For the Sake of Children. Hidden Forms of Power in Caring for Children's Spirituality
13th International Conference on Children's Spirituality — 10-13 July 2013
The 13th international conference on children's spirituality will take place in Leuven, Belgium – a meeting place for different cultural influences. The conference will explore the complex relation between caring for children and power issues, particularly in relation to situations where the nurturing of children's spirituality is at stake. Power may be used in a positive sense, but there is also the lurking danger of power abuse. Care and power are closely connected, and especially with regard to children; interesting discussions may be anticipated.
The conference will also foster reflection on the nurturing of children's spirituality in classical settings such as schools and parishes. The approach of what is, particularly in a German setting, called 'theologizing with children' will be explored, in addition to new methods and views on nurturing children's spirituality. Special attention will be given to this nurturing in environments of care, such as hospitals and psychiatric settings. What do we know about children's spirituality in care settings and about the power of nurturing their spirituality in relation to their wellbeing and health? And how can spirituality be nurtured in a positive way, and power abuse avoided?
Conference Host
Prof. dr. Annemie Dillen
Sint-Michielsstraat 6 bus 3101
3000 Leuven
Belgium
+32 (0)16 328401
annemie.dillen@theo.kuleuven.be
Speakers (among others)
Alister Bull — Alister Bull has been an NHS healthcare chaplain for over 14 years and is the lead chaplain for Yorkhill Children's Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He has been the fund holder for two research projects in children's spirituality in healthcare and is currently completing a PhD in developing and designing a spiritual assessment tool for children. In addition, he provides support for NHS chaplaincy researchers, through NHS Education Scotland. He was previously a parish minister for 7 years. He has a wife and family and has a personal interest and involvement in the emerging church and Ignatian Spirituality. His conference lecture: "The nature of power in connectedness – the dynamics of spiritual care in a paediatric setting and its theological implications.". Abstract (pdf, 44 kB)
Nette Falkenburg — Nette Falkenburg is pastoral worker in the Erasmus MC - Sophia children's hospital in Rotterdam (the Netherlands) since 1997. She did research among parents whose child had died of cancer, into the meaning of spiritual experiences. Now she's doing PhD research into the meaning of special experiences of parents whose child has died on the Intensive Care Unit. Her special field of interest are: palliative care for children, end-of life care, and spirituality of both children and their parents within the healthcare environment. Her conference lecture: "Spirituality in Paediatric (Palliative) Care".
Elaine Champagne — Dr. Elaine Champagne is since 2004 professor at l'Institut Pastorale des Dominicains. She is particularly interested in issues of spirituality and practical theology. Over the years, the spiritual lives of children remained her favourite subject. Elaine regularly gives lectures in spirituality in various groups and organizations. She also helped the catechetical project of the diocese of St-Jean-Longueuil. Since 2000, she has had the opportunity to participate in several international conferences, in particular about the spirituality of the children. Her conference lecture: "Caring for Children's Spirituality in Hospitals".
Thomas Knieps — Dr. Thomas Knieps is since 2005 holder of the INTAMS Chair for the Study of Marriage & Spirituality at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, KU Leuven. He teaches courses in sexual, conjugal and family ethics and in lay spirituality. He is a member of the Research Unit Theological Ethics. His main field of research is the theology, ethics and spirituality of marriage and the family. In 2008 he edited the Companion to Marital Spirituality (Leuven, Peeters Publishers). His conference lecture: "Children and Childhood – a Path to Lay Spirituality". Abstract (pdf, 101 kB)
Rebecca Nye — Dr Rebecca Nye has been working in the field of children's spirituality as a researcher, consultant and practitioner since 1994. She is currently a Reader in Education at Anglia Ruskin University, and UK trainer for accredited Godly Play courses. One of her interests is understanding spirituality from psychological perspectives, especially how a child's psychology presents natural opportunities for spiritual processing. Another focus of her work is the problematic role of language in development of spirituality, especially the use and abuse of religious language in education. Her conference lecture: "Nurturing Children's Spirituality – especially in Care Settings".
