What's in a Name?

Molly Dempsey

After months of committee discussion, the Church School Subcommittee voted to change its name to the Children and Family Ministry Committee. Once under the umbrella of the Parish Education Committee (which no longer exists as such) this committee now operates independently and has expanded its responsibilities beyond Church School.

The Christian nurture of our children extends beyond the weekly 45 minutes set aside for Church School. We wish to offer so much more to our children than these few minutes of formal instruction. Our Director of Christian Education, Gretchen Jordan, has encouraged us to extend our role and consider how Christians are formed.

Christian formation does not happen in a vacuum. The entire parish is involved in the Christian formation of our children. In particular the immediate family of a child needs resources, opportunities, and encouragement as it explores how best to shape the growing Christian in its midst.

To that end our subcommittee wishes to support parent education classes, parent discussion groups, intergenerational events, increased involvement of children in worship services and outreach programs, alternative services for children during special services...so many possibilities abound! We hope to address the needs and concerns of the children within the context of both the nuclear family and the entire parish, with regard to Christian formation.