I wonder(ed) … what place is there for children at Surrender?

By Nigel Hanscamp

Surrender is a conference organised by a coalition of people who want to explore what Christian faith means when we see Jesus as working ‘at the margins’ of society. ‘Margins’ include issues of power, sexuality, disability, mental illness, poverty, homelessness, First Nations marginalisation … and how that impacts our mission, ministry and discipleship. It’s held at a campsite on Mt Dandenong and has been running in its current form for over 20 years. People from a wide variety of churches attend; some regulars and some first timers, some for a day and some for all three days.

It’s all heady stuff, but with increasing numbers of younger people finding themselves asking these kinds of questions, we were delighted that parents and children could attend. My observations and wonderings:

“Surrender kids – how are you doing?” called the worship leader as we started a session in an auditorium packed with 150 people. During the music, kids sat or stood in (and on) seats playing instruments, and of course didn’t stop just because the band members had stopped. No one minded.

Over a dozen families attended, with babies and 12-year-olds in the mix. The large high-ceiling hall used for gathering, eating and displays included a ‘chill zone’ with mats, carpets and picnic blankets, and a ‘fence’ of chairs. It wasn’t advertised as a family friendly space, but parents with young children migrated there together for feeding babies and their own conversations. It only took one mum to sit on the mat with their six-month-old before other parents joined them.

We set up a table tennis table in the hall that seemed to suit the eight-year-olds with a bursting energy, the 16-year-olds with something to prove to each other, the 24-year-olds who just wanted to have fun and the 30-something Down syndrome people with the joy of having a go.

Outside, there was plenty of grass around the firepit, and a long grassy hill to sit on – or roll down – and someone set up four small teepee tents which were well used by the children. Around the corner there was a more permanent playground.

Onsite accommodation in apartments, tents and caravans meant that kids could come and go from ‘home’ as they needed. Families and children mingled as they might do at any campsite.

Intergenerational workshops seemed to be the main opportunities for younger people and parents with children to participate in the program. These engaged old and young alike in questions of how we learn and how all can participate in worship and community life.

With varying levels of success, parents joined other workshops or speakers … splitting the childcare responsibilities or relying on the goodwill of babies and 10-year-olds. The topics weren’t set for kids. But the issues are part of regular conversations at home for these families who want their children to grow up active in addressing questions of climate, poverty and gender. So, for a 12-year-old being in a room with Dad hearing stories of homelessness and marginalisation adds fuel to that understanding of a world where we can act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.

We could do better: More spaces to feed and change babies, the hills and steps aren’t great for prams or wheelchairs, and age-appropriate conversation starters for groups of kids might be helpful. Not a kids program or a baby-sitting service, but intergenerational engagement in making a difference in this world.

“Surrender kids! How are you doing?” Welcomed and participating.