A group of children posing for a photo.

About the International Association for Children's Spirituality

The International Association for Children’s Spirituality (IACS) was launched at the 7th International Conference on Children’s Spirituality, in 2006, following the success of the International Journal of Children’s Spirituality and the conferences themselves.

A little girl playing with a stone in the garden.

Our Aims

  • To promote research and practice in relation to children’s spirituality.
  • To promote effective communication and the distribution of information between those involved in the development of research and practice which focuses on children’s spirituality.
  • To promote children’s spirituality as an important educational focus within wider contexts.

The work of the IACS is developed through an executive committee.

The IACS symbol shows two figures with their arms reaching out to greet each other.

A young boy playing with leaves in a park.

What we do

The Association seeks to:

  • Bring together researchers and practitioners who are focusing on this area of educational thinking.
  • Promote the development of theory around children’s spirituality.
  • Encourage, support and connect research and practice.
  • Raise awareness of the need for attention to be given to children’s voices, experiences and relationships.
  • Encourage holistic approaches to children’s spirituality and personal development.
  • Develop policy and practice across disciplines, professions, organisations and communities.

The IACS website

Executive Committee

Karen-Marie Yust

Executive Committee Member and Chair

United States

Mary Hawes

Executive Committee Member and Treasurer

United Kingdom

Jennifer Mata-McMahon

Executive Committee Member and Membership Manager

United States

Sarah Johnson

Executive Committee Member and Communications Manager

United States

Tony Eaude

Executive Committee Member and Website (publications page)

United Kingdom

Nestor Briceño

Executive Committee Member

Venezuela

Denise Brogden

Executive Committee Member

United Kingdom

Brendan Hyde

Executive Committee Member

Australia

Elsa Lau

Executive Committee Member

Hong Kong

Katie Posey

Executive Committee Member

United States

Liesbeth Vroemen

Executive Committee Member and Website ('Where we are' page)

The Netherlands

International journal of children's spirituality.

The International Journal of Children’s Spirituality

For 23 years, the IJCS was the journal of the IACS. Aiming to provide an international and multi-cultural forum for those involved in research and the development of children’s and young people’s spirituality the journal considers what is meant by ‘spirituality’ and its relevance for schooling and society.

The IACS is no longer formally associated with IJCS. Please see the journal page for more information about the IJCS.