Description
“Love your neighbor” is a commandment that most kids are familiar with. It opens imaginations to dream of the many ways they can show God’s love in the world. What can church leaders do with all that potential? They can help kids dream even bigger by learning the connection between loving their neighbor and God’s justice. They can help kids understand that working to address injustices in the world is an expression of their faith. They can help kids begin to do that work themselves.
This workshop will equip leaders to make justice a vibrant and vital part of their children and family ministry programming. It will cover why talking about injustices with kids is theologically and pedagogically important and suggest practical strategies for how to add justice into programs. The workshop will discuss how to respond to fears that talking about injustices is “political” or not appropriate for children and how the methods of talking about injustices with kids can be productive with adults as well. Attendees will walk away with curriculum suggestions and a checklist of steps to follow as they work to build justice into existing programming. Attendees will also be invited to share their own resources and/or experiences about kids and justice, which will be compiled and shared.
This comprehensive, hope-filled workshop will help congregations move forward, hand in hand with their youngest disciples, down the path of doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God.
Workshop Leader: Sara Pantazes
Sara Pantazes is the Director of Faith Formation at First Presbyterian Church of West Chester, Pennsylvania and the creator of the Young Justice Builders program. She has a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary. She lives in southeastern Pennsylvania with her family.
Co-Leader: