WELCOMING CHILDREN: WELCOMING CHILDREN: Discoveries from the Discoveries from the Congregational StudyCongregational Study

Dr. Joyce Ann Mercer

Joyce Ann Mercer, Western Educators Conf. 10/07

““FindingsFindings”” of the Children in of the Children in Congregations ProjectCongregations Project

A Congregational Research Project

Funded by the Louisville Institute

#1: Ministry with children must be a contextual ministry in order to thrive: “doing good church with kids” happens in the local idiom of a particular congregation

Joyce Ann Mercer, Western Educators Conf. 10/07

#2:#2:

Organizational and structural separation of children’s ministries from the rest of the congregation’s life impairs opportunities to integrate children into congregation and enhance their welcome. Biggest isolation=between cm and mission

Joyce Ann Mercer, Western Educators Conf. 10/07

#3#3

Parents are crucial to the welcome of children. But churches also need many other adults to “own” this ministry and receive the gifts of children.

Joyce Ann Mercer, Western Educators Conf. 10/07

#4#4

Children are not just receivers. They are active agents who impact practices.

So, a good question to ask in assessing ministry with children is: “How are we different as a congregation because there are children here?”

Joyce Ann Mercer, Western Educators Conf. 10/07

#5#5

Congregations easily get sidetracked in the absence of a clearly articulated agenda for children. E.g., “enjoyment” as a major rubric used by parentsbecomes controlling criterion. Is that really the most important value driving children’s participation in church?

Joyce Ann Mercer, Western Educators Conf. 10/07

#6#6

To welcome children, welcome their caregivers: cultural tendency toward “horizontal violence” that pits one group’s needs and interests against another (e.g., the attitude either children are important, or women’s lives are important, but one always must trump the other). Welcoming children means welcoming (not further oppressing) those who care for them.

Joyce Ann Mercer, Western Educators Conf. 10/07

#7#7

Power relations between staff figure prominentlyhead of staff/rector or priest in charge sets the tone. (Unfortunate finding, since many in these positions consider themselves to have “graduated” from doing ministry with children and youth).

Joyce Ann Mercer, Western Educators Conf. 10/07

5 Basic Theological 5 Basic Theological Commitments in Commitments in Welcoming Welcoming

ChildrenChildrenParenting is a deeply religious practice of

gift stewardship, involving care and nurture of children as divine gifts

Welcoming children means welcoming those who care for them.

Children are already fully human, whole-yet-broken people

Joyce Ann Mercer, Western Educators Conf. 10/07

Theol. Commitments, cont.Theol. Commitments, cont.

Children are part of the purposes of God, given to the world and the church so that God may be welcomed

The suffering of children must be acknowledged and addressed, as Christ’s church seeks its transformation so that children may flourish.

Joyce Ann Mercer, Western Educators Conf. 10/07