Florescent Paper and Archaic Language

By Mary Alice Gran

“Therefore, be it resolved…” sounds like it fits into the DICTIONARY OF ARCHAIC LANGUAGE along with “Hear Ye, Hear Ye” and “Hark! Who goes there?” For Christian Educators “Therefore, be it resolved…” actually brings a fresh energy to Christian education in congregations.

At the last General Conference (April 2008) a new resolution was put into effect that states that the appropriate United Methodist agencies, as well as:

annual conferences and local churches [are to] assess and expand how they advance the work of Christian Education in the church. This includes promoting … certification in Christian education, youth ministry, spiritual formation, camping and retreat ministry and older adult ministry, and, where appropriate, monitoring all approved seminary M.Div. programs to ensure that future leaders are being trained in the ministries of Christian education.

In other words, remember to advocate for Christian education and for trained Christian educators. That isn’t hard to do – yet as a denomination we have not been good about remembering the importance of Christian education in the development of disciples and the spiritual growth of congregations.

You don’t need to be convinced of that. You already know this or you would not be receiving iTeach. Through the last several years we have reduced our professional ranks as friends have lost jobs or have taken on multiple roles. Other ministries or emphases have become the “in” things to do. Other job titles have taken over where “Director of Christian Education” was once a leader. Many congregations have either recast the language or discarded the term “Christian education” as passé. While we have taken this all in stride, it has led us to a place where many congregations now fail to recognize the importance of Christian education, regardless of what we call it, within the life blood of the community.

The resolution is published in The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church, 2008, ¶2001, pages 103-104. You might want to print the resolution and post it where you and the other teachers and education leaders can see it regularly. What if you print it on florescent orange paper and hide it in a desk drawer or the classrooms, to pop out when it’s least expected? You could also use it for staff devotions in January or as a basis for a sermon on a fifth Sunday! Remember this resolution as one reason for doing what we need to do!

None of us springs fully formed from the mind of God, so someone has to teach us. Knowing what it means to love and be loved by God so that we can live lives that are meaningful and grace-filled (for ourselves and others) is the result of good Christian education.

Consider:

• Have you learned to read and understand any of our Scriptures? That’s Christian education.

• Does the pastor preach a well-researched sermon, introducing new thoughts, nuances, historical detail, or cultural insights? That’s Christian education.

• Do your teens learn about God by playing basketball or by having a safe place to engage in holy conversation about the real issues of their lives? That’s Christian education.

• Do your children know the Lord’s Prayer, recognize the names “Jesus, Paul, Adam and Eve, Mary and Joseph”? That’s Christian education.

• Have your church members embraced the moral and ethical values that are reflected in the Ten Commandments? That’s Christian education.

Christian education is the foundation of any and every Christian faith community. May this resolution lead us to a new energy of recognizing the importance of Christian education by any name that is used in your congregation. And may we take a fresh look at those leaders who work with us to help them identify their gifts as Christian educators regardless of their title.

The iTeach staff wishes you a wonderful season of Advent and Christmastide, as we anticipate the coming of the greatest Teacher we know.

Mary Alice Gran is Director, Older Children’s Ministries, at the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, TN.

Christian education, no matter what we call it, is the lifeblood of the community.