Title: Education event highlights
leadership development, use of new technology
Date: September 1, 2000
Disciples News Service Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
00b-47
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (DNS) -- Leadership development, the use of new technology and new models for doing Christian education were issues highlighted during the second pre-convocation conference of African American educators.
Some 65 persons attended the event, held in conjunction with the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Convocation is a fellowship of African American Disciples. Conference presenters continuously emphasized the need for congregations to utilize computers, related software and the Internet to strengthen educational programs.
In addition, church educators were encouraged to be sensitive to the needs of youth, while meeting the needs of adults as well. That was the message from Gloria Williams, minister of education at Light of the World Christian Church, Indianapolis.
She was among three presenters in a panel discussion on "how to prepare church leaders for the new millennium." She stressed the importance of educators keeping up with the latest learning theories. All of these approaches will help congregations developing first-rate education ministries, according to Williams. "Christian educators are called to be awesome in this generation," she said.
Education and other ministries in congregations, according to Jacqueline Wilborn, should be based on spiritual gifts. Successful education ministries also demand intentional planning with the people in mind, said Wilborn of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, Memphis.
Beyond efforts directed at students or "consumers" of congregations' efforts at Christian education, educators themselves must be prepared to meet the challenges of the new millennium, according to the Rev. Linelle Brunson, Ray of Hope Christian Church, Decatur, Ga. She encouraged teachers and leaders to keep up with techniques and theories by reading, and to publish their own resources, curricula and materials. In addition, Brunson challenged attendees to see Christian education as a holistic ministry that can address a variety of life issues and can be done in and outside of the church.
The boat -- which is the church -- has a leak in it and "something different has to happen," said the Rev. Irvin Green, pastor of First Christian Church, Maywood, Ill. He suggests a change of direction in church or Christian education programs. Business as usual has meant that fewer than 20 percent of members participate in congregational education activities, Sunday school programs remain inadequate at best, and few Christians demonstrate an increase inknowledge over time.
Green also cited differing clergy/lay perceptions about Christian education and distrust among laity, clergy and denomination as obstacles to keeping education programs afloat. He urged educators and pastors to "pay more attention to the academy (seminaries) and the denomination and to "understand that you are in a system. Trust somebody. Use your resources." He also encouraged conferees to take new risks in developing new programming. "Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses -- pass them up."
The church is on its way to something new in Christian education, said the Rev. Jim Brooks, and probably needs to "let the boat sink. We (church educators) are the survivors," he added.The director of Christian education for the Disciples' Homeland Ministries division lifted up several models being used in congregations. Models range from the traditional Sunday church school, to the Montessori approach utilized in secular education, to a "worship-centered" model involving educators as "partners in worship" planning.
Regardless of model or approach, however, Brooks advised creativity in meeting the needs of today's spiritual seeker. "Forty percent of any congregation will not join a group," he said. "This requires new approaches" that include seekers and families in transition. "We need to be mentors, walking side by side, sharing stories with each other," he said.
"The goal of Christian education is not making good church members, but good Christ members," Brooks concluded.
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[Editors’s Note: The Pre-Convocation Christian Education Event was sponsored by Homeland Ministries and the African American Christian Educators’ Network. The conference was organized by the Rev. Billye P. Bridges bridgesb@dhm.disciples.org , Homeland Ministries director of specialized Christian education ministries.]