Notes from the Conversation on Christian Education & Lifelong Learning in Region 7’s Southern Tier

September 25, 2006
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, PA

Attending: Paul Lutz, Linda Walker (NJ), Ruth Miller, Marlane Druckenmiller, Elizabeth Elterech, Karen Matthias-Long (NEPA), Dawn Stewart, Sue Lang (SEPA), Jonathan Niketh (LTSP intern at St. Peter’s) and Peggy Wuertele (Region 7)

We reviewed the “areas of consensus” document generated by the consultation conference call on the future role of the churchwide organization in Christian Education.

We listed concerns that had brought us around the table:
Bishops don’t name CE as a priority
Lack of staff for CE both in synods and churchwide
Difficult to access names and contact info. for rostered leaders in CE
Lack of center or direction, “everyone can do their own thing”
No one is lifting up formation. We need to know about brain theory and new theories/methodologies of teaching and learning. Many pastors think of education in the same way that they were taught in seminary. Education is seen as “filling up empty shells”—there is no place for play, experiential learning, critical reflection. Rather, education must be a way of life, not just knowing doctrine and it happens in community.
Are CE leaders facing the same issues in other regions of the church?

We talked about the new study “Our Calling in Education” We observed that there is nothing new or “cutting edge” in it and it’s focus is not on CE in the parish. Some synods are having hearings. We might want to talk about the study in one of our conversations. Several of those attending are voting members at the next churchwide assembly.

We asked the question: “What is at risk?” Response: Our Lutheran identity and its core values of being reforming, evangelical and catholic. We have many “new” Lutherans or even “new” Christians, who want to help and teach, but may not have good foundation in Lutheran understanding of Bible and doctrine.

We observed that we need a new paradigm for Christian Education leadership—Is LACE it? There aren’t many LACE members in the northeast. Do we need to become a chapter?

We asked another question: “How do we change the world, into what we want to see?”
Strengthen LACE
Nurture CE professionals—through play and experiential learning
Being positive
Recognizing that we have a new freedom to create excellence
Writing more—presenting different perspectives on educating adults, to a wider audience (publications, blogs)
Stay in community to figure things out
Need to incorporate younger leaders and to share wisdom

We asked Jonathan (who represented younger leaders) what they want? He said that people today want to be wholly engaged in a spiritual process. They aren’t interested in Christianity when they perceive it as a doctrine.

We agreed that we need to have more conversations. Others need to be invited. Suggested names: Peter Bredlau, Michael Scholtes, Jessicah Duckworth.
Next conversation: Monday, November 6, 2006 at 11:30 at St. Peter’s. Dawn Stewart will engage us in “Godly Play” and Paul Lutz will show us how to “blog.” In the meantime, Peggy will try to find out if/how we can access a database or list of CE professionals in our region.

Please let Peggy know if you are coming for the lunch count.