Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - June /85

Contributor - Joan Drost

Title - Do You PLAN for Christian Education

Topic - Education

Last year the Classis Discipleship Committee issued a survey/questionnaire to all the churches, and it was evident from the answers that there was a call for help in the area of Christian Education Committees. What is it about us that when we are asked what our needs are, we call for HELP from a workshop, and when it is given so few attend? That continues to remain a mystery! However, on April 20 at Camp Shalom, 35 members and 5 pastors from 14 churches attended a workshop, "Planning for Christian Education in the Local Church", led by Rev. John Schmidt. (The best way to learn from a workshop is to attend it: the least effective is to read about it, as you no doubt will discover as you continue reading!) This was John Schmidt's last time to lead us as Program Secretary for Christian Discipleship. He will soon assume duties at Western Seminary where he will teach Christian Education. He expressed his love for Camp Shalom and concern for Classis Ontario which has developed over the past seven years. Those present assured him that he will not be forgotten and thanked him for his generous spirit in teaching and assisting whenever called upon, especially in youth activities.

Understanding Our Congregation

Pastors were to attend this workshop with their Christian Education Committees so that they could decide "what they want to do and be". Forms were sent to pastors before time so that pertinent facts about the congregation and its program could be identified and discussed.

We looked at numbers making up groups in the church, we talked about the kinds of families we had, we discussed persons with special needs, we reviewed the distances people came from, and we listed all the activities and programs carried on. We then had a picture of our church in facts and figures!

Assumptions

Lists were given to us on assumptions about: Learning, Teaching, What Should be Taught and Learned, Persons, and Aims and Purposes. This was a thought-provoking exercise as we chose, from a total of 10 - 12 possibilities, 3 main assumptions in which we all agreed. This we did for all five categories. We discovered that it is important to see what we do in education and to understand why we do it. The why is as important as the what! When the why (our theory) changes, the what (our practice) changes.

Defining Christian Religious Education

The task of writing our own definition of Christian Education was given to us, and adopting it as the operating definition for our church. We were given the following definition to study: "Christian Religious Education in the Reformed Church in America is a life-long activity with pilgrims in time that deliberately and intentionally attends with them to the activity of God in our present, to the story of the Christian Faith Community, and to the Vision of God's Kingdom, the seeds of which are already among us. We do Christian Religious Education because we are called by the Spirit through the Word to be disciples, to follow Jesus, to live in community, to grow in faith, and to witness to the kingdom."

Programs for Different Age Levels

Groups huddled together according to their interest in age levels and brain-stormed all the different types of programs which could be possible for that particular age. Lists were made on newsprint and later all information was tabulated and sent out to each church attending.

Goals and Objectives

We ended a busy and productive day by writing out goals and objectives, using the following questions to guide us: What needs to be done? Who will do it? How will it be done? When will it be done? What does it cost?

Further Steps

In planning for Christian Education in the church three more important steps must be taken. 1. Decide what to implement. 2. Make detailed plans and carry them out. 3. At the end of the year evaluate what happened.

The workshop closed with a circle of concerned leaders clasping hands, praying for one another, for classis, and for their role as teachers and leaders. May the Lord grant to all who are working in education in the church a renewed sense of challenge and commitment to one of the church's greatest tasks. May He also give wisdom to do the work with increased care and love, to make decisions to change where change is called for, and to choose the better way over the way it has been done for years.

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