Nazarene Theological Seminary

Dr. Don Ratcliff, Price-Lebar Professor of Christian Education at Wheaton College, presented the Latham Lectures on Early Childhood Development April 10 to NTS students and faculty as well as local and national leaders in Nazarene children's ministry. Ratcliff, a prolific writer and editor in children's ministry, addressed contemporary approaches to children's ministry and gave an overview of the history of research on child spirituality. Dr. Ratcliff was also guest at a special luncheon with the national advisory board of the Nazarene Children's Pastor Association, denominational leadership, NPH editorial staff, and local children's pastors.

Ratcliff's morning lecture reviewed three and "one/half" contemporary approaches to early childhood ministry. His presentation included congregational expressions of Godly Play, the enactment of Old Testament rituals as embodied ministry, family role playing of biblical stories, and (his "one/half") a newer emphasis on ministry through service that Ratcliff believes needs ongoing development. Ratcliff acknowledged the need to incorporate and empower families in children's ministry. The afternoon lecture noted an historic interest in studying child spirituality beginning at the turn of the twentieth century, and now expanding. During lunch, NTS host and moderator Dr. Dean G. Blevins (Professor of Christian Education) noted that if the twentieth century has been identified as the "year of the child," the early twenty-first century may mark the church's rediscovery of children in the life of the congregation.

Ratcliff remarked early in his morning lecture that Wesleyan theology, particularly Mildren Wynkoop's book Theology of Love, had proved pivitol in his spiritual journey and thanked Nazarene Theological Seminary for its presence in broader Evangelical education circles. Ratcliff has written and edited a number of key texts including Children’s Spirituality: Christian Perspectives, Research, and Applications (senior editor), Raising Your Child from Birth to Age Twelve, Handbook of Preschool Religious Education, and Child-Rearing and Personality Development.

The Latham Lecture and Seminar on Early Childhood Ministry is dedicated to the memory of Joy Latham, an innovative educator in early childhood ministry who formally served the church from 1953-1970 and deeply influenced the role of ministry with preschool children through her mutual love of music and teaching. The lecture is one of two endowed series--in addition to the newly endowed Miriam Hall Lectures on Children's Ministry--offered every other year at NTS addressing ministry with children.