Who’s the Daddy?
Thanks to sundaypapers for pointing me to this blog article:
Youthblog : Christian Youth Work & Ministry: Who’s the Daddy?
It’s definitely worth some thought over whether using the model of ‘parent’ is an appropriate way to think of how the church responds to its younger members. If it does, then I love the last sentence in this article:
Are we as the Church being the kind of parents who pack their children off to Boarding school so they don’t get in the way of the way we like to do things!
Since the lovely Sophie joined us in this world I have become obviously more interested in the ‘family’ dynamics of church and how helpful it is for children. Do we encourage or stifle children’s expression of worship to their creator. What should our expectations of them be. I used to abhor the start of most Westbury Church services which have ‘a short moment of silence’. As if Sophie’s going to shut up just as soon as she’s got to church! Now I sit there not worrying too much if she’s loud or quiet ‘cos maybe her loudness says something about the appropriateness of silence at that time/in that kind of a gathering.
Sometime I’ll do some thinking about ‘parenting’ young people in my job.
Peace to you all
David
Filed under: Theology on January 18th, 2007
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