Dear John,

Greetings from Louisville! Sandra [Albritton Moak] forwarded your voice mail inquiry regarding Presbyterian curriculum. Since you and I had met recently at General Assembly in Richmond, I volunteered to share some thoughts even though my work is in mission education and not curriculum.

I have attached a story from a workshop experience I had in Los Angeles. The short version of the story is that because we have a denominational curriculum that highlights Presbyterian beliefs, programs, and mission with real Presbyterian people, this seven-year-old was able to pray for particular Presbyterian mission workers and our partner churches, and make the connection to ask God what her own mission is in this world. The "aha!" lesson for me was that we are fortunate to have Sunday school and educational materials that help our members link the Bible with their personal faith with their actual church, all in a manner that is Presbyterian and Reformed.

We Believe: God’s Word for God’s People, the denominational curriculum, is written by Presbyterians for Presbyterians. It addresses the question that should be upon the heart and mind of every elder and church member who affirms the baptismal vows of children: “Where and how do our children learn what it means to be Christians in our particular context of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)?”

From a practical and logistical point of view, the materials are cost-effective and easy to follow. They are designed according to a simple A,B,C lesson plan: Assemble, Bible Study, Claim, Depart, Evaluate, Future. There is also a network of real, live people who are trained and equipped to share ideas and experiences and address specific challenges of church school settings. Over two hundred POINT representatives are located across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Its network is coordinated by Candace Hill in Congregational Ministries Publishing (www.pcusa.org/point). In addition Michael Purintun works with middle governing bodies and the 175 resource centers across the nation (www.pcusa.org/resourcecenters).

Finally, you asked about responsibilities of the session regarding the church school and educational ministries of a congregation. I have listed those Book of Order references at the conclusion of this note. I hope this is helpful.

If I can assist you further, please get back in touch with me. Thank you for being an advocate for Presbyterian curriculum!

Yours,
Jon

G-6.0304 It is the duty of elders, individually and jointly, to strengthen and nurture the faith and life of the congregation committed to their charge. Together with the pastor, they should . . . equip and renew [the people of God] for their tasks within the church and for their mission in the world,. . . . They should cultivate their ability to teach the Bible. . . .

G-10.0102 The session is responsible for the mission and government of the particular church. It therefore has the responsibility and power

e. to provide for the growth of its members and for their equipment for ministry through personal and pastoral care, educational programs including the church school, sharing in fellowship and mutual support, and opportunities for witness and service in the world;

f. to develop and supervise the church school and the educational program of the church.

Additionally, from the Directory for Worship, W-1.4007, a statement about education as it relates to worship, or educating people about worship: In the exercise of its responsibility to encourage the participation of its people in worship, the session should provide for education in Christian worship by means appropriate to the age, interests, and circumstances of the members of the congregation. (W-3.5202; W-6.2000; G-10.0102d, e, f) It shall also provide for the regular study of this directory in the education of church officers. (G-10.0102k, l).

A seven-year-old girl named Summer offered to share some prayer beads that she had created based on an activity found in the Children’s Mission Yearbook. “This gold bead,” she began, “is to remind me of God’s love for all people. The second bead is to give thanks for God’s love for me. The red bead is for my Mama. The green bead is for my brother. The brown one is for my cat. The pink one is for my friend, Maria. This wooden bead is to remember to pray for Javier and his church in the Philippines. And this last bead is for me to ask God what is my mission in the world.”

In a manner more articulate than anyone could have dreamed, Summer was able to demonstrate that she got it! The vacation Bible school material related the call of Samuel with a mission letter of Mary and Paul Nebelsick from the Philippines. Their letter talked about a seminary student, Javier, who (like Samuel in the Bible) answered God’s call to serve. Also included in the lesson was a photograph depicting a church served by the seminarians. Summer connected all the dots and included her own life in the picture.

Behind this seven-year-old’s spontaneous response we find the efforts of a number of General Assembly Council programs and offices. There are those who set up the mission assignment of the Nebelsicks and support them in their work. The office of Mission Connections provides correspondence from our mission personnel. Then we have those connected in curriculum publishing, from the committees and staff who draw up the conceptual plans for curriculum that is distinctly Presbyterian and Reformed, to the writers, editors, copy editors, and production staff who transform the concept into a working product. Because of the dedicated work of so many people working on behalf of the General Assembly Council, this seven-year-old in Los Angeles was able to hear how her Presbyterian Church is engaged in mission in a manner that relates to the biblical story and her own life. All of this happens by God’s grace and the intentional, faithful work of God’s people. It is ministry made possible because of the faithful stewardship of our congregations and their members.

The Rev. Jon Brown is Sr. Editor and Coordinator for Mission Education and Promotion, the area responsible for the Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, the Children’s Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, the Presbyterian Planning Calendar, and special offerings. You may contact him at (888) 728-7228, ext. 5194.