhood and, in particular, the absence of fathers in the lives of their children.  This absence is related to educational underachievement, mental health issues and imprisonment especially among boys. Consider these facts:

 By the age of 14, nearly half of first-born children in the UK do not live with both natural parents.

·        The Centre for Social Justice highlights how 2.5 million children in the UK have no father figure at home.

·   Over 90% of teachers believe that fatherlessness negatively impacts boys’ behaviour and academic achievement. 

      Suicide remains the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK.

In his Dimbleby Lecture, Gareth Southgate highlighted the importance of male role models in a boy’s life. ‘I’ve always believed, ‘You don’t need to be a dad to be a father figure.’’  Fewer men work in schools and youth organisations struggle to recruit leaders.

This is concerning not least on Fathers’ Day when we celebrate the role of fathers in family life. Our most significant role model is God who is described as a father. This leads us to the heart of the Gospel and the Trinity, the personhood of God, three persons in one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

There is a mistaken view that when we think of fatherhood, we begin with our own experience and extrapolate this to God. This is not helpful especially for those who have had bad experiences. In order to inform what a human father should be like, we look at what the Bible says about God, the father.

Consider what the prophet Hosea reveals about the fatherhood of God. His love of his son is full of  tenderness. ‘I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks.’  This image has within it a remarkable intimacy which is the fruit of God’s love for his chosen people.

‘When Israel was a child, I loved him and out of Egypt I called my son.’ His relationship with his people has been mapped out in a history which has been embedded into the life of their community through ritual which stimulates  their remembrance.