How do you identify, train, and support the leaders who teach church school in your congregation? Here are 10 ideas to consider as you prepare for the fall and a new year of Christian education.

1. Take It to the Session
One church educator started the process of building a team for church school with the session. At a meeting of session, the educator spoke about the importance of Christian education in the lives of children. The elders were challenged to think of teaching the faith to children as the most important responsibility in the church. In light of the importance of teachers, each session member was then asked to submit the names of three people they would "nominate" to be church school teachers. They were also asked to submit names for the board of deacons.

2. Emphasize the High Calling of Teaching Church School
We often fall into the trap of soft-selling the church school teacher experience and downplaying its importance, just to get people to agree to teach. Avoid doing or saying anything that diminishes the ministry of teaching and the gifts and skills of the potential teacher. Instead, when describing the task of teaching, talk in terms of its importance to the church and do so without overwhelming, scaring away, or getting a guilt-induced “yes” from a potential teacher.

3. Share Stories of Teaching
One of the best ways to interpret the importance of teaching is through stories. Invite past and current teachers to remember and write down stories of transformational moments in their teaching. Story sharing among those who teach is a great way for potential teachers to learn what it is like to teach. It is also a great way to talk with the congregation about the importance of education.

4. Give Potential Teachers Time
One church holds a coffee on a Sunday morning for potential teachers. During the coffee, church members have conversations about what it means to be a teacher. They take the time to explain the importance and role of teachers, share stories, look at a sample lesson plan, discuss the responsibilities of teachers, and answer questions. They tell the potential teachers why they are being considered to teach. They don’t expect an answer, but invite the potential teachers to take time to pray and consider this opportunity. They follow up a week later with a call to the potential teacher.

5. Invite Teachers Instead of Recruiting Them
Make the process of forming your educational team an invitation rather than recruitment. The opportunity to teach is more than filling a slot in a classroom schedule. It is a personal invitation to serve Jesus Christ in a very meaningful way. And it is the chance to enter into a significant relationship with a group of learners.

6. Let the Students Ask the Teachers
After identifying the people who will be invited to teach, one congregation lets the students—children, youth, or adults—invite the potential teachers. They say that “Will you be our teacher?" gets results.

7. Get to Know the People Who Are Potential Teachers
Much of teaching ministry is about relationships. Foster this emphasis by developing good relationships with potential teachers. Take an interest in them—get to know them and learn about their lives. If they choose to teach, you’ll be better able to support them because of the relationships you have formed.

8. Celebrate a “No” as Well as a “Yes”
Rejection is hard, especially for those of us inviting people to participate in educational ministry. We need teachers, but we also want good teachers. If an individual declines the invitation, trust that it is the best answer for the person and perhaps for the church school program. Trust also in the sovereignty of God to provide teachers. A gracious acceptance of “no” demonstrates an understanding and care for the person and, ultimately, a faith in God.

9. Teacher Training Is More Than Handing a Teacher the Curriculum
Have a teacher training event. Plan to hold it before the educational year begins and then again after the beginning and halfway into the year. Consider holding it with another congregation in the presbytery. Contact your presbytery staff for assistance. Effective training enriches, inspires, and informs, in that order. Give your teachers a chance to do all three and to build relationships with each other. Training is also a good time to go over details like procedures for attendance, emergencies, and reviewing a child protection plan.

10. Provide Ongoing Support
There are lots of ways to support teachers in an ongoing way. Consider providing a weekly or monthly memo to teachers. In it you can share joys and concerns, recognize birthdays and other significant days, share teaching tips, and relate stories from the classroom. Each teacher can be invited to contribute to the memo. Perhaps you can set aside space in the church for a teacher’s room. In it you can serve refreshments, set up teacher mailboxes, have brief teacher meetings, and pray for the church’s education ministry.

The author, Carl E. Horton, is Coordinator for Church Leader Support. He can be reached at (888) 728-7228, ext. 5453, or send him an e-mail.