Hello!

Just curious as to your feelings about and experience of Christian children’s ministry. It ranges from the non-existent in those denominations where children are expected to sit in pews and be seen and not heard, to the full blown ‘age-appropriate’ drop them off 2 blocks away and leave, to something in between where you sit with them for a bit in church before they go to do something “more appropriate” than listen to a sermon!


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  • When I was growing up Sunday school happened before church. My parents would drop me off at 9, come back at 10 for the actual church service and then we would have church, I was allowed to bring a book until I was 13, and then I had to listen and pay attention to the service. It taught me patience and understanding.
    Now my kids, have sunday school during the sermon of church, so they stay for the worship and then when the sermon is about to start they are ushered down to the different back rooms for 20-30 mins, until the sermon/end of church when we are to collect. My kids are young (under 5), but it is somewhat disorganised and doesn’t happen every week. I have been to churches that have amazing kids ministry, and i have friends who are amazing children ministries leaders. I think in theory it is good, but I also think that older teenagers need to be in the service and to listen to the sermon.


  • I have no idea. No clue about any religions. So I can’t help at all


  • Probably a bit extreme on my part, but with history of child sex abuse at the hands of church elders, I would be reluctant to leave my kids alone with any of them!


  • Our church has a kids ministry. They go off for a while to do Christin Activities which relate to the sermon. I like this idea as it includes them in our faith in a way they can easily relate.


  • Our church has a kids ministry which is split into age appropriate classes. Kids are also welcome to stay during the service.


  • My dad always told us he didn’t get us christened because he thought religion should be a choice. He left it up to us to be one adults and choose our own religion. He wasn’t religious and none of his kids are


  • We have sacrament meeting for just over an hour, which is like ‘mass’, everyone is in the chapel at this time, in pews… sometimes parents end up taking toddlers outside but most manage fine inside. We then have an hour of Sunday School where we separate into different classes, children have different classes depending on age. This is fantastic as it means they can learn on their level. In the last hour, children aged 3-11 have Sharing Time, which is singing time and a lesson and activity together. All other age group shave their own classes during that time also. So three hours of church :)


  • I personally think there needs to be a balance. My husband and I go to quite a traditional Lutheran Church and currently the children have a children’s message during the service and then exit for Sunday School (in our attached fellowship centre) during the last hymn of service and Sunday School runs for about 30mins so parents can have a coffee and catch up after Church whilst they wait for their children. We still need to improve our practices and practicalities around how to keep our young people engaged.


  • My church would take the children out during mass to have children’s religious instruction


  • In our church the kids go to their own kids service where they learn things on their own level and have fellowship with kids of their own age group. My kids love it !


  • I only attend churches that allow and encourage children to be part of the normal congregation.


  • Our regular church has a mix. Kids go out once a month during sermons. They have a tiny cry room at the back you can see out of but it’s a but sound proof from the outside. I like kids still participating in some of normal church because I think church is for everyone! But it can be really helpful to have a space for them to learn differently. I don’t like the drop off separately (but I still just have a toddler) so when they’re out for the whole time I generally am too!
    Our priest/pastor person always says nice things about kids noise bring normal and wonderful so It makes it easier staying in :) does that answer your question?


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