Welcome to The Hidden Congregation Bringing children’s and family ministry into college training programmes A conference hosted by The Consultative Group for Ministry among Children November 22nd 2012

The Big Picture A presentation from CGMC Children, Young People, Families.... and the Church - Where are we now?

Background to the work of CGMC members ‘Changing times require changing responses’ (from ‘Will our Children have Faith?’ By John Westerhoff 11 )

The context for the work of CGMC members Children and Family engagement with Christianity Church engagement with children Childhood is changing Sunday church is still haemorrhaging

‘ It takes the whole church to raise a child’ ‘A church that welcomes children and young people, accepts their gifts and ministries.... and continues to learn the values of the Kingdom by living them, is a church which is good news not only for it children, but for all its members and for the world’ (from Unfinished Business- The Child in the Church)

The challenge for the work of CGMC members Professional children’s and family workers in churches Children and their families - active not passive Children and their families need a choice and a voice A good ‘church’ childhood Children are fully human

Common threads and concerns in our work with churches as identified by CGMC members

Good news How can the church not just preach good news but be good news for its children? A church that enables all to participate embracing and responding to the UN rights of the child. A Christian home for children and families An organic community

Essentials How can the church create a safe environment for children, families and carers? Developing relationships The value of play Empowering children and young people Giving children and young people a voice

Links How can the church build better links with the wider community? Partnerships with schools Linking with secular initiatives and projects Social action on behalf of children and families A welcoming, hospitable space

Good practice How can the church promote good practice for work with children, families and carers? Ecumenical training initiatives Facilitating an on-going dialogue Commissioning and publishing robust research By raising the profile of children and young people

Discipleship How can the church develop positive models of faith nurture and discipleship for children? Encourage families in children’s faith formation Support families and carers Recognise ‘the seeds of exclusion’

Cross-generational Initiatives How can the church build new Christ-centred communities? Promote an all-age approach to church Develop a holistic approach to the ministry and mission of the church Develop leadership that nurtures a communal spirituality Continue to work out the implications of ‘belonging, believing, behaving’

Implications What might this mean for training future church leaders? Do theology with a serious and sustained reference to children and their families Recognise that ‘placing a child in the midst’ can throw new light on every aspect of theology Acknowledge that the church can no longer afford to ignore children and young people

‘Children need to see an ethos of ministry and mission modelled for them by parents, church leaders and other significant adults’ From – Post-Modern Children’s Ministry by Ivy Beckwith