Newcastle Diocesan Synod Saturday November 25 2017
Menu C Discipleship in Children’s Ministry ‘Reflecting on our faith development’ Judith Sadler
In 1989 the National Society published its report for the General Synod of the Church of England ‘Children in the Way’. For many of us, this was a first encounter with the idea of faith being something that changes, moves and develops in a ‘systematic’ way – in stages.
Much research had been going on in the 70s, particularly in the USA, and the report was informed to a large extent by the work of James Fowler and John H Westerhoff III. Fowler identified 6 stages of faith; Westerhoff identified 4.
No stage of faith is of greater value that another – ‘A tree in its first year is a complete and whole tree, and a tree with three rings is not a better tree but only an expanded tree. In a similar way, one style of faith is not better or greater than another style of faith.’ (‘Will our Children Have Faith?’ John Westerhoff III Morehouse Publishing 2012. P 90)
Neither are stages of faith determined solely by age or cognitive development.
The following is an extract from the ecumenical ‘Kaleidoscope’ training material NCEC 1993:
Experienced Faith – ‘theological words and doctrines are unimportant. Experiences of trust, love and acceptance provide opportunities for faith to form. Patterns, routines and ways of being are established at this stage. The important thing is not what you tell the person but their experience of you being a Christian’
Affiliative Faith – ‘stories, experiences of awe and mystery, feelings and religious experiences combine to give a sense of belonging. Members of the faith community are observed and copied. What they say is important. Creative activities and sharing help to deepen faith. There is a strong need to belong, to participate and to identify with the community of faith.’
Searching Faith – ‘a time of questioning and doubting, experimenting with other ideas and finding alternative suggestions and explanations. Elements of doubt and critical judgement are essential to the development of a personal faith which replaces expressions of faith borrowed from other people.’
Owned Faith– ‘a combination of the affiliative and searching styles of faith. People now want to put their faith into personal and social action, to stand up for what they believe. They are secure enough to be open to other points of view. Owned faith is enriched and developed by the challenge of different perspectives on the truth. People now find new meaning in and through story, symbol and ritual.’
Some useful books:
‘Will our Children Have Faith?’ John Westerhoff IIIMorehouse Publishing 2012
‘How Faith Grows. Faith development and Christian Education’Jeff Astley NS/CHP 1991
‘Children in The Way’ NS/CHP 1989
‘Becoming Like a Child’ Jerome W. Berryman Church Publishing New York 2017