Christian Education Priorities
By Delia Halverson, Christian Education Consultant,Faith Discovery Ministries. Editor, author, retreat and workshop leader and keynote speaker. United Methodist Church, Ft.Meyers, Florida

Life used to be so simple. We learned just what our jobs were with all the details and plans in a neat little box. Then we went about carrying out those plans and received our anticipated praise! In certain months Christian education committees carried out specific jobs. Volunteers were more than willing to do their jobs. And curriculum even told us exact questions to ask and the expected answers.

Life is not so simple any more. Just what should the priorities be for Christian education? The first step in discovering priorities is to look at the mission statement that our church has adopted. From there we must plug our energies into the appropriate places in order to make the whole system function. And so the primary priority, as I see it, is cooperation. We must work together in cooperation with other groups and leaders in the church.

Education needs to say to worship: Where can we help to make worship more meaningful to our congregation? How can we not only educate persons about worship in a classroom setting, but how can we use the corporate worship experience to move people to a deeper spiritual level?

Education needs to say to stewardship: What can we do to help you bring about a better understanding of a stewardship lifestyle? How can we interpret to the congregation just how their money is used in ministry and just how they can use their talents in the Kingdom of God?

Education needs to say to missions: What is going on in ministry to others in our local community, in other areas of this country, and across the world? How are we helping, and how can we pass this information on to our congregation? What will excite these folks to actually become involved in hands-on mission experiences, and how can we help them then share that experience with the rest of the congregation and with the community beyond our church doors?

Education needs to say to evangelism: What are we doing in our church to make others welcome? How can we reach out to befriend people in the community right around the church? How can we help our people develop a willingness and better ways to communicate their faith to others?

UNLESS WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH, we will not be effective in today's world. The first priority is not a specific age level, or a specific goal of Bible study. But the first priority is a united force to carry out the mission of living for Christ and making Christ known, no matter how you phrase that in your church's mission or ministry statement.

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