Godly Play Outside the Box

2008 Faith Formation Summit

Godly Play Outside the Box

We will explore ways to use Godly Play beyond the young children’s classes. As the children become proficient in the religious language, (just as they might in a foreign tongue), they can begin to be creative with the stories and the weaving of them into their own lives. And just as the children can do this, so Godly Play can be a useful spiritual tool for adults, too. We’ll look at a variety of ways to use Godly Play ‘outside the box’, like:

Godly Play and Baptismal Preparation
Godly Play with Youth Confirmation
Godly Play in Worship
Godly Play and Dealing with Crisis
Godly Play for the Older Child: SOWhAT (Story, Outreach, Wonder, Arts & Theology)
Godly Play as a Spiritual Practice for Adults
Godly Play for Parents to Journey with their Children Spiritually
Godly Play as a Bridge to Reclaim the Bible

Presenters

Kim McPherson is Director of Religious Education at Saint John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Denver, Colorado and before that was the DRE for sixteen years at Trinity Episcopal Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she introduced Godly Play to the church as well as to Saint Richard’s Episcopal School. She has been an Accredited National Godly Play Trainer since 2000, is an Education for Ministry (EFM) graduate and mentor, and has worked on a variety of interesting projects, including collaborating on Godly Play with a Jewish synagogue, and creating the SOWhAT class for older children. She contributed articles to the Godly Play Guide 5. At St. John’s, Kim has had the opportunity to expand Godly Play into a variety of learning and worship experiences for all ages.

Becki Stewart has a rich history of experience with children, including twenty years as a professional educator. Becki implemented and directed the Godly Play program at Hyde Park Christian Church in Austin, Texas, which has been successfully used 15 years. Becki recently became the Director of Christian Education for Children at Annandale United Methodist Church in Annandale, Virginia. She has also Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia, and as Director of Children's Ministries at Westlake Methodist Church in Austin. An accredited Godly Play Trainer since 1999, Becki currently serves on the national Steering Committee for Godly Play Trainers. She is married to Robert and they have three children, all of whom are Godly Play kids.

Caryl Menkhus began her journey with Godly Play years ago when Jerome Berryman helped the Quaker Meeting she pastored build their first classroom. Caryl speaks of the profound influence Godly Play has had on her work as a pastor and in the same manner brings a pastoring role as a Godly Play Teacher Trainer. Caryl views Godly Play training events as profound spiritual encounters where participants honor their own longings for and experiences of God within themselves and others. Caryl currently is the pastor of a Quaker Meeting in Camas, Washington and co-teacheas a class in childhren's spirituality at George Fox Evangelical Seminary. She is the mother of five and the grandmother of one.