The "Children's spirituality conference : Christian perspectives" conference was held on June 8-11, 2003 at Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

I. Definitions, theologies, theories and methods of research. Identifying children's spirituality, Walter Wangerin's perspectives, and an overview of this book / Donald Ratcliff with Scottie May -- Children and mature spirituality / Jerome Berryman -- Historical perspectives on children in the church : resources for spiritual formation and a theology of childhood today / Marcia J. Bunge -- Biblical perspectives on developmental grace for nurturing children's spirituality / Klaus Issler -- Unless you become as one of these : biblical perspectives on children's spirituality / Shelley Campagnola -- Christian perspectives on children's spirituality : social science contributions? / Rebecca Nye -- A sociocultural perspective on children's spiritual development / Wendy Haight -- Exploring scientific and theological perspective on children's spirituality / Eugene C. Roehlkepartain -- Children in Wesleyan thought / Catherine Stonehouse -- Children's spiritual experiences and the brain / Scottie May and Donald Ratcliff -- How shall we study children's spirituality? / Chris J. Boyatzis and Babette T. Newman --

II. Encouraging children's spirituality in the home. The co-construction of spiritual meaning in parent-child communication / Chris J. Boyatzis -- The child's concept of God / Joyce E. Bellous, Simone de Roos, and William Summey -- From doctrine to practice : the influence of the doctrine of original sin on Puritan child-rearing / Timothy A. Sisemore -- III. Encouraging children's spirituality in the church. Six children seeking God : exploring childhood spiritual development in context / Dana Kennamer Hood -- Children in congregations : congregations as contexts for children's spiritual growth / Joyce Ann Mercer, Deborah L. Matthews, and Scott Walz -- Nurturing children's spirituality in intergenerational Christian settings / Holly Catterton Allen -- A narrative of children's spirituality : African American and Latino theological perspectives / Karen Crozier and Elizabeth Conde-Frazier --

IV. Encouraging children's spirituality in the school and other contexts. Narrative and the moral education of the Christian child / Victoria M. Ford and Esther Wong -- The ecology and social dynamics of childhood spirituality / James Riley Estep, Jr. and Lillian Breckenridge -- Using developmentally appropriate practice in faith-based early childhood settings / Joyce Ruppell -- Spiritual influences in helping children to cope with life stressors / Sara Pendleton, Ethan Benore, Katherine Jonas, Wendy Norwood, and Carol Herrmann -- Ministering to unchurched, urban, at-risk children / Gary C. Newton -- V. Reflecting on the past and looking to the future. Looking back, looking forward : reflections on the conference and anticipation of the future / Kevin E. Lawson -- Appendix A: Children's ministry models / Scottie May and others -- Appendix B: Theological life of a California child / Earl Barnes with Miss Ora Boring.