What do the session and pastor have to do with Christian education?

by Beth Herrinton-Hodge
Associate for Curriculum Development

Sunday morning, 9:00 a.m. Do you know what your church school teachers are teaching?

As summer turns to fall, Christian education responsibilities come front and center. Churches large and small consider church school and educational offerings for the new season.

• Who is responsible for these offerings?
• Who determines the classes offered and the materials to be studied?
• Who oversees and approves the church school teachers and leaders?
• Who ensures that the program is in place and facilities are ready for classes and learners?
• To all, the answer is ... the session and the pastor.

The good news is that all of this does not fall on the shoulders of just one person! Jesus assures us that where “two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20).

Our Book of Order charges the session and pastor with responsibility for the mission and governance of a particular church (G-10.0102). Worship, mission, evangelism, stewardship and Christian education are only a few of the 19 stated responsibilities of the session. Any way you look at it, elders have a big job! Congregations model any number of ways of fulfilling their responsibilities: organizing committees or ministry teams, tapping individual volunteers or hiring staff to provide and develop means to address particular responsibilities. Working together, much can be accomplished.

How can the session and pastor support Christian education?

Vision: Elders and pastors hold a unique place in the congregation in setting a compelling vision for Christian education. Christian education permeates all aspects of a congregation’s ministry. From meeting with a family prior to baptism to interpreting mission and stewardship, from training elders and deacons to Sunday school, from youth fellowship to Presbyterian Women’s Bible studies — all are Christian education. Even a Communion liturgy builds on a question-and-answer format for understanding and praying the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving.

Educational ministry is related to the whole ministry of the congregation. As the session and pastor embrace this relationship and hold it out before the church, people catch the vision of the depth and breadth of Christian education in the life of the congregation.

Planning: Christian education doesn’t just happen. Goals and standards for educational ministry need to be put in place for individual programs to function as a coordinated whole. Some important questions to ask are What is the purpose of Christian education? Why does the congregation offer a Sunday school? a nursery program? a Bible study? What is important to teach? What do you want people to learn? What curriculum resources will you use? Who will volunteer, teach or lead?

While the pastor and the session take the lead in deliberating and planning a congregation’s scope of the Christian education ministry, planning groups, committees, or individuals may attend to the specific details.

Coordination: The session and pastor are in a unique position to be aware of all that is going on in the life of a congregation. In most churches, no one person knows everything, but as a ruling body, elders have an awareness of the breadth of activity. Frequently at least one elder on session serves as the point of contact for people leading educational activities. Communication regarding upcoming plans and events can be coordinated between session, leaders and congregations to support people’s participation in Christian education offerings, in Peacemaking emphases, Advent activities, and One Great Hour of Sharing and Pentecost offerings.

Teaching: Elders and pastors model our ministry after the ministry of Jesus, the teacher. He gave intentional, relational, specific instruction to individuals and groups throughout his life. It was through Jesus’ life and teaching that people were able to know God and God’s will. This is still true for us; as we know and serve Jesus, we know and serve God.

What better way is there for people in our churches to come to know God and Jesus than through the ministry of teaching? Direct teaching in the classroom gives opportunities for relationships to be nurtured and strengthened. Leaders come to know class members, students come to know their teachers, and the community of faith, the church, is strengthened.

Participation: As busy as church leaders are, members look to elders and pastors to participate in the ministries and activities of the congregation. Attending an adult class or Bible study is one way to support Christian education in the congregation. It also gives church leaders a connection with individuals outside of worship and committee meetings. Participation in adult classes can nurture and sustain leaders for the ongoing work of the church.

Prayer: Never underestimate the importance of prayer. We pray for and with our church school coordinators, teachers, assistants and learners. We pray for God’s presence to surround teachers in their preparation and teaching. We pray for God’s love and wisdom to fill all of us. We pray that classrooms may be filled with a spirit of creativity, imagination, patience and welcome. We pray that God’s good will be made known where two or three are gathered together in Jesus’ name and that Christ will be with us.

Christian education is just one of 19 stated responsibilities of the session and pastor, but it is an integral part of the whole ministry of the church. May each leader in the congregation find a way to support this vital responsibility.