Best denominations for children

[dragonfire00]

I'm looking into churches to attend that aren't afraid of Covid (our local ROCOR church is one of them) but my kids are very young and won't want to stand like they do there so I am looking at an Anglican church that has a children Sunday School. Unfortunately it's closed for kids now, so I'm afraid if we start going there they won't be able to withstand the coming days and whimper down. I feel like the churches that will survive are the one who takes a stand and also the churches who water things down and are liberal like the Unitarians (if that can even be considered Christianity).

I went to mass when I was older (my mom's side is Catholic and my mom left the church to go Protestant) but I can't remember if there are children services there. They'd also have to be okay with it just being me and the kids since my husband won't go yet...my family becoming saved and preparing for the upcoming persecution by finding likeminded community are my biggest concerns over small differences in Bible interpretation.

With just young kids and I, is there a church that has a Children's ministry, that is traditional yet not so traditional that they would find it weird that just me and the kids are attending? How are the Anglican beliefs?

 

[DanielH]

Are you Orthodox? If your local ROCOR parish isn't brave enough for you you're not going to find an alternative. The Anglicans have openly lesbian “priests” so that should be all you need to know about their beliefs.

It would be best if you stayed in the ROCOR parish, then find the people who are skeptical (probably most as a lot of the cowardice comes not from the people there but bishops, insurance companies and lawyers) and network with them in the event that the parish is shut down by persecutions or its own weakness. You would be better off having lay services with Orthodox than going to an apostate fake church like the Anglican communion which cannot offer you or your children salvation.

 

[jarlo]

It might vary from church to church, but at my Orthodox church it's common for young children to sit for some parts of the service on chairs at the side of the nave, or to just sit on the floor. Here's a good article discussing some of your concerns. It may also be a good idea to email the priest at your local ROCOR church, and see what he advises.

 

[dragonfire00]

Are you Orthodox? If your local ROCOR parish isn't brave enough for you you're not going to find an alternative. The Anglicans have openly lesbian “priests” so that should be all you need to know about their beliefs.

It would be best if you stayed in the ROCOR parish, then find the people who are skeptical (probably most as a lot of the cowardice comes not from the people there but bishops, insurance companies and lawyers) and network with them in the event that the parish is shut down by persecutions or its own weakness. You would be better off having lay services with Orthodox than going to an apostate fake church like the Anglican communion which cannot offer you or your children salvation.

I did not know that about the Anglicans, honestly I knew nothing about them except my mom claims they're conservative. I am not Orthodox, was raised going to different denominations so I'd consider myself non-denom but with Catholic leanings. I spent some time at Lutheran churches but they are a hot mess now...The local ROCOR seems to be the bravest of what I've seen so far I just don't want my kids to hate church. We could always try though and see how it is.

 

[Mrs.DanielH]

I did not know that about the Anglicans, honestly I knew nothing about them except my mom claims they're conservative. I am not Orthodox, was raised going to different denominations so I'd consider myself non-denom but with Catholic leanings. I spent some time at Lutheran churches but they are a hot mess now...The local ROCOR seems to be the bravest of what I've seen so far I just don't want my kids to hate church. We could always try though and see how it is.

There are a lot of protestant churches who have children's only services, which might be more "fun" for your kids now, but it isn't going to offer them the path of truth like becoming Orthodox would. I'm not here to convert you or chastise you. I just challenge you to consider your priorities and offer my experience. Are you prioritizing salvation and truth or comfort and community? The last days will be difficult no matter what denomination you choose to belong to, but God won't ask which church you attended. He will ask for an account of how you lived. By some miracle you and your children ended up in the true church. It isn't acting how we like right now, but perhaps that is a test to see who really believes in the truth and is willing to stand by it even though there are challenges. If you choose to bring your kids to a protestant church for comfort and community then you will get that, but there is still no guarantee that they will like it. And as they grow older they will struggle with questions within and seek the Truth. Hopefully they would rediscover Orthodoxy in that search. As a cradle Orthodox I can say I, too was bored in liturgy as a child. My mom would tell me to look at the icons and think about what was going on in them and make up stories about them. Another idea I've seen is to give kids a religious toy to play with during liturgy. Maybe your kids don't like it because they can't fully participate (communion) (I'm assuming since you say you aren't Orthodox). I obviously don't personally know you and your kids and the full situation. Only God knows the future, we can only speculate about what will happen. God bless you in your search.

 

[Hermetic Seal]

One of the things I love about Orthodoxy is that kids fully participate in all the same things as the adults. As an adult convert in ROCOR I see a huge difference from the Protestant Sunday School culture in which I grew up, where the parents sit in the service, and the kids have a completely separate experience. Many within evangelicalism have started to criticize this model (Voddie Baucham being a notable example) and basically argue for doing things the way the Orthodox Church always has.

The problem with slick kids' programs in many churches is that they're basically entertainment and distraction for kids, rather than teaching them things of substance. I know from experience, I was an elementary school Sunday teacher at one of the previous nondenominational churches I attended, and I was often frustrated by the content and constraints of the lessons when I really just wanted to teach them stuff from the Bible instead of entertaining them.

Of course, the most important catechetical role on a daily basis falls to the parents, so Sunday is simply a supplement to that. But even though having kids with you in the service is going to be a bit more challenging, I think it will pay off down the road, compared to the convenience of shuffling them to Sunday school.

My parish does have Sunday school classes as well, but they take place after the Liturgy, so the kids aren't missing out on the main Church experience.

 

[Vigilant]

A healthy church does not have age segregation. There should be no separation of family members congregating to listen to God's word being preached.