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 Caring for Children
- Children and Difficult Economic Times
As families face difficult economic circumstances, parents struggle to find the right answers for their children. Walking the tightrope between no information and too much information is always difficult, whether the subject is finances, sexuality, or a personal crisis of some kind.
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Light a Candle for Children (pdf)
Light a Candle for Children is an advocacy and prayer vigil project that invites congregations to join in "Forty Days of Prayer for Children."
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The Church and Children: Vision and Goals for the 21st Century (pdf)
Policy statement adopted November 11, 2004, by the National Council of Churches, USA.
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The Church and Children: Vision and Goals for the 21st Century — Study Guide (pdf)
This one-session study is designed to help congregations:
- Become familiar with the policy statement on the well-being of children adopted by the National Council of Churches, USA;
- Explore the implications for ministry suggested by the policy statement's vision and goal statements;
- Formulate action plans to implement the goals on behalf of children.
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What the United Methodist Social Principles Say About Human Sexuality
The United Methodist Church has Social Principles that speak to issues in the lives of people. You may or may not be aware that there are paragraphs that address human sexuality. We have excerpted the portions that apply to human sexuality and have them here for you to read.
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Safe Sanctuaries for Children and Youth DVD and Study Guide
Order the Safe Sanctuaries for Children and Youth DVD and download the free study guide (in pdf format).
- Physical Growth of Children
When we teach Sunday school or vacation Bible school, lead small groups of children, or work in child care, it is important that we realize the physical capabilities and needs of children. This short summary highlights some of what we know happens as children grow and develop.
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Litany for Education and Schools - Bulletin Insert (in pdf) from the National Council of Churches
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Stepfamilies: How Congregations Can Provide Needed Support
Congregations can and should provide support for stepfamilies. But to do so, they need to understand some of the dynamics of stepfamilies.
- Human Sexuality Education Resources
A summary of resources to be used in supporting individual and group study in human sexuality education.
- Parenting Children With Disabilities: What the Local Church Can Do
From asthma and diabetes to developmental delays and everything in between, physical and mental challenges of children with disabilities push parents to face constant change. The parents' lifestyles and the way they spend their time and money must change quickly.
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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Many of us, in varying degrees, have a distorted view of self. We become overly self-conscious about the size or shape of our bodies. The steady pressure to have the "right" look can backfire, leading us to an endless search for perfection.
- Are You a Gift to Children?
Children are God's very special gifts to us.But are we God's very special gifts to children?
- Nurture Children With Divorced Parents
While divorce continues to plague about half of the families in our nation, churches of all sizes need to nurture affected children and youth.
- When a Child is Poor . . .
Your congregation started a daycare or opened an afterschool program or opened your Sunday school to children from low-income families. Great. Now how do you make the children feel welcome and meet their needs without making them feel like conspicuous "objects" of your middle-class mission?
- When Children Are Absent
Your Sunday school class probably includes at least one child who is regularly absent from Sunday school.
Look carefully at attendance patterns. Why don't some students attend? Don't make assumptions.
- Churches Can Be Advocates for Children
As think tanks, foundations, community groups, bishops, and child advocates search for ways to raise children out of poverty, integrate them into a caring community, and provide stability and purpose to their lives, we in the church carry a special responsibility to "make our family get bigger." Here are ways some churches can be
advocates for children
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Godparents: A Ministry of Love & Disciple Making
Amazing grace that loves, forms, and affirms us comes in many ways. One of the ways that such grace comes into our lives is through people who are spiritual parents to the baptized; that is, godparents or sponsors.
- Celebrate Life's "Firsts"
- Create Surrogate-Grandparent Experiences
- Family Prayers for Special Days in the Life of a Child
There are a number of occasions when families gather together in God's presence to pray about the special times in their lives. During these times the members of the household gather, place the child in the center, and offer one of the following prayers.
- Ten Commandments for Family TV Viewing
 Children and Faith Formation
Children and Peace
Children and Safety Issues
Children and War & Crisis
Children and Worship
Christian Education
Covenant Discipleship for Children
Examples: Ministries With Children
Holidays and Seasonal Celebrations
Millennial Generation
Mission Education
Planning for Ministry With Children
Planning for Ministry With Families
Stewardship and Children
Weekday Ministries With Children
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