So the newly elected elders and deacons have completed a period of preparation and study. The session has examined the new class of leaders “as to their personal faith, knowledge of the doctrine, government, and discipline contained in the Constitution of the church; and the duties of the office.”, (Book of Order, G.14.0205). They have been ordained and installed in a service of worship, but their education for church leadership has just begun. These new church leaders may be ready, but they don’t know it all. During the two or three years of active service—depending upon the length of term—the learning process will continue. As in all forms of ministry, these leaders will learn by serving. There will be opportunities along the way for “continuing education.”

Consider implementing a continuing education plan that is either two or three years long, depending on the length of service for your elders or deacons. Identify topics to address and how they will be addressed. It could be in brief studies that are a part of each stated meeting or take home studies to be done individually. An annual retreat for elders and deacons can also fit into an education plan. If the plan is as long as the term of service in your congregation, then no matter what year the leaders begin, each class of leaders will get the full cycle of continuing education.

Future issues of Ideas! magazine will offer continuing education suggestions for use with elders and deacons. These pages can be used for study at stated meetings or duplicated and handed out for take home use. Additional help in providing continuing education for elders and deacons can be found in Called to Serve: A Workbook for Training Nominating Committees and Church Officers. There is an excellent section specifically addressing continuing education. This resource is item # 95525 and can be ordered from Presbyterian Distribution Service at (800) 524-2612.

The author, Carl E. Horton, is Coordinator for Church Leader Support. Contact him at (888) 728-7228, ext. 5453, or send email to chorton@ctr.pcusa.org.

An event for Youth Leaders in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Wednesday, January 8-Saturday, January 11,2003

Radisson Barceló, Orlando FL, www.radisson-orlando.com

Sponsored by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, PC(USA)
Christian Education Education and Leader Development,
Congregational ministries Division

www.rrpcusa.org/ConEd.htm

Colossians 3:12–17 exhorts us as God’s chosen people to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and above all else, love. Adults who work with youth are challenged in their own faith journey as well as in efforts to equip youth in their faith journeys. At the Continuing Education Event for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) —ConEd 2003—we will explore ways to equip ourselves and our youth for this awesome journey. We will discover new and practical ways to put on “Garments of Faith.”
The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, head of staff at Mission Bay Community Church. Dianne Wright, member of New Harvest Presbyterian Church in Florence, South Carolina, will be worship and Bible study leader. Chip Andrus, Associate for Worship in the Office of Theology and Worship, will be music leader.

The registration deadline is November 15, 2002.

For more information about young adult ministry, contact the Coordinator for Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Mienda Uriarte, at (888) 728-7228, ext. 5448 or send email to muriarte@ctr.pcusa.org.