Canadian Presbyterian is named APCE’s ‘Educator of the Year’

Dorothy Henderson known as practical, hands-on

by Jerry L. Van Marter

VANCOUVER — Dorothy Henderson, a longtime educational leader in the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) whose hallmark has been providing practical, hands-on resources for church leaders at the grass roots, has been named “Educator of the Year” by the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE).

      Henderson was honored at a Feb. 4 banquet during APCE’s annual conference here. APCE is comprised of Presbyterian and Reformed churches in the United States and Canada.

      Also honored were APCE’s Lifetime Achievement Award winners for this year: Arlene Walters Waldorf of the Reformed Church in America and Deborah Brewster Miller of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

      For the last 10 years Henderson has served on the educational staff of the PCC, most recently as Associate Secretary for Education in the Faith. During her tenure she has been instrumental in developing Teacher/Leader Courses, a program of 60 instructional courses for congregational leaders on various educational ministry topics, and “Falling in Love with Your Bible Again,” a collection of strategies for encouraging adults to reconnect with the written Word.

      She is currently doing research on young adults and what made church school, worship and Christian service meaningful to them when they were children.

      Rick Fee, moderator of the General Assembly of the PCC, introduced Henderson as “an educator who challenges even the one who would introduce her to this group with the most beguiling of techniques — her straightforward, life-sharing approach to human relationships, treating all as equals.”

      Henderson, a descendant of Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine, said the Bible story of David gave her, as a child, “a reason for living and direction in how to live my life.” Storytelling continues to be central to her life, she said, “conveying meaning, love, hope and joy.”

     After all, Henderson said, “Jesus was the greatest storyteller of them all.”

      Waldorf, who most recently served as the RCA’s Executive Director of Reformed Church Women’s Ministries, said “all 950 Christian educators in this room deserve this award for the work they do.”

      She began her teaching career as a high school English teacher, turning to full-time Christian education in the early 1980s. She was ordained as an elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Fairborn, OH, just before the RCA voted to ordain women as elders and deacons.

      She has been described as “a prophet — one who can name problems, describe potential, and find pathways to resolution.”

      Miller, a veteran of 22 years of educational ministry in the PC(USA), praised APCE for the support and encouragement she has received from the organization over the years.  “I so definitely believe in the certification program that APCE offers,” she said, “because it has opened up so many doors for me that were so meaningful and so rewarding.”

      Miller became a Certified Christian Educator in 1983 while serving on the staff of Monmouth Presbytery. She later served as associate executive presbyter for Newton Presbytery from 1989 until her retirement in 2000.

      The 950 in attendance at the banquet also paused to recognize educators who have attained certification status in the last year.

Those who have achieved Certified Christian Educator status since last year’s conference are:
Karen Banaszak of Bay City, MI
Rita Boyer of Newark, NJ
Meredith Brace of Beaufort, SC
Zoe Anne Cagle of Southern Pines, NC
Kent Carter of Harrisburg, PA
Lynda Fauler of Skaneateles, NY
Toni Hagerman of Mooresville, NC
Jana Hall of Montgomery, AL
Vivian Hare of Wilmington, NC
Carla Hilton of Kansas City, MO
Holly Inglis of Arvada, CO
Rachel Langley of Sapulpa, OK
Joyce Lovely of Safety Harbor, FL
Cecelia Moore of Lakeland, FL
Carol Phillips of Bridgeport, IL
Martha Richardson of Austin, TX
Shannon Vance-Ocampo of Rumson, NJ
Sherrill Vore of Grand Rapids, MI
Pat Youther of Beaver Creek, OH
Carol White of Palm Harbor, FL
Jan Williamson of Atlantic, GA
Maureen Wright of Mount Holly, NC

Those who have become Certified Associate Christian Educators in the last year are:
Heather Bailey of Bay City, MI
Cathy Cunningham of Dallas
Deborah Madden of Carlisle, PA
Cynthia Merten of Troy, MI
Lisa Patterson of Denton, TX
Sheila Reddig of Jonesboro, AR
Judy Schlabach of Wooster, OH
Jean Silva of Panama City, FL
Karen Witt of Albuquerque, NM

Two women have been enrolled as Educational Assistants:
Debra McKune of Adamstown, MD
Debra O’Brien of Nashville, TN