Expanding church and school partnerships can help neighbors to thrive

LOUISVILLE — Dressed in a “I [heart] public schools” T-shirt and clerical collar, the Rev. Suzanne Parker Miller, an ordained Moravian pastor and the founder and executive director of Pastors for North Carolina Children, led an interactive workshop last week during the Annual Event of the Association of Partners in Christian Education titled “Expanding Church & School Partnerships to Help Neighbors Thrive.”

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Parker Miller sprinkled her workshop with food references, including welcoming “the cookie dough principle” for discussion, in which “half-baked ideas are OK” and calling “both popcorn and crockpots welcome.”

She asked participants: What are your churches doing in partnership with local schools?

One reported that her church, which is across the street from a public high school, collects hygiene products and winter coats, gloves and hats, and has provided “snack support” for faculty and other school staff. The school uses the church’s sanctuary for its concerts.

Another said the congregation, “after asking what they need,” provides classroom supplies that teachers would otherwise have to purchase themselves. The church also supplies bags of hard candy for children while they’re taking state-mandated tests. It opened its building and, importantly, its wi-fi capability during the pandemic.

A third reported that after a series of school shootings, pastors and others on staff “had a daily presence” at a nearby school and served as hall monitors.

“One church I know of feeds teachers breakfast early in the year and has a wall with prayer requests [from school staff] for the year,” Parker Miller said. “Church members took those and prayed for educators throughout the year. It was meaningful for the staff.”

Churches that participate in advocacy “have to answer the ‘we don’t do politics’ argument,” she said. “If we aren’t talking about politics, we aren’t talking about the gospel. Politics is how we govern and live together. What we don’t like is partisanship.”

According to Parker Miller, the growth in Christian nationalism has increased the need for even more advocacy connected to school vouchers, the defunding of public education, book bans, the placement of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, and “chaplains” replacing school counselors.

Christian nationalism shows up in schools in several forms, she noted, including release time for religious education and prayer in schools.

“If your goal is to proselytize,” she said, “please stay away [from public schools].”

She said that if the goal is to begin or enhance the church’s partnership with a local school, here are some questions to consider:

• Who in the church might be interested in participating?
• What gifts and talents does the church have to share?
• How much time, energy and resources does the church have to allocate to this partnership?
• Who in the church already has a connection to a school?
• What are the demographics of the school, including how many students receive free and reduced lunches, are Spanish speakers and are academically gifted?
• What barriers might get in the way?
• What groups in the community are in partnership with the school already?
• Who do we need to meet with to explore the idea? Who are the stakeholders?
• What are the greatest needs of the school, according to the principal, counselor, social worker, nurse, teachers, the PTA and others?

She also left participants with these tips for forming and maintaining effective partnerships:

• The students and the school are always the priority — not the church and its needs.
• All glory is for God, and not the church’s ego.
• Don’t create more work for the school.
• Joining a team with other community partners is a great way to start. Silos are not helpful.
• Treat all children with respect and equality. Don’t play favorites or create jealousy.

Learn more about church and school partnerships here.