Educational Ministry: A Seasonal Lesson Plan

With the new curriculum, We Believe: God’s Word for God’s People, moving from a development phase to a production phase, I’ve been thinking a lot about the state of Christian education in our congregations. I wondered if expectations place too much burden on any curriculum to do all the nurturing needed in our churches educational ministries.

Then I thought back to the 214th General Assembly that acted to enable the ordination of certified Christian educators. A proposed amendment to the requirements for ordination of Christian educators almost added preaching a sermon and preparing a lesson plan.The amendment was not included when it was made clear that everyone seeking ordination as a minister of the Word and Sacrament would also be required to do both!

That proposed amendment presented a wonderful opportunity that was narrowly missed. It surely would have brought a smile to Calvin's face, since he used the same word, doctrina, for both preaching and teaching. It would have reminded every new pastor, and all of us, that preaching and teaching are part of the other. Both are necessary if we are to continue a Reformed heritage that emphasizes the Word as the heart of our life and practice.*

I hope you would agree that educational ministry is an ordained part of a congregation’s total ministry. And further, that care should be given not to take it for granted once a Sunday school faculty has been recruited and a curriculum chosen.

* See John C. Purdy, ed., Always Being Reformed: The Future of Church Education (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1985), 16–17.