The child and God: Some reflections from disability theology on divine-child encounters

Abstract

There is a longstanding discussion in child theology around the role of cognition for faith formation. This article explores research in the area of disability theology in order to examine potential benefits for Christian ministry to the child. It suggests three areas which may be profitable: the importance of increasing information to accompany development; the importance of the role of the teacher as embodiment and model of discipleship; and the requirement to give better account for ritualised processes within evangelical children’s ministry.

Keywords

child cognitive knowing development disability pedagogy

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Anthony

(2006) Introduction: Putting children’s spirituality in perspective. In: Anthony

(ed) Perspectives on Children’s Spiritual Formation: 4 Views. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, pp. 1–43.

Astley

Francis

(eds) (1992) Christian Perspectives on Faith Development: A Reader. Leominster, England: Gracewing Publishing.

Berryman

(1991) Godly Play: An Imaginative Approach to Religious Education. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Books.

Berryman

(2002) The Complete Guide to Godly Play: Volume 1. New York, NY: Morehouse Education Resources.

Berryman

(2009) Teaching Godly Play: How to Mentor the Spiritual Development of Children. New York, NY: Church Publishing, Inc.

Berryman

(2013) The Spiritual Guidance of Children: Montessori, Godly Play, and the Future. New York, NY: Morehouse Publishing.

Bridger

(2000) Children Finding Faith: Exploring a Child’s Response to God. Bletchley, UK: Scripture Union.

Carlson

Crupper

(2007) The instructional-analytical model. In: Anthony

(ed) Perspectives on Children’s Spiritual Formation. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, pp. 103–147.

Clark

, et al. (2005) Mitchell

(ed) Click: Leader’s Handbook and Sample Pack. Surrey, UK: The Good Book Company.

10.

Eiesland

(1994) The Disabled God: Toward a Liberatory Theology of Disability. Abingdon Press.

11.

Estep

(2010) Developmental theories: Foe, friend, or folly? The role of developmental theories in Christian formation. In: Estep

Kim

(eds) Christian Formation: Integrating Theology & Human Development. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, pp. 37–61.

12.

Fowler

(1995) Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning. New edition. New York: Bravo Ltd.

13.

Hammond

(2017) It Has Not Yet Appeared What We Shall Be: A Reconsideration of the Imago Dei in Light of Those with Severe Cognitive Disabilities. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed.

14.

Hardwick

(2021) Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

15.

Harshaw

(2016) Finding accommodation: Spirituality and people with profound intellectual disabilities. Journal of Disability and Religion 20(3): 140–153.

16.

Hay

(2007) Why Spirituality Is Difficult for Westerners. Exeter, UK: Societas.

17.

Hay

Nye

(2006) The Spirit of the Child. London, UK: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

18.

Hay

Nye

Murphy

(1996) Thinking about childhood spirituality: Review of research and current directions. In: Francis

Kay

Campbell

(eds) Research in Religious Education. Gracewing: Herefordshire, pp. 47–73.

19.

Hyde

Adams

Woolley

(2008) The Spiritual Dimension of Childhood. London, UK: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

20.

Jacober

(2017) Redefining Perfect: The Interplay between Theology and Disability. Ebook. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers. Available at: https://ereader.perlego.com/1/book/882178 (accessed 14 June 2023).

21.

Johnson

Watkinson

(no date) In: Hunt

(ed) Go Teach: God’s Words to 5-7s, Book 1. Go Teach Publications.

22.

Jones

Wilder

(2010) Faith development and Christian formation. In: Estep

Kim

(eds) Christian Formation: Integrating Theology & Human Development. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, pp. 161–207.

23.

Kessell

(2018) Splash Red Compendium 5-8s. Milton Keynes, UK: Scripture Union.

24.

Masters

(1991) Lessons for Life. London, UK: Wakeman Trust.

25.

May

(2006) The contemplative reflective model. In: Anthony

(ed) Perspectives on Children’s Spiritual Formation: 4 Views. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, pp. 45–82.

26.

McLachlan

(2021) Accessible Atonement: Disability, Theology, and the Cross of Christ. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press.

27.

Nidirect Government Services (2018) Learning disabilities. Available at: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/learning-disabilities (accessed 19 June 2023).

28.

Nouwen

HJM

(1997) Adam: God’s Beloved. London: Darton, Longman & Todd.

29.

Pazmiño

(1997) Foundational Issues in Christian Education: An Introduction in Evangelical Perspective. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

30.

Swinton

(1997) Restoring the image: Spirituality, faith, and cognitive disability. Journal of Religion and Health 36(1): 21–27.

31.

Swinton

(2016) Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship. London: SCM Press.

32.

Swinton

(2020) Disability, vocation, and prophetic witness. Theology Today 77(2): 186–197.

33.

Swinton

(2022) Disability theology. In: Allen

(ed) The New Cambridge Companion to Christian Doctrine. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, pp. 249–266.

34.

Tataryn

Truchan-Tataryn

(2013) Discovering Trinity in Disability: A Theology for Embracing Difference. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.

35.

Westerhoff

(2012) Will Our Children Have Faith? Third Revised Edition. New York, NY: Morehouse Publishing.

36.

Wilson

(2015) The Life You Never Expected: Thriving while Parenting Special Needs Children. Nottingham, UK: InterVarsity Press.

37.

Young

(2014) Arthur’s Call: A Journey of Faith in the Face of Severe Learning Disability. London: SPCK.

38.

Yount

(2010) Created to Learn: A Christian Teacher’s Introduction to Educational Psychology. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group.

39.

Yust

K-M

(2004) Real Kids, Real Faith: Practices for Nurturing Children’s Spiritual Lives. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.