08/29/2026
Children are full members of the Body of Christ today, bringing essential gifts, faith, and wisdom to our common life. As congregations seek deeper ways to welcome young people, we face a core question: How does our culture need to change so children can participate more fully in worship and the life of the Church?
That question anchored a recent workshop led by the Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean, an author, theologian, and practical ministry expert. The session was part of Pathways to Prayer and Practice, a five-year initiative supported by a major grant from the Lilly Endowment.
This grant gives the Diocese of Virginia a strong foundation to help congregations expand children’s participation in worship, deepen faith formation with families, and develop sustainable practices for congregational life.
For many parishes, change requires looking beyond more children’s programming. It asks us to examine our culture—the unspoken assumptions, habits, and expectations that dictate how children experience Sunday morning with the entire congregation, not just with their peers.
Read more in "Rethinking Expectations of Kids in Church" here: https://episcopalvirginia.org/stories/rethinking-expectations-of-kids-in-church/
