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“Save Sunday school,” church congregations demanded decades ago. Now even the church no longer wants that.
“Sunday school is no longer the way our grandparents knew it,” says a video from the reformed parish of Bözberg-Möhntal in the canton of Aargau. “It’s happening to us.” There is painting, crafting and singing, and Bible stories are told and staged in a child-friendly way. Nevertheless, such offers have now become very rare.
A traditional Sunday school is still offered in four places in Aargau, says religious educator Monika Thut from the Reformed Regional Church of Aargau: “These Sunday schools are located in small villages with a strong Protestant influence, a bit off the beaten track. In other words, in places where the church is still something of a given.”
The concept of Sunday school dates back to the 18th century. Reformed Sunday schools were introduced in Aargau in 1905. While the parents attended the service, the children were taught Bible studies. But as early as the 1980s, church congregations called for “save Sunday school” because the number of children was shrinking dramatically.
The development is not surprising: the number of church members is also shrinking. Over 30,000 people turned their backs on the Reformed Church in 2022. The Aargau Church recorded a new record with almost 5,000 people leaving in 2023. Childcare is therefore hardly necessary during church services.
New offers, also outside of the church
Other offers have emerged for this. A “children’s church” in Aarau, the “Fiire mit de Chliine” in Rheinfelden, the “children’s service” in Baden. These offers often no longer take place on Sundays. In addition, all of these offers are now in even greater competition with extra-church activities, says Monika Thut.
Legend:
For a long time, Sunday schools also had a social purpose: In this photo, migrant children are taught in a potato pickers’ camp in California. The photo is probably dated to 1937.
Imago/Heritage Images
There are also offerings with a spiritual approach outside of the church. «I think children’s yoga, for example, is very good. If parents are more at home in the yoga area, then we don’t have a chance with our Christian tradition anyway.” Monika Thut from the Aargau Regional Church believes that offers that promote the children’s personal development are important.
From a professional perspective, offers must offer added value for the children.
“Even in youth associations it’s not about performance. But about cohesion, community and attitude; Attitude towards nature or towards people.” From their point of view, such offers do not necessarily have to be Christian in orientation.
Children should want to, not have to
Even for church youth and children’s work, Monika Thut finds psychological aspects particularly important. “It’s about how we can strengthen children’s resilience. So that they can survive in this world that is about performance or beauty. We have to convey countervalues.”
Legend:
There are new forms of church work with children and youth everywhere: here is a “crawling service” in the open air in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
IMAGO / Funke Photo Services
The classic Sunday school will probably soon be obsolete. Gone are the days when Reformed parents “send” their children to Bible studies on Sundays, says Monika Thut. And remembers her own past as a Sunday school student.
“There was always someone who behaved stupidly. He obviously didn’t want to come and the good Sunday school teacher always had something to do with him,” she says. Today it is clear: those who want to come will come. “That’s a nice approach, even in a club or at other gatherings. You do something with those who also like to be there.”