Spiritual Parenting: An Online Idea Swap for Pandemic-Weary Parents
sponsored by The BTS Center

COVID-19 stretches and stresses parents in unique ways. Whether it's juggling the demands of remote learning while working from home, or adjusting to the closure of daycare centers, or processing the grief that our children and teens experience, or attending to the very real social and emotional needs of our children in the midst of the stay-at-home demands — or all of the above! — many parents and families are experiencing this as a particularly challenging time.

During this Online Idea Swap, several panelists — parents and spiritual leaders themselves — reflected on the challenges and opportunities they are experiencing in this moment. We explored how parents are experimenting with faith and identity formation at home, and we considered ideas for grounding ourselves spiritually as parents during this time of physical distancing, communal anxiety, and complex grief.

Watch the conversation, which was moderated by Rev. Allen Ewing-Merrill and Rev. Nicole Diroff of The BTS Center team. This meetup was recorded on May 27, 2020.

Panelists include:
  • Rabbi Michael Knopf, rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, Virginia, father of three young children.
  • Rev. Effie McAvoy, pastor of York-Ogunquit United Methodist Church in Maine, and proud mother.
  • Rabbi Paul J. Kipnes and Michelle November, MSSW of Calabasas, CA, co-authors of Jewish Spiritual Parenting: Wisdom, Activities, Rituals and Prayers for Raising Children with Spiritual Balance and Emotional Wholeness and parents of three young adult children.

Rabbi Michael Knopf

Rev. Effie E. McAvoy

Rabbi Paul J. Kipnes and Michelle November, MSSW