How might the Christian church effectively engage Australian children and young people with the gospel of Jesus Christ? In this unit we will consider the biblical, theological, historical, developmental and cultural foundations on which to construct a Christian ministry among children and teenagers, and engage in critical evaluation of strategic approaches to children’s and family ministry, youth ministry, and intergenerational ministry.
Join us for this extensive unit of study with Graham Stanton, Ridley faculty member and director of the Ridley Centre for Children’s and Youth Ministry. Graham is keen to help students develop skills for engaging theologically with contemporary culture.
Content
Section A: Biblical, Theological, Developmental, Cultural, and Historical Foundations for Children’s and Youth Ministry.
- The Bible’s teaching on children and youth
- Introduction to a theology of childhood and youth
- A survey of the place and understanding of children and young people in western society: historical perspectives on children and young people; generational theory; major aspects of children’s and youth culture and sub-cultures in Australia today
- Child and adolescent development: introduction to processes and theories of physical, cognitive, moral and faith development
- Historical overview of children and young people and the church: catechism, Sunday School movement, age-segregated ministries, inter-generational ministry
Section B: Strategic approaches to children’s and youth ministry
- Evangelism and outreach in children’s and youth ministry
- Nurturing faith and discipleship in children’s and youth ministry
- Structures for Church-based children’s and youth ministry: Age-segregated ministries; Family ministry; Intergenerational ministry