Abstract
Children help create and shape their social worlds, including that of
worship. This article explores how children negotiate and appropriate worship
practices and incorporate their own values, understandings and creative ideas
into their worship. This analysis of children’s agency relies on qualitative data
drawn from direct observation of Dutch Protestant worship services designed for
and/or attended by children. Recognising that children have agency in worship
encourages practitioners and practical theologians to identify how children already
help shape the worship they take part in and enhance opportunities to
strengthen their agency and influence.
worship. This article explores how children negotiate and appropriate worship
practices and incorporate their own values, understandings and creative ideas
into their worship. This analysis of children’s agency relies on qualitative data
drawn from direct observation of Dutch Protestant worship services designed for
and/or attended by children. Recognising that children have agency in worship
encourages practitioners and practical theologians to identify how children already
help shape the worship they take part in and enhance opportunities to
strengthen their agency and influence.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 190-209 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | International Journal of Practical Theology |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Keywords
- agency, worship, practical theology, children’s theology, qualitative research