Christian Education Week
By Diana L. Hynson

Celebrate your teachers, small group leaders, and education leaders!

We have a faith—and a faith community—today, perhaps due in large measure to the myriad of saints before us who knew how important it is to teach, demonstrate, and share the faith. We know what we know about God, Jesus, the Spirit, and so on because someone taught someone who taught someone who taught someone… who taught us—two millennia later. And we would add several more millennia if we rightfully calculate from the Old Testament days and not just from the time of Jesus Christ!

On a recent study leave, I asked selected congregations (among other things) what they did when their Christian education ministry was going according to their plans and desires. For most of them the first utterance was, “Celebrate!” Many cited sponsoring end-of-year events with the teachers and leaders as guests of honor. Some mentioned the beginning-of-year services of dedication at which the teachers and leaders were acknowledged in worship and consecrated for their ministries. One congregation also spoke about the many ways that they try to honor the participants, especially the children and youth, as a way to encourage their willing involvement in the life of their Christian community.

The General Conference of The United Methodist Church thinks this is a worthy practice and permits an official day of recognition with an offering. When is it? That’s the flexible part of the church calendar; Christian Education Week (or Sunday) is observed when the annual conference sets the date on the conference calendar. If the conference has not established it, you can just set it yourself at a time that makes sense to the rhythm of your local church’s Christian education/ formation ministry. What could be more convenient?

The General Board of Discipleship is mandated to provide resource materials for Christian Education Week (or Sunday), which are available no later than March. Click here to see the CEW for 2009: www.gbod.org/education/cew09/ceweng09.pdf. Each issue includes two articles and a workshop on the theme for that year, worship resources, a litany for consecration, clip art, and a resource list. The 2009 issue is available in English, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese. You can see the archive of several years’ worth of back issues at www.gbod.org/education/articles.asp?item_id=15994.

What are some of the ways you acknowledge and honor your teachers and other education leaders?

• Are they recognized in a designated service of worship?

• Are they invited to participate in a covenantal act, as a service of consecration?

• Are they acknowledged and complimented during the year for their efforts and accomplishments

• Do they receive the curriculum, supplies, and other resources they need (without having to purchase it themselves)?

• Do they get a break when they want one?

• Is there a “stable” of substitutes?

• Do you provide opportunities for teachers to learn and be nurtured in their own small groups?

• Is the importance of Christian education ministry mentioned from the pulpit?

• Does the pastor take an active interest in them and their ministry?

• Do you have established prayer partners for each one?

Teachers: You are indispensable gifts from God! Thanks for your ministry of Christian education and formation!

Diana L. Hynson is Director, Learning and Teaching Ministries at the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, TN.

We have a faith community because the saints through the millennia taught the next generation.