For more than 20 years, CDF has worked closely with national religious leaders and organizations, state and regional bodies, and local congregations, leaders, and lay people. Religious people and organizations—with millions of members, deep roots in communities across the country, a history of caring for children, and moral authority—are indispensable to building a successful Leave No Child Behind^® movement.

A Special Children’s Sabbaths Celebration

Join us for CDF’s first national conference since 2003, Pursuing Justice for Children and the Poor with Urgency and Persistence, July 22 - 25, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. We will begin the conference with an inspiring multi-faith Children’s Sabbath service to which not only conference participants but also community members are invited. This will be a chance for you to see first-hand and participate in the multi-faith Children’s Sabbath service that will be included in our 2012 Children’s Sabbath materials (available this summer). Following the Children’s Sabbath service, we will participate in an extraordinary session, “Lift Every Voice: The Vital Role of Music in Building a Movement for Justice,” as we hear from and sing with Sweet Honey in the Rock and other leading performers. You will leave not only moved, but also ready for movement-building, and perhaps with new ideas for music to incorporate into your Children’s Sabbath celebrations in the future.

Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute

The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry provides spiritual renewal, continuing education, inter-generational movement-building workshops, and networking as Christians from across the denominational spectrum explore how their Christian faith calls them into ministries of child advocacy and guides, shapes, and sustains them in their work with and for children.

The Proctor Institute is traditionally held at CDF Haley Farm in Clinton, Tennessee, but is being merged with CDF’s National Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, this year only! In plenary sessions and workshops, leading experts will present the latest research and best practices to close the gap between what we know works for children and what we do in practice. Workshop options will include those tailored specifically for the religious community, including one on building powerful, inclusive multi-faith coalitions and how planning a Children’s Sabbath can be a part of that effort. Learn more and register today.

National Observance of Children's Sabbaths

Prime your congregation to make a difference for children all year long. Join with the thousands of faith communities that are planning for the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths® weekend, October 19 – 21. The Children's Sabbaths brings together Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Bahá'í communities, as well as multi-faith coalitions that will lift up children in need and answer their own faith tradition’s call to pursue justice, mercy, and compassion.

Download last year’s Children’s Sabbaths resource manual, “Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue: Answering God’s Call to Protect Children”, which provides all you need for planning, educational, service of worship and advocacy in your House of Worship.