Children's spiritual development is currently a hot topic in Christian circles, as well as in other fields and disciplines such as educational psychology, medicine, developmental psychology, education, and sociology. The key question for Christian scholars and educators is "How do Christian beliefs and practices uniquely interrelate with children's spirituality?" In 2003 and again in 2006, a national conference entitled "Children's Spirituality Conference: Christian Perspectives" examined children's spirituality from a distinctly Christian standpoint. This book is a collection of the best materials from the 2006 conference. The first half of the book addresses definitional, historical, and theological concerns related to spiritual development in children. The second half explores best practices for fostering spiritual growth among our children--in our homes, families, churches, Christian schools, and among special populations of children--from a wide spectrum of Christian scholars and practitioners. The volume closes with John Westerhoff's moving keynote address and Catherine Stonehouse and Scottie May's eloquent, culminating plenary address. Nurturing Children's Spirituality provides a rich cross section of the current research and writing by Christian scholars on children's spirituality. Contributors: Holly Catterton Allen, Michael J. Anthony, Stacy Berg, Chris J. Boyatzis, MaLesa Breeding, Marilyn Brownlee, Linda V. Callahan, Jane Carr, Mara Lief Crabtree, Karen Crozier, James Riley Estep Jr., Jeffrey E. Feinberg, Stephanie Goins, Judy Harris Helm, Dana Kennamer Hood, Sungwon Kim, Kevin Lawson, Scottie May, Marcia McQuitty, Heidi Schultz Oschwald, Donald Ratcliff, Pam Scranton, Timothy A. Sisemore, Catherine Stonehouse, La Verne Tolbert, T. Wyatt Watkins, John H. Westerhoff III
Holly Catterton Allen (PhD, Talbot School of Theology) is professor of family science and Christian ministries at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she holds a joint appointment in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Bible and Ministry. Dr. Allen teaches undergraduate courses such as Nurturing Spiritual Development in Children and Family Ministry and has previously taught at John Brown University, Biola University, and Abilene Christian University. Dr. Allen's areas of scholarly interest are children's spirituality and intergenerational issues. Her newest book is InterGenerate: Transforming Churches through Intergenerational Ministry (Abilene Christian University Press, 2018, in press). She is the coauthor (with Christine Ross) of Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community, and Worship (InterVarsity Press, 2012), and the editor of Nurturing Children's Spirituality: Christian Perspectives and Best Practices (Wipf & Stock, 2008). She leads two international, ecumenical conferences: the Children's Spirituality Summit and InterGenerate that currently meet in alternating years at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. She has published articles in Christian Education Journal, Lutheran Education, Lifelong Faith, Christian Scholar's Review and Christianity Today along with chapters in several books. Allen is married to Dr. Leonard Allen and they have three adult children as well as four grandchildren.
