Children’s Ministry in the Church Context
In this section you will find:
- Course Description
- Course Objectives
- Course Delivery
- Course Syllabus
- Professor
- Undergrad or Graduate
- Course Costs
- Registration
- Contact
This course will look at the perception, role and purpose of children in the context of church from Bible times to present ay. It will assess each era in light of that ages understanding of children and the church. A contemporary theology of the church will then form the basis for understanding the current ministry trends and for evaluating current ministry praxis. (Ministry trends to be discussed are individuals with special needs, spiritual parenting, family ministry and narrative teaching.)
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
Cognition
- Understand the history of children in the context of the church from bible times to present day, with particular focus on its teaching on the role, purpose and perspective of the child in order to articulate the value of a child in the church family.
- Become conversant in contemporary theology of the church: the church as God’s chosen people, God’s gifted people, God’s sent people and God’s people led, so that the student can confidently articulate the child’s place in the church family.
- Explore current ministry trends of family ministry, spiritual parenting, and narrative teaching in order to develop an understanding of the churches role in the spiritual teaching of children.
Inner Development
- Give critical thought to and articulate a personal Philosophy of Children’s Ministry based on a renewed understanding of church, ministry practice, and ministry trends.
Cultivation
- Develop vision, core values, and objectives for family ministry and spiritual parenting with the purpose of extending your ministry to the families within your church.
This online class will next run from January – April, 2012. You must have ready access to a computer and high speed internet. The class involves online lectures, weekly reading, and lively discussion forums. Lectures will be provided by ministry specialists. Students will interact with forum leaders, who will serve as mentors to encourage discussion, generate thought, and challenge opinions and views. Students are required to participate on a weekly basis, but can access class materials at any time throughout the week, at their convenience.
Graduate syllabus
Undergraduate syllabus
This course will be taught by various ministry specialists. Forum leaders will serve to draw the lectures together, bringing continuity and highlighting the relationships between various lectures. Lecturers are Dr. Daryl Busby (history of ministry to children), Dr. Archie Spencer (ecclesiology), Dr. Ken Pudlas (ministry to children with special needs), and Mr. Brian Siewert (spiritual parenting and family ministry).
Please read Program Options for a clear understanding of undergrad versus graduate level, and credit versus not-for-credit.
See Course Costs.
This course is now closed for registration. Our next class will run September to December 2012.
For more information regarding this course please contact Nicole Lanigan, Program Coordinator, at 604.888.7592.
