From the Lips of Children: A Study on Involving Children in Worship

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to identify how to best involve children in worship in the individual congregations of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The research includes three parts. It accomplishes this through the study of Scripture which proves children’s need for involvement and demonstrates basic principles for involvement. It will also include a study of scientific literature on cognitive development which demonstrates how children communicate and learn. Finally, it will include a survey of current WELS pastors which highlights challenges and blessings of different ways of involving them. The research in these three areas revealed that children have the best opportunity to be involved in worship through the use of a children’s message built into the worship service since there they can worship with the entire congregation, there scientifically supported methods can still be employed, and there families can learn how to worship together.