Religious Ministry Article Index for
Religious 		Website Links For
Religious 		 

Information About

Religious Ministry
APPAREL
BABY
BEAUTY
BOOKS
CAR TOYS
CELL PHONES
DVD'S
ELECTRONICS
GOURMET FOOD
GROCERIES
HEALTH & PERSONAL
HOME & GARDEN
JEWELRY
MUSIC
MUSIC INSTRUMENTS
OFFICE PRODUCTS
SOFTWARE
SPORTING GOODS
TOOLS & HARDWARE
TOYS
VIDEO GAMES
SHOPPING HOME
MORE SHOPPING...



A religious ministry is a specialized activity or set of activities performed by a religious organization in addition to standard church services. The term "ministry" can also apply to the collected activities of a religious group such as a church or an individual ministry, as listed below. The term is also used in reference to a specific church body, such as "the ministry of First Baptist Church."


AGE-SPECIFIC MINISTRY

As churches attempt to meet the needs of their Congregation s, they often separate their members into groups according to age categories. Age-specific groups meet for religious study including Sunday School programs, Fellowship , and other activities. These age divisions may include:


Advantages and disadvantages

There are several advantages to the concept of age-specific ministries.
  • Many parents / caregivers are glad to allow the church to be in charge of the spiritual enrichment of their children. Similarly, they are used to using programs for the development of their children such as weekday childcare, preschool, and grade school and enjoy the ability to continue a similar format in church.

  • These ministries allow churches to provide 'age-appropriate' activities and content to maximize spiritual education and growth as well as peer group fellowship.

  • Ministries often provide fellowship activities outside of the church service that encourage the involvement of non-church going friends and relatives.


Age-specific ministry does have certain disadvantages, mostly stemming from the separation of children from the primary church functions.
  • In terms of religious education, the 'socialisation' of children into the faith community is one important approach that requires connecting the children and family with the wider congregation.

  • These ministries may increase the possibility of child abuse within the church as it does increase the amount of time children spend without the supervision of their particular parent or caretaker or the presence of the congregation at large. It is worth noting, however, that many churches hire certified teachers to fill these positions and most perform background checks on anyone that may come into supervisory contact with children.

  • Certain forms of these ministries reduce the role that "family life" plays in the development of children, because of the separation of differing age groups into differently facilitated programs. In some ministries, the children are also placed separate from the rest of the congregation, such as during Sunday School and youth programs. Many of these programs, however, take place at different times from the primary church service, and in many churches, only children of elementary school age and younger are separated from the main service to provide more relevant material to their age group.


An alternative to age-specific ministry gaining ground is the concept of Inter-generational Ministry , which seeks to include all age and peer groups in primary church functions.


CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS

Nearly all churches feature some form of Worship music, whether from a Choir , Orchestra , or Worship Band , whether Accompanied or A Cappella . Religious organizations also incorporate other forms of creative and performance arts into their services or programs. These may include:


SERVICE AND OUTREACH

Many churches sponsor ministries designed to reach out others on a local and global scale, usually grouped under the heading of Missions . There are many organizations which perform missions on a fully-funded and organized level, such as North American Mission Board , operated by the Southern Baptist Convention .


SEE ALSO



REFERENCES



EXTERNAL LINKS