Keystone
Academy
A Private Christian School
Specializing in Independent Study
"The fear
of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."
What about church "Youth" programs?
Churches are encountering a growing number of families who question the validity of separating children from the larger church community. These parents, many of whom are home schooling their children, believe that such “children’s programs” perpetuate the problems of peer-driven groupings experienced by both public and private schools and increasingly manifested as a dominant influence in society.
The following set of questions are intended to help churches develop a biblical position which address both the parent’s concerns and the church’s corporate needs The underlying assumption is that both parents and church leaders have a commitment to maintaining unity and to finding a biblical foundation for resolving these issues. The order of questions reflects no particular priority.
- Can church leaders articulate a distinctly biblical basis for the structure and content of children’s programs? If not, what is the foundation for such programs?
- How does the church view its relationship to families, i.e., as a unit or as separate individuals? Are families encouraged to participate as families? Are there opportunities for such participation?
- Do children’s programs enhance or undermine the unity of the family and the parent’s leadership position?
- Has the church leadership directly discussed these issues with parents? How has the church attempted to address their concerns?
- Do members have a “covenant” relationship with the church which provides a basis for calling members to serve and for members holding leaders accountable? If not, what is the basis for expecting members participation and how are leaders held accountable?
- What is the purpose of children’s programs, e.g., to prepare children for full participation in the church as quickly as possible? Do the church’s programs achieve this goal or do they perpetuate the peer-driven youth subculture within the church?
- What criteria are used to determine when a child is ready to participate in the adult service? Who makes this determination; the parent or church leaders? Are children “expected” and encouraged to leave the children’s program at some point or do they remain until they are “out of school?”
Keystone
Academy
P.O. Box 1888
Norwalk , CA
90651
562/862-7134
e-mail keysacad@aol.com website www.keysacad.com