The traditional Sunday school is not working as it used to, fewer parents send their children along and for some, Sunday school is nothing more than a glorified child-minding service, according to Reverend Ian Ellis, Church of Ireland Education Officer in Northern Ireland.

Announcing details of a one-day conference on Children’s Ministry to be held at Stranmillis College, Belfast on Saturday, 30 November 2002, Mr Ellis said many parents still send their children to Sunday school, but their motives vary.

He said: "Some see it as important for children’s Christian education, but others see it as an opportunity to get the children out of their hair for an hour on a Sunday morning! They leave the children off and never darken the door of the church.

“Some parents still have an instinctive belief that there is something of value being offered to their children by the church but nevertheless ignore the church themselves."

Mr Ellis added: “Clergy are aware that even this kind of attachment to the church is fading and Sunday school is in danger of becoming a casualty of an ever more secular society.

“Now is a good time for the churches to take stock. Some Sunday schools still thrive on the traditional model and are just looking for new resources while others have made adjustments and are looking at new ideas to meet changing lifestyles and family needs.”

The conference is a co-operative venture between the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches along with Scripture Union.

The keynote speaker is Penny Frank, the Director of Children’s Evangelism Initiative with CPAS. She is a leading thinker in children’s ministry and will present two talks: Every child the chance to choose, and A church lost for words? In addition a wide range of seminars will provide ideas, inspiration and resources.

Mr Ellis concluded: “It is the prayer of the organisers that this event might help to equip our children’s ministry in an age when old assumptions can no longer be made.”