In 1970 Donald McGavran and Peter Wagner made the following observation in their book Understanding Church Growth “people like to become Christians without crossing racial, linguistic or class barriers”. McGavran comments were in the context of evangelism but the principle reflects an underlying presupportion for our distinct ministries to children and youth; we will be more effective in our engagement with children and youth if we create spaces that are culturally, developmentally and socially atuned to their needs. While this approach makes sense pragmnatically it leaves most of us feeling a more than a little uncomfortable. Fortunately I think the bible ofters a different way forward that recognises both our unity and diversity and finds a meaningful expression for both.

Our unity as Christians is defined by our unity with Christ; as I am in Christ and you are in Christ then we are bound together as brothers and sisters. Christ is both the instrument of our unity and the location of our unity. At the same time this unity expresses itself locally in a deeply connected interdependance analogous to a body with each part contributing to the building of the whole. At this point many would argue that only a heterogeneous gathering can truly express this unity and anything less is a denial of the reconciling power of the gospel. 

A heterogeneous church is certainly an expression of our unity but it’s not the the only expression available. In Corinth the Christians met seperately in clearly defined house churches which came together as the whole church for specific celebrations and as an affirmation of their collective unity in Christ (Cf 1 Corinthians 11:18, Romans 16:23).  In the context of children’s and youth ministry this would be the equivalent of each ministry being recognised as a church within the context of the whole church; in isolation each is a woefully inadequate picture of the body of Christ, more akin to a well supervised orphanage than a family, but when the children’s and youth ministry is placed into the picture with the whole church we see both the unity and diversity of the community. It creates the space for different cultures to express their faith in a way that is culturally and developmentally relevant for them without denying the reconciling power of the gospel to transcend our differences.

While this theological conclusion best represents my position it still leaves us with signficant  challenges to overcome. How do we create a church that genuinely expresses what it means to share life together as a community of Christians; where the exuberance and passion of youth challenges the comfort and complacency of adulthood and where the wisdom of the older men and older women are a guide to that exuberance? How do we create a church where young people are affirmed as integral and valued part of the whole and not just a generation in waiting?

They are questions for another week but today I hope it is sufficient to simply wrestle with our underlying ecclesiological presuppositions. Where does the children’s and youth ministry fit within your ecclesiology? Can the youth ministry be a church within a church? If the church can only be expressed as a heterogeneous gathering is there a place for segregated children’s ministry during the morning service?