Planning for Christian Education
Lift up Christian education in the coming year through careful and
prayerful planning, visioning and hope for active and alive faith growth experiences. Here
are a few planning helps that will get you started on the right foot.
Multi-level planning
An approach to effective planning involves 4 levels:
1. Long range planning :
Where do we want to be in 3, 5 or 10 years? This stage of the planning
process is very important and deserves attention and time. It will probably take a series
of meetings or a retreat to complete. It sets the stage for how Christian education is
viewed by your congregation. Plan to involve representatives from various other committees
of the church as well as parents, youth, teachers and church staff.
2. Annual Planning:
Look at the next twelve months. What are the events and activities that
find their way onto the calendar each year?
When the schedule, dates and times are set, enter them onto the planning
calendar found on page 6. At a glance this calendar will give an overview of the entire
year that allows for plenty of lead time to order curriculum, to train and equip
volunteers, to communicate and promote, and to uplift the yearly theme.
3. Short term planning (1-3 months):
This is the time to fine tune those details that spell out specifically
what will happen and who will do it. Consider creating a monthly teacher newsletter to
communicate plans and schedules.
4. Immediate Planning
This involves a last minute checklist to make sure
people, supplies and equipment are ready for action. Never assume
that the equipment will automatically work! Did you try that craft
idea first??? It is important to remember that our primary purpose
in Christian education is to tell the good news of Jesus Christ so
in the midst of all the little details that need tending find the
joy and find the grace that comes freely in being a child of God!
Communication
A well coordinated program begins with communication that is clear,
detailed, and consistent. And repeat, repeat, repeat! The average person needs to hear
something at least three times before he or she remembers it. Consider these tips when
"spreading the good news":
give a completed copy of the planning calendar to the pastor and office
staff
make your written communication attractive, easy-to-read and
uncluttered.
written communication through take-home announcements, newsletters or
bulletins is an effective way to reach the masses.
use e-mail or create a congregational home page on the web
Consider recruiting 5th or 6th graders to wear sandwich boards made from
poster board and ribbon at the shoulder. Strategically place them in the narthex before
and after worship or at the entrance to the Sunday school wing to attract the attention of
passers-by.
Partnerships
Sunday school does not stand alone. Look at the other educational
possibilities within the congregation for mutual enhancement and support. Ask the question
"in what way can our Sunday school program make connections with...?"
Confirmation ministry
First Communion instruction
After school programs
Day Camp or Resident Camp
Choirs, drama and Christian clowning groups
Worship, Evangelism, Stewardship or other committees of the church
Women's and men's organizations of the congregation
Family ministry activities
New member Orientation
Midweek Bible studies
Church Library or resource center
Scouting groups, 4-H
VBS and other seasonal events
Preschools and day schools
Youth ministry groups
Social Ministry groups
Consider involving someone from each of the groups above as you do your
long range or annual Sunday school planning. Consider hosting an all-committee,
all-organization planning day once a year. (Late spring might be a good time to do this.)
By participating in the planning, these people can interpret and lift up the Sunday
school's activities to their group.
Dreaming
Planning for Sunday school is not complete unless you allow your
imagination to explore the possibilities within what appears to be impossible. At your
next planning meeting, pose some "what if" questions such as:
What if...
-
every child and youth
in our congregation was paired with an adult mentor
-
one Sunday each quarter the children taught the adults
-
every adult, youth and child brought a friend to Sunday school adult
Christian education was so engaging that parents would never dream of dropping their
children off at the door for Sunday school
-
our children knew scripture passages like they know TV jingles
-
everyone in the congregation knew what living out their baptism means
-
every child and youth felt a sense of belonging to their faith community
-
the Sunday school class became the worshiping community and the sanctuary
was regarded as the classroom
-
we were known as "the congregation with the best..."
After you plan, get going! Once you see the benefits of planning, you'll
make regular planning sessions an integral part of your Christian education ministry.
A Covenant Service for Christian Education Leadership
Pastor: By the waters of Holy Baptism we are claimed as Gods own
and brought into a new community. Today we gather to celebrate the nurturing and teaching
aspects of our faith community.
(Ask parents to stand)
Parents, you have been given the privilege of primary care for your children. At baptism
you agreed to teach and model for them a faith based on scripture, the Apostle's Creed and
the Ten Commandments. Even now as they are given additional opportunities to grow in faith
with others, do you promise to continue in partnership with teachers and other church
leaders through active support and involvement in specific tasks, modeling a Christian
lifestyle at home?
Parents: Yes!
(Ask teachers to join parents in standing)
Pastor: Teachers, you have accepted the privilege of nurturing children, youth
and adults in our faith community to increase their understanding of God's boundless love,
acceptance and forgiveness through Bible stories and learning activities. Do you promise
to join in partnership with others in this faith community to affirm a life style of faith
and service?
Teachers: Yes!
(Ask children, youth, and adult learners to join them in standing)
Pastor: On your baptism day, we welcomed you as a member of God's family and we
all said "yes" to helping you learn what that means. But your attitude , and
your willingness to learn and grow are the keys to your faith development. Do you promise
to come willingly to learn and grow with others?
Children, Youth and Adult Learners: Yes!
(Ask the congregation to join them in standing)
Pastor: At each baptism we have joined together in surrounding children and
their parents in a covenant for faith development. Do you promise to continue your support
and involvement?
All: Yes!
Pastor: Let us all join in confession of our common faith together in the words
of the Apostles Creed.
Use this to promote your Christian education program
Christian Education Planner by Carol A. Burk and Diane
Monroe, edited by Carol A. Burk
Copyright © by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 8765
W. Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631. 800/638-3522. Produced by Christian
Education of the Division for Congregational Ministries.
Permission is granted for congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America to reproduce this resource for local use.
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