Exploring Autonomy and Relatedness in Church as Predictors of Children’s Religiosity and Relationship with God

Abstract

Concerns about the shifting religious landscape for young people in the United States provides the impetus to expand research investigating children’s experiences in Christian education. A significant number of children regularly attend Christian education in church and yet there is limited research investigating how those programs support children’s faith. Guided by self-determination theory, this research investigates whether instructional practices can support children’s religiosity and relationship with God. The present study specifically assessed whether children’s perceived relatedness with adults and peers in church, and children’s perceived autonomy in Sunday school, predicted children’s religiosity and relationship with God. Two hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted to identify if the church variables were significant predictors of an identified relationship to God. Neither perceived relatedness in church nor perceived autonomy in Sunday school were significant predictors of identified religiosity. However, perceived relatedness in church did significantly predict relationship with God.

The Child in Our Midst: The Shifting Trends in Ministry with Children and Families over the Past Forty Years

“…While Rebecca Nye (2004), a leader in the field of children's spirituality, claims that a significant emphasis on knowing content is hindering a child's spirituality, there is little research supporting that a child's faith development is hindered by "the content driven nature" of children's ministry programs. Still, Ingersoll (2020)…”

“…Developmental theory has contributed to a high view of children and how they are created, yet the influence of developmental theory has impacted the practical realities of ministry and also created an atmosphere where children are less valued as a full-fledged member of the body of Christ. Even though research shows that the relationship between adults and children impacts a child’s perception and understanding of God (Ingersoll, 2020; Shaw, 2016), the church continues to engage an age/stage approach to ministry that removes children from significant engagement with adults in the congregation. Churches that value interactions between young and old are the ones that hold a high view of children as full participants within the faith community (May, Stemp, & Burns, 2011).…”

“…Some of the most recent research regarding children’s faith development asserts that “Christian leaders in the United States are questioning the impact of programs such as Sunday school on faith development” (Ingersoll, 2020, p. 53). Have our methods—those of direct instruction focused on content, or the intentional positive experiences designed for a child’s enjoyment, or a journey approach to discipleship—aided or hindered the faith of the younger generations?…”

“…While Rebecca Nye (2004), a leader in the field of children’s spirituality, claims that a significant emphasis on knowing content is hindering a child’s spirituality, there is little research supporting that a child’s faith development is hindered by “the content driven nature” of children’s ministry programs. Still, Ingersoll (2020) challenges the church:Church leaders should critically analyze their educational model and the resources they use to guide and support the model. If content acquisition dominates the programming to the detriment of opportunities for developing trusting, loving relationships, leaders should consider adopting models and resources that allow for those deep relationships to develop.…”

“…(pp. 65-66) Research also suggests that one of the reasons why young adults leave the church is due to the lack of connection between their experience in church and their spiritual beliefs (Ingersoll, 2020). Beyond ministry to-for-with children, Scottie May (2020) challenges the field to think about ministry through children.…”