Children and Youth
As a volunteer, I taught religious education for several years, staying with a single class from pre-K through fourth grade. I also was a coming-of-age mentor and one of the core leaders for another coming-of-age group. For my first four years at Mt. Diablo, I also taught in my son’s class on one of my Sundays out of the pulpit. I know—and support— the immense commitment we make to our children.
Though in a larger congregation, the minister cannot be the primary contact for youth and children, I make an effort to be sure that the children and youth know that I am their minister, that they can come to me with their concerns. I have visited many youth in times of crisis—and even in one year co-led a grief group when a number of our teens faced a major loss around the same time. I also have worked hard to help integrate youth into the leadership of the congregation.
At Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church, I had the opportunity to work with our director of religious education to link the faith development of children and youth with that of the adult community—a mutually rewarding experience.
Other ways we work to make our environment more hospitable to families is through multigenerational events and worship, both chances for people of many generations to experience one anoher’s frames and wisdoms.
