Skills for Children’s and Family Ministries
Overview
Develop skills to design and facilitate a ministry among children and families in a local church. This online subject works through theological, cultural, and strategic foundations for children’s and family ministry, practices of discipleship among children and families, and practices for leadership in children’s and family ministries.
Anchored by Graham Stanton, Director of the Ridley Centre for Children’s and Youth Ministry, this subject includes specialised input from a stellar line-up of local and international practitioners and scholars including:
- Holly Allen, Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Amy Brown, Children and Youth Minister, St. Jude’s Carlton
- Kaye Chalwell, St Andrew’s Cathedral School, Sydney
- Gareth Crispin, Cliff College, Sheffield UK
- Amy Jacober, Sonoran Theological Group, Phoenix, Arizona
- Timothy Paul Jones, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
- Ruth Newmarch, Generations Pastor, St. Thomas’ Burwood
Please visit the timetable by clicking here for current information on subject availability.
Subject Details
Mode
|
Online |
| Workload |
One semester, 12 credit points |
| Status |
Elective |
| Subject Code |
DE031 |
Prerequisites
|
None |
| Teacher |
Graham Stanton |
Content
Section A: Theoretical Study and Skills
- Children, families, and the Church: historical and contemporary understandings; children and families in multicultural settings; age-segregated and inter-generational ministries; baptism and communion, denominational distinctives
- The content and planning of a Children’s and Family Ministry: aims and objectives; ministry to, for, and with children; models of family ministry; evangelism and nurture; educational and formational perspectives; curriculum planning
- Discipling children: Bible teaching with children; creative teaching techniques (such as music, drama, craft; digital technology); answering children’s questions; Christian practices with children; children and evangelism; discipling children with disabilities; group management and discipline
- Leading Children’s and Family Ministry: working within a church leadership team; shaping church culture; leading teams; recruiting and training; leading change; planning and evaluation; implementing safe-ministry practices
- Reflective practice: The examination of an existing substantial children’s and family ministry program in a Christian church; theological reflection; self-reflection and supervision; seeking and responding to feedback
Section B: Ministry with Children and Families
- Christian ministry among children and families in a particular church, including a minimum total of thirty hours field-work.
Study Expectations
In this subject , you can expect to be guided through a variety of weekly learning activities which are designed to develop your understanding of and skills in the themes and passages covered by the syllabus. These usually include watching videos, reading, completing set learning tasks and contributing to online seminars and interacting with your peers. Students should allow 8-10 hours of study time per week for this subject.
