Center for Children and Theology

Grace Space Famlies

The GraceSpace Initiative will empower parents, caregivers, pastors, and congregational leaders to create spaces in homes, congregations, and other settings in which children and adults together can form and nurture relationships with God marked by joy, simplicity, wonder, and love. Rooted in the pedagogy of Maria Montessori and the theology of Sofia Cavalletti, the Center provides resources and training for ministry leaders in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, an approach to faith formation that has at its center a profound respect for young children’s capacities for relationships with God. Through this initiative, the Center will revise its signature approach for nurturing the spiritual lives of children to focus on children under three years of age and on children with diverse abilities and their families. It also will create a digital platform to reach parents and caregivers who are disconnected from congregations. The Center will also develop a new website and digital marketing plans.