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With Summit coming up and a book scheduled for publication March 25, 2027, Jennifer Schroeder has plenty on her mind.

She’s the director of Summit, the annual gathering at Abilene Christian University scheduled for Oct. 7-9, and she is the College Fellow for Children & Family Ministry in the university’s Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry. Plus, she is director of the Center for Women in Christian Ministry at ACU. 

To top it off, she and her husband Greg, are the parents of four children, including a set of triplets. So, she is somewhat of an expert on children and their role in worship services. Her upcoming book is appropriately titled, Children Belong in Worship: The Why and How of Intergenerational Church. She wrote the book with Ron Bruner and Shannon Clarkson Rains. Publisher is Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

A blurb from the publisher’s website says the following: 
“Why do so many churches struggle to develop meaningful, sustainable practices for including children in worship? The answer runs deeper than timing or technique. While approaches abound, many aren’t rooted in good theology. That’s why Children Belong in Worship is an essential resource for today’s ministry leaders: It illuminates both the “why” and the “how” of including children in worship.
Drawing on Scripture, theology, theory, and years of ministry experience, the authors build a compelling theological rationale (the “why”) that gives rise to concrete, practical recommendations (the “how”) for drawing children into fuller participation. The result is a rich, robust approach to worship that forms faith across generations and values every voice.
The book offers help and hope to a wide range of readers: those who love the idea of intergenerational worship but are unsure where to start, those who worry that their current approach is too scattershot, those who feel disillusioned by previous efforts that haven’t borne fruit, and more. Its ecumenical, nonprescriptive approach invites readers of any tradition to adapt the book’s ideas for their own congregation.
Pastors and ministry leaders will come away ready to reshape worship so children can truly take part. Parents will develop new perspectives on worshiping alongside their children. And seminary professors will find a rich catalyst for classroom discussion. Encouraging and empowering, Children Belong in Worship is a must read for anyone who cares about children’s place in the life of the church.”