Children & Family Ministry Listening Session Minutes

Strategic Planning Committee

Saint Michael and All Angels

Sunday, May 15, 2005 ~ 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

We started the meeting by explaining the purpose and goals of our strategic planning committee. There were 10 people in our session all of whom had young children. Half of our group had volunteered in the past as Sunday School teachers.

We started with the subject of Catechesis. Cathy Looney wanted us to ask, if there would be a preference for Godly Play over Catechesis. The real issue for the people in our room was that there was too big of a developmental difference between 3 and 5 year olds to lump those ages together. The 3 year olds made it difficult for the whole class. The suggestion was made to increase the minimum age requirement. The group liked the program in the past they just felt like it had become a bit lackluster, because it is very teacher driven and the latest exposure to the teachers hadn’t been as positive.

We then immediately moved on to Sunday school. The overriding concern is that “our children don’t want to go.” These parents were also noticing, however, that their kids wanted to go back to the programs that they had visited with their friends. Watermark, Fellowship Bible, and Northwest Highway Bible all came up. It seems that these programs are more like a “rock and roll experience” with “very high energy” and “teachers that really connect and know the kids.”

We all agreed that the teachers themselves are the most important component of the Sunday School experience. However, the consensus is that we don’t do enough to train them. We want our teachers to teach not supervise. It was acknowledged that there is a beginning of year introduction, but that that one shot isn’t enough. Following are some good suggestions of how to help our teachers teach.

1.           In addition to explaining the curriculum we need to give them pointers from actual teachers on how to teach. Being a parent is not the same skill set as being a good teacher.

2.           It was suggested that we do more to spiritually feed our teachers once a month. This would happen on the Sundays when the classes go to Make a Joyful Noise. The idea is to recruit volunteers to cover that hour, since it’s really about crowd control. During that time we could give refresher pointers to the teachers, explain upcoming curriculum, bond, compare notes, appreciate them, etc.

3.           Create more variety in the routine. Currently it is play, story, snack, and craft. There were some comments that the crafts are too complicated and time intensive. Maybe time would be better spent on incorporating a music element.

4.           Have the 4^th and 5^th graders help teach the lessons and songs as “young ministers.” The young kids really look up to the older ones and the older kids would better learn the lessons by having to actively teach. Plus it would make them feel like role modes. This model works really well in Vacation Bible School.

The concept of a Life Skills program was also introduced. The idea is to have seminars with children and adults that would address such issues as bullying, peer pressure, etc. We were running out of time to fully flush out this idea, but it was met with enthusiasm. The consensus was that the idea was good, but it depended on the topic. Perhaps this is something we could work out in conjunction with Adult Ministries, because there has been talk there of bringing back Wonderful Wednesdays which involves a meal and then programming for both the adults and children.

Everyone left upbeat and happy that their opinions were heard and energized that we are listening. There was also the reality, however, that we had real challenges and lots to do.