Parenting

Children are a gift from God and are entrusted to parents who are responsible for their physical, emotional and spiritual upbringing. The fact that children belong to God, and that their parents are the earthly trustees for their care, is evidenced in scripture (Psalm 24:1; Proverbs 22:6; Ezekiel 18:4; Ephesians 6: 1-4) and affirmed in The Salvation Army's dedication ceremony.

The parent-child relationship is based in the idea of a covenant relationship, and not merely the fact of being related by blood. This is a non-contingent commitment of love for the child, and the parent is dedicated to the child's well-being as a matter of highest priority in the parent's life. In this regard, the parent-child relationship is a reflection of the covenant relationship that exists within the Godhead and also is reflected in the relationship between God and humankind. Human parents stand in relationship to their child in a way that is analogous to the way in which God is related to his people, as Father.

The importance of the role of the parents in the formation and development of the child cannot be overemphasized. The development of persons into individuals capable of receiving and giving love is a primary goal of parenting. The commitment of a parent to love a child contributes great value to the personhood of the child, whereas a parent's failure to love a child causes great harm. The family is the primary social arena in which a child experiences safety and security in the world, a sense of belongingness, and establishes a core identity with which to enter adulthood.

The Salvation Army affirms that the marriage of one man with one woman is a sacred institution ordained by God. A commitment to an indissoluble union is one of the most rewarding of life's decisions, providing the optimal conditions for both personal fulfillment and the bearing and rearing of children. Parents should do everything possible to safeguard and strengthen their marriages, for their own sake, and for the sake of their children. Current research highlights the long term impact of separation and divorce on children.

All parents, and particularly single parents, should be encouraged to enhance and augment their parenting with regular involvement with extended family members and committed members of their worshipping communities. A high number of American households do not resemble the traditional nuclear family. It is essential for the well-being of children, however, that they develop deep and lasting relationships with both mother and father whenever possible. There is evidence that parenting that combines emotional nurturing with consistent moral teaching and modeling has a profound and permanent impact on the health and happiness of the child. Fathers, in particular, are called to recognize the crucial role they have in raising their children and to not leave that responsibility solely to the mother.

Parent training can be very effective in avoiding and curtailing many of the problems facing youth today. The tasks of parenting change during the various developmental periods of the child, and proper instruction will help to prepare and equip the parent for such changes.