At the first International Conference on Children’s Spirituality, held in Chichester, England (July, 2000), several participants from the United States and Canada were sitting around a table, and began dreaming of having their own conference. While they appreciated the fine scholarship and warm conversation at Chichester, there was a sense that a distinctively Christian perspective on children and their spirituality needed a stronger voice. Could such a conference, held on the American side of the ocean and emphasizing Christian viewpoints, be possible?

If it was not for Kevin Lawson, those dreams might have remained just that. At the North American Professors of Christian Education conference in Toronto (October, 2000), Kevin met with several who had attended the Chichester conference. Over donuts and coffee, the group discussed how an alternative conference could be held, a conference that would hopefully attract Christians from a wide variety of denominations and faith perspectives, with particular emphasis on American and Canadian participation— though certainly not excluding those from other areas of the world. By the end of the hour or so meeting, preliminary plans were made to seek funding in the form of a grant to begin the planning process for a conference.

Over the next few months, Kevin and others from those conferences began to deal with the logistics of putting together a conference. His ability to organize and make things happen was impressive. Kevin put together a grant proposal, and in March, 2001 the Louisville Institute awarded a $20,000 grant for conference planning. Many of those who had done the initial dreaming at Chichester and in Toronto were asked to be on the planning team. Nearly all of those contacted agreed to do so. It soon became clear that Concordia in Chicago was the best location for the conference. Shirley Morgenthaler—one of those who shared the initial dream— encouraged the university to make a very generous offer to host the conference, which was a crucial aspect of making the event a reality.

All involved worked very, very hard, planning every aspect of the conference. That first planning team consisted of (in alphabetical order):

Jerome Berryman, Center for the Theology of Children, Godly Play Marcia Bunge, Valpariaso University Ronald Cram, Columbia Theological Seminary Kevin Lawson, Talbot School of Theology Scottie May, Wheaton College Marcia McQuitty, Southwestern Baptist Shirley Morgenthaler, Concordia University Beth Posterski, Tyndale College and Seminary Donald Ratcliff, Biola University Catherine Stonehouse, Asbury Theological Seminary

Developing a conference from scratch was new to everyone who served on that first planning team, and some began to wonder whether anyone would attend! Only a few months before the conference date the team came to the point where there had to be a decision. The expenses, including those that were nonrefundable commitments, equaled the amount of the initial grant. There were two alternatives: everyone could walk out now and grant funds would pay off all obligations, or each person on the team could take personal responsibility for the costs of the conference if it did not break even. That could mean an obligation of thousands of dollars, if worst came to worst. Without exception, everyone present committed themselves to the potential financial obligation, although few, if any, could afford to do so!

There needed to be about 150 fully paid registrations to break even, and at that point there were perhaps less than 30. But after the commitment was made, trusting God to at least bring 120 additional registrations, things began to turn around. Each week brought a few more registrations, and the break even point was reached only a couple of months before the conference. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief at that point. The final number of registrations was more than 300, and after all the bills were paid, there was enough left over to plan a second conference.

Several members of the planning team had to leave after the first conference, primarily due to poor health. After adding a few new members, the new team began planning the second conference to be held three years later, again at Concordia University. Members of this second planning team included:

Kevin Lawson, Talbot School of Theology, co-chair Holly Allen, John Brown University, Shelley Campagnola, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Larry Huiras, Loyola University, St. Isidore Parish, Scottie May, Wheaton College, Marcia McQuitty, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Shirley Morgenthaler, Concordia University, Chicago, Donald Ratcliff, Vanguard University, Catherine Stonehouse, Asbury Theological Seminary, LaVerne Tolbert, President, Teaching Like Jesus Ministries; Azusa Pacific University.

As planning began for another conference, the process of developing a book from the first conference began. This was a team effort, as everyone on the new board played a part by helping edit at least one chapter. Marcia McQuitty and a friend did much of the copyediting. While it was hoped that everyone’s name could be on the front cover, the publisher decided to list only the senior editor’s name.

There was an immense amount of work that the team completed for the second conference, which was held at the same location. In 2006 there were about 330 people at the second conference, a slight increase over the first conference. Almost immediately after the second conference the planning began for the third conference, scheduled for June, 2009.

Some additional changes in the planning team occurred, as several people decided to take at least a temporary break. The third team includes most of the individuals who served for the first and second conferences, but expanded to include several new members. The names and pictures of the current planning team can be found at www.childspirituality.org/team.htm. As with the first team, the new group represents a wide variety of denominations and theological perspectives.

Because the conference was now understood to be an ongoing effort, it was determined by the new planning team that the conference should become a legal entity. This process began shortly after the 2006 conference when incorporation in the State of Illinois was sought and later granted. In late 2009 and early 2010 the director, La Verne Tolbert, filed papers for the society to become a 501c3. In Spring, 2010 it was announced that the IRS granted the conference and society tax-exempt status. Thus all donations are fully deductable when filing for taxes in the United States. Although not retroactive, and not applicable to conference charges, funds provided to support the conference and society can now be deducted from taxes (for details, see a tax professional).

Planning for a book from the second conference was led by Holly Allen who served as the editor. After a great deal of work, and several setbacks, that book was released in February, 2008. As with the first book, the publisher was Cascade Books, a division of Wipf and Stock. The resulting publication represents the continued maturation of the conference.

The third conference was held in June, 2009. While attendance was down somewhat, probably due to the economic downturn, participants were enthusiastic and the conference was considered a great success. Shortly after the close of the last session, the conference planning team met to discuss the conference. Two members of the planning team asked to take a break from leadership, but provided many positive comments (see the video here). There were sufficient funds to begin planning a fourth conference. While director Kevin Lawson will be continuing on the planning team, he asked that he be replaced as the director. The planning team unanimously elected La Verne Tolbert to that position.

After the conference, an interactive web page was created where most of the sessions can be downloaded at mp3 files. Powerpoint presentations, handouts, and videos are also available. Click on the 2009 conference option in the left column to access these at no charge.

A book from the third conference is now at the publisher (August, 2011), and release is tentatively scheduled for Fall, 2011 or early 2012.

Note: Photographs of the first three conferences can be viewed by clicking on their respective links in the left column.