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Children's Work

Thank God for children's work!

Child's drawing of Christ on cross

Does your Church encourage children to express their theology like the child who drew this picture? In other words, does it:

  • take children seriously?
  • recognize their gifts and ministries?
  • nurture their spirituality, or just feed them Bible stories?
  • see them as equal partners with adults on the journey of faith?

Children have their own particular gifts and ministries. Does your church provide an arena for them to use their gifts and develop their ministries?

 

Sharing the Good News with Children - the Children's Strategy for the Church of England, endorsed by General Synod in July 2003 has four Key Areas.

 

Key Area 1:    Worship and the Nurture of Children

Key Area 2:    Evangelism among Children

Key Area 3:    Supporting Ministry among Children

Key Area 4:    Training for Ministry among Children

 

If your church is concerned about any area of children's work, use the links below to find out more about the help that is available:

Child protection

Whatever the format of a church's children's work, it is important that child protection guidelines and good practice are implemented at all levels. This belief resulted in the House of Bishops' Policy on Child Protection, called "Protecting All God's Children", available from Church House Bookshop.

The regulations are in place to protect not only children and young people, but also those adults who are committed to working with and for them.

If you are not sure what you should be doing, or you would like further advice and help, then contact your Diocesan Office or Pearl Luxon, Child Protection Officer at the NCIs.

Children and Holy Communion

In November 1996, after many years of debates, reports and experimentation, the General Synod of the Church of England accepted the House of Bishops’ Guidelines on the Admission of Baptized Persons to Holy Communion before Confirmation – which of course included children.

In February 2006, The General Synod formally approved the Children and Holy Communion Regulations, which supersede these Guidelines. The Regulations come into force on 15 June 2006, the Feast of Corpus Christi.

For many parishes, the traditional pattern of baptism, confirmation and first communion remains the norm, but the numbers who admit children after baptism are growing.

Further information can be obtained from Mary Hawes or any diocesan Children's Work Adviser. The Regulations referred to above and Children and Holy Communion are both available from Church House Publishing.

For information on any of the above subjects, contact:

© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2001