2023 Virtual International Symposium
Children’s Spirituality: Meeting New Challenges
Online via Zoom 20-21 & 24-25 July 2023
Date: 2023-07-20
- 2023-07-25
Event type: Conferences
The 2023 virtual symposium will focus on new and continuing challenges in children’s spirituality and how the research and practices of participants are responding to these challenges.
The symposium will consist of a series of scholarly and practical conversations. Paper presenters will share their research through short (1200-1500 word) papers or pre-recorded (15-20 minute maximum) presentations that will be posted ahead of time and then discussed in live Zoom panel conversations. Workshops (20-25 minute maximum) will also be posted online so that participants can access them in advance and then talk about their experiences in a live Zoom session.
Live sessions will be scheduled at various times across four days to maximize opportunities for participation from wherever participants are located. Sessions will be held in English; we hope to offer at least one Spanish language session as well.
Thursday, 20th July
8:00-8:10 Welcome
8:10-9:10 Discussion Session A: Marginalization
9:10-9:20 Break
9:20-10:20 Discussion Session B: Pediatric health & wellbeing
10:20-10:30 Break
10:30-11:15 Big Topic: How does children’s spirituality change as they grow?
11:15-11:30 Open house (free time to chat)
Friday, 21st July
8:00-9:30 Discussion Session C: Civil & educational policies
9:30--9:40 Break
9:40-10:25 Big Topic: What do different metaphors suggest about children’s spirituality?
10:25-10:35 Break
10:35-11:35 Discussion Session D: Children’s friendships
Monday, 24th July
8:00-9:15 Discussion Session E: Faith communities
9:15-9:25 Break
9:25-10:15 AGM
10:15-10:25 Break
10:25-11:10 Big Topic: How do we navigate among spirituality, faith ed, & RE in schools?
11:10-11:30 Open house (free time to chat)
Tuesday, 25th July
8:00-8:45 Big Topic: What diverse research methodologies facilitate our work?
8:45-8:55 Break
8:55-10:10 Discussion Session F: Innovative approaches
10:10-10:20 Break
10:20-11:00 Open Session: Future IACS activities
General Registration
There is no charge for attending the symposium. If you want to read/listen/watch the submitted papers and presentations and then join in the live Zoom discussions, send your name and affiliation(s), geographic location, and email to IACS@RealKidsRealFaith.org by 1 July 2023. (Put ‘IACS Symposium Registration’ in the subject line.) We will send you a schedule of events and a Zoom link prior to the first day of the conference.
The International Association for Children’s Spirituality seeks to promote and support research and practice in relation to children’s spirituality within education and wider contexts of children’s care and wellbeing. We understand spiritually broadly and inclusively as having relation to the religious and beyond the religious. We encourage holistic approaches to children’s spirituality and personal development across a variety of disciplines, professions, organizations and communities. To learn more about the IACS, please visit www.children spirituality.org.