Supporting Parents in Biblical Literacy

Susan Hinton and Chad King

© Augsburg Fortress, 2010

Session Goals

• Explore the needs that parents have in regards to building biblical literacy with their children

• Leave with three specific ideas that you can use to support parents in your congregation

The Ideal Parent

Identify your “ideal” parent

• 5-6 characteristics

• Who in your ministry embodies those attributes?

What is your role?

• CED’s are managers

• Good managers help others grow by– equipping– empowering– encouraging

Equipping

• What does it mean to be equipped?

Equipping

• A well-equipped parent has the necessary tools to support the faith development of their child

• To equip the parents, we need to know the context of the those to whom we minister

Parent #1 – Sally

• Actively and willing involved with and engaged in church life since she was a child

• Connected to the congregation through many vital relationships with others at church

• Has taught Sunday School for several years• Actively facilitates her own child(ren)’s

involvement in church activities

ENMESHED

Parent #2 – Mike

• Has been involved with church, but only as much as was absolutely required by his parents

• Left church after confirmation• Started attending church after children were

born• Few of his own activities or interests connect

him to the church

BORDER

Parent #3 – Teresa

• May or may not have grown up connected to church life

• Children attend regardless of parental involvement

• Not connected or involved with the church directly at all

UNPLUGGED

Equipping

• What skills do parents need to be effective as they support the biblical literacy of their child?

• What do you already do to equip your parents with these skills?

Equipping - Ideas

• Consider a parent’s retreat

• Support parents in their own biblical literacy

• Provide additional relevant material to parents throughout the year

Equipping

• Write down one thing you can do to better equip your parents.

Empowering

• What does it mean to be empowered?

Empowering

• Providing the power your parents need to be more effective

Empowering

• Provide opportunities for parents to learn from one another

• Connect teachers and parents

• Provide support to them in worship settings

• Pray for them

Empowering

• What do you already do to empower your parents?

• Write down one thing you can do to better empower your parents.

Encouraging

• providing the recognition and feedback that help refresh and sustain parents over time.

Encouraging

1. Who was the person that encouraged you?

2. How has that encouragement impacted you?

Encouraging

• Celebrate the parent/church relationship throughout the year

• Affirm the contributions of each parent

Empowering

• Write down one thing you can do to better encourage your parents.