Michael O'Sullivan — Dr Michael O'Sullivan is a Jesuit priest and Director of the MA in Applied Christian Spirituality at All Hallows College, Dublin City University, Ireland. His book, How Roman Catholic Theology Can Transform Male Violence Against Women (2011) has been described as "ground-breaking" by Professor Linda Hogan, Vice-Provost/Chief Academic Officer of Trinity College Dublin. His publications also include Spiritual Capital – The Practice of Spirituality in Christian Perspective which he co-edited with Dr Bernadette Flanagan and which was published by Ashgate in September 2012. He is a former member of the Governing Board of the international Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality, the premier society of its kind, and of the Steering Committee of the Christian Spirituality Study Group of the American Academy of Religion. He is currently a member of the Editorial Board of Spiritus, a leading international journal for the study of Christian spirituality, and of the Promotions Committee of the international Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality. His conference lecture: "Childhood, power, religious socialization and spirituality: A narrative approach". Abstract (pdf, 56 kB)
Programme
Wednesday 10 July 2013
- 04:00 p.m. Welcome
- 04:45 p.m. Childhood, Power, Religious Socialization and Spirituality: A Narrative Approach — Michael O'Sullivan
- 06:00 p.m. Dinner
- 08:00 p.m. Cultural Program: A Walk through the Healthcare of the Old City of Leuven
Thursday 11 July 2013
- 09:00 a.m. Morning prayer
- 09:30 a.m. Power, Play and Presence in Children's Spiritual Care — Rebecca Nye
- 10:45 a.m. Break
- 11:15 a.m. Workshops
- 01:15 p.m. Lunch
- 02:45 p.m. Spirituality in Paediatric (Palliative) Care — Nette Falkenburg
- 03:45 p.m. Break
- 04:15 p.m. Paper Session / Workshops
- 06:00 p.m. Dinner
- 07:30 p.m. Paper Session
Friday 12 July 2013
- 09:00 a.m. Morning Prayer
- 09:30 a.m. Caring for Children's Spirituality in Hospitals — Elaine Champagne
- 10:45 a.m. Break
- 11:15 a.m. The nature of power in Connectedness. The dynamics of spiritual care in a paediatric setting and its theological implications — Alister Bull
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch
- 01:00 p.m. Visit to the University Hospital of Leuven
- 03:45 p.m. Break
- 04:15 p.m. Paper Session / Workshops
- 05:45 p.m. Dinner
- 07:30 p.m. Annual General Meeting of the International Association for Children's Spirituality
Saturday 13 July 2013
- 09:00 a.m. Morning Prayer
- 09:30 a.m. Children and Childhood, a Path to Lay Spirituality — Thomas Knieps
- 10:45 a.m. Break
- 11:00 a.m. Paper Session / Workshops
- 12:30 p.m. Lunch
- 02:00 p.m. Optional Cultural Program: A Walk through Leuven and its Beer Culture
Paper sessions (pdf, 186 kB)
Conference schedule (pdf, 68 kB)
Call for papers and workshops
You will be allocated 45 minutes, in which you will have the time to present a paper of 25 minutes, followed by 20 minutes for questions, or to lead an interactive workshop of 45 minutes or, alternatively, if you so choose, for one and a half hours. Please send your abstract (300 words) for the paper or workshop to Angeline: Angeline.DeMoor@theo.kuleuven.be before 15 March 2013. Please add a short C.V. You will be notified about the acceptance of the abstract by April 15 2013.
Themes to consider in proposing a paper or workshop
- Research on the spirituality of children after a traumatic experience or during illness
- Good practices and models for nurturing the spirituality of children when they are sick
- Research or good practices about how nurturing children's spirituality in care settings can become a shared task between chaplains and other care givers
- Reflections on the relations between parents and others who are involved in nurturing children's spirituality
- Analysis of power in the relationship with children when caring for children, and especially when caring for children's spirituality
- Research about power abuse in relation to children and existing spiritual groups/churches
- Other general themes concerning children's spirituality will be welcomed
Practical information
Price: €400
Date: Wednesday 10 to Saturday 13 July 2013
Location: Maria Theresiacollege, KU Leuven, Sint-Michielsstraat 6, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Registration
To register, please send an email to Angeline.DeMoor@theo.kuleuven.be. Payment of €400 can be done
- either by bank transfer:
- Beneficiary's account (IBAN): BE60 7340 0666 0370
- BIC code: KREDBEBB
- Beneficiary: KU Leuven
- Bank: KBC Bedrijvenkantoor Leuven, Brusselsesteenweg 100, 3000 Leuven
- Please add the structured number (remittance information): +++400/0007/49262+++
- or online via the following hyperlink: http://www.kuleuven.be/sapredir/kredietbetaling.html?ges_mededeling=400/0007/49262
Travel and lodging
Further information
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Flyer |
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For more information, please contact Angeline De Moor, Angeline.DeMoor@theo.kuleuven.be or visit www.childrenspirituality.org.
