Thinking Through Christian Education Options For Children and Youth this Fall
By Kevin Witt, Director of Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders
and Kim Shockley, Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership
As schools and families ponder the best way to proceed this fall, children and youth ministry leaders are also exploring prudent possibilities. Following the way of Jesus is relational, thus creating a dilemma. Amid a pandemic when people in the community can become ill or even die if we gather unwisely, how do we nurture young people to go deeper in love for God, others and themselves? (Matthew 22:36-40)
Overarching Principles:
Establish some basic core values that will guide your decision making. Our Wesleyan tradition offers three guides: Do No Harm. Do All the Good You Can. Stay in Love with God.
What does love and ‘do no harm’ require of us relative to the guidance of health experts during the COVID 19 outbreak?
What are imaginative ways we can do good by engaging children and youth to continue growing in faith and loving relationship with God?
Surveying families, children and youth can identify their preferences. Melanie Feldner, Director of Kids Ministry at Aldersgate UMC in Mechanicsburg, shares a prime example of how listening can enhance faith formation opportunities.
“We held Vacation Bible School this year very differently. In lieu of gathering large groups of children, which wasn’t recommended by health authorities, we shifted to a home based VBS experience. We developed it collaboratively with other congregations so we could share ideas and mutually benefit. We heard from families that young people missed relationships with their Church leaders.
How could we bring relationship back into the experience when we could not safely gather them in a large group setting to be with the teachers? We let our imaginations run free and realized that leaders (adults and youth) could still connect with the children to let them know they are loved and valued. We decided to create a really fun drive-through experience in the church parking lot. Leaders safely handed out activity packets for the week to the kids as their parents drove through. We recorded greetings from leaders and put short clips on-line for parents who could not drive-through. It may seem like a small thing, but it made all the difference. New relationships were forged and existing relationships were strengthened. People of all ages were able to experience joy and learn more about Jesus!”
You can find some of the resources and brief video related to VBS @ home here: http://aldersgatechurch.net/vbs-home/
Fall is another great opportunity to survey families and get creative. Consider these possibilities:
- On-line: Cokesbury, for example, has Christian Education resources in on-line formats. You can also teach from physical curriculum and use Zoom or Google Hangouts where students can see each other and be in dialogue. Many churches have been utilizing tools for worship and devotions that could be adapted for Christian Education. Cokesbury On-line Sunday School
- At Home: You can prepare or offer materials that equip families to engage their young people in faith formation at home where they can apply it in daily living.
- Pods: Pods limit gatherings to small numbers of persons (10 or less) who come together safely and adhere to masking, sanitizing, and social distancing protocols. The key is keeping the same group together and not shift the participants or leaders. This way the chance of spreading COVID to larger numbers of persons is greatly reduced.
- Outdoors: Gathering outdoors reduces the concentration of virus particles in the air. Often, there is enough room outdoors for multiple small groups to gather at the same location. Avoid close contact between the small groups. It is a good idea to wear a mask anytime students will be in close proximity to one another. Be sure to follow or exceed all protocols for group gatherings that are recommended by the CDC and health authorities.
- Indoors: This can be very challenging unless you have large enough spaces to maintain social distancing, especially if you include activities involving physical movement. It is important to measure the square footage of usable space in each room to determine the number of leaders and students who can meet in that space. It is recommended to maintain 6 feet between persons. You also need to follow safe sanctuary policies in adult supervision ratios.
- Alternative Spaces: You may arrange the private use of larger spaces such as a properly sanitized gymnasium or a community center. Keep in mind, it is still wise to use a “pod” strategy even if a larger number of young people can be accommodated in that space. Limit physical exertion, singing, shouting and other rigorous breathing activities which can project the virus greater distances. Masks make a real difference.
Finally, Deb Port, a pastor with The Journey, suggests another possibility. “We provide a Facebook group called ‘Parenting through Social Distancing’. This support group provides ideas on what families need and has been an “on-ramp” for new families.” For more information email dport@susumc.org or join the group here.
