Two thirds of the way through Children's Spirituality. This is probably the part most pertinent to our particular faith community and any community looking to better integrate children: Chapter 16 "Children in Congregations: Congregations as Contexts for Children's Spiritual Growth" by Joyce Ann Mercer, Deborah L. Matthews, and Scott Walz.
They say, most current discussion centers on the practices of individuals (parents, teachers) in the faith formation of children. They are looking for the influence of the larger community asking these questions and looking for some answers in three specific San Francisco Bay area churches. (p. 250)
What congregational practices support and nurture the faith of children?
(They broke this question down into these specific questions that we can ask ourselves)
-How do we welcome children to our faith community?
-How does our faith community contribute to their thriving [Interesting choice of words? My question: How do you know when children are thriving in your faith community?]
-How do we nurture them in the practices of Christian faith? [What are those practices?]
-How do children contribute to the vitality of our faith community?
-What impact does their presence have on the "lived theology" and practices of our faith community? [I love that: "lived theology"!]
These questions are almost verbatim but I turned them on you and me and our own faith communities. Without going into the social science, methodology, etc. these happened to be Presbyterian "evidencing some form of vitality in their ministries with children." The congregations were characterized by distinctly different size, socio-economics, demographics, and theology. The researchers are looking at where stated values and evidence were the same and where they were different. (p. 251)
"Christian practices" - "those activities done in community over periods of time that form persons into a community of faith and a people who make meaning in the world through their actions in response to God" (p. 250-253) specifically their "communal nature and their faith-forming capacities." It's worth reading how they see community as stretching across time.
I'll post what I'd consider interesting and random quotes and then see what we can do with their conclusions.
Until then, what do you think of the questions they're asking and how would you answer, not just in theory but in practice?
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In praxis we welcome children through our worship services.
ReplyDeleteChildren are welcome and invited to worship with their families. Children's messages are designed to share a nugget of truth with them. We have children's Bibles in the pews so that they can follow along.
We are working toward involving children more in the leading of the worship service. This has happened a couple special times, but we want it to be more regular.
Children are always involved with their parents in the welcoming/handshaking to all people as they enter the doors. This is a special time for kids too.
I have that book sitting on the shelves in my office but haven't read it yet. We're having a discussion about children in worship right now. As it is,they attend partof the service and then leave after the children's sermon for children's worship.
ReplyDeleteOne pastor wants the kids completely out with their own complete worship service. He has good intentions with this and is willing to support anything we come up with.
Other people, nursery coordinators and children's worship teachers mainly, are fighting it, wanting kids in worship the whole time.
I vascillate. I can see both sides. The kids love having their own worship service and wish it was longer than only 20 minutes. Having their own praise band and own full service would give us more time with them. On the other hand, there is merit to having them in worship, too, but the services would have to be more kid friendly. Children's Bibles in the pews are a good idea.
clpc,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the struggle. It is easy to see both sides. Ask the congregation what it means to be a "Bible-based" congregation (as I am sure they claim to be). Then ask them how that reflects to dividing a family during worship.
Welcome to the book too...its a good one.