progressive Christian educator?
 You're not alone.
It might seem that way sometimes, when you browse the latest catalog from whichever MegaMinistry has just shown up in your inbox.
It might feel that way sometimes, when you sit in a workshop where God is only named "Father" and the prayers sound more vapid than the latest episode of whatever reality TV show is on right now and "liberal" is a word that is only said with a sneer or a snicker.
It might appear that way sometimes, when you read through the week's Sunday school curriculum and spend more time tweaking the theology than you do gathering the supplies and preparing the activities.
But you're definitely not alone. There are many of us...progressive Christian education professionals, pastors, youth directors, parents, volunteers, lay ministers, conference staff people...who are committed to taking the Bible seriously but not literally...who believe justice and grace and compassion and love are at the core of what it means to be Christian...who practice spiritual disciplines and still love God with their minds as well...who know themselves to be on a meaningful and hope-filled journey of faith.
Join us! There's a home for you here, and a community of people who share your concerns and interests.
You're not alone.
It might seem that way sometimes, when you browse the latest catalog from whichever MegaMinistry has just shown up in your inbox.
It might feel that way sometimes, when you sit in a workshop where God is only named "Father" and the prayers sound more vapid than the latest episode of whatever reality TV show is on right now and "liberal" is a word that is only said with a sneer or a snicker.
It might appear that way sometimes, when you read through the week's Sunday school curriculum and spend more time tweaking the theology than you do gathering the supplies and preparing the activities.
But you're definitely not alone. There are many of us...progressive Christian education professionals, pastors, youth directors, parents, volunteers, lay ministers, conference staff people...who are committed to taking the Bible seriously but not literally...who believe justice and grace and compassion and love are at the core of what it means to be Christian...who practice spiritual disciplines and still love God with their minds as well...who know themselves to be on a meaningful and hope-filled journey of faith.
Join us! There's a home for you here, and a community of people who share your concerns and interests.
Meet the voices of Different Voice
| | We look better in person | More than you really want to know about us |
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|  | Tim Gossett, Blogger-in-Chief, is a twenty-some year veteran of youth ministry and Christian education. He has masters degrees in Religious Education and Religious Communications from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH, is a certified Christian education director in the United Methodist Church, and is an author of a handful of books. More importantly, he's a husband, father (to five fur creatures), and passionate volunteer with hunger- and poverty-related organizations. Tim once wrote a ballet for a lawn chair drill team, can eat (and teach others to eat) fire, and can present a riveting lecture on biblical coins. He's a bit of an evangelist for Mac computers, the Green Bay Packers, fresh cheese curds, and vegetarian Thai food. |
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|  | YOU are one of the voices of Different Voice when you contribute your thoughts in any way. And you look a lot better in person than your picture would seem to indicate! |
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|  | Sally Hoelscher was Creator of Joyful Content for Different Voice in 2008-10, and many of the writings on the site are hers. She has served as a volunteer in ministry with children, youth and adults for over fifteen years. In 2004, she responded to God’s persistent calling and made children’s ministry her vocation. She believes that God has a sense of humor and wonders if she is the only Christian educator in the world with a Ph.D. in pharmacology. Sally has worked as a children’s ministry director and has written curriculum for the United Methodist Publishing House and the Iowa Annual Conference. She and her husband are experiencing the joys and challenges of having two teenagers. When the choice is hers, Sally opts to read, play Scrabble, relax in her hammock, spend time with family and friends and bake bread. |
In 1993, Carol Gilligan's book on women's psychology, In a Different Voice, made a big splash. Her words had profound effects in the social sciences, as women's voices were heard anew.
Different Voice, or DV for short, honors this book with its name, though we're pretty modest about the kind of splash we'll make. Our aim is to help anyone interested in both Christian education and progressive theology to integrate these two for contemporary congregations, families, and individuals. We hope you find here something different, something that helps you give voice to your spiritual journey in a new way.
Our motto is what we try to live by: "Embrace life. Nurture spirituality. Inspire change." To us, that's what it means to have a Different Voice.
In 1993, Carol Gilligan's book on women's psychology, In a Different Voice, made a big splash. Her words had profound effects in the social sciences, as women's voices were heard anew.
Different Voice, or DV for short, honors this book with its name, though we're pretty modest about the kind of splash we'll make. Our aim is to help anyone interested in both Christian education and progressive theology to integrate these two for contemporary congregations, families, and individuals. We hope you find here something different, something that helps you give voice to your spiritual journey in a new way.
Our motto is what we try to live by: "Embrace life. Nurture spirituality. Inspire change." To us, that's what it means to have a Different Voice.
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To the greatest extent possible, we will seek to use the following core values as guidelines in our evaluation and recommendation of books, curricula, technological tools, and other resources for ministry. We ask that contributors to Different Voice respect these core values and use them as guidelines for submissions to this site.
Connection
We believe in the value and necessity of connectional ministry. God's grace and love are continuously present in our lives, even before we are aware of this connection. God has created us to be in relationship with one another, connected in ways seen and unseen.
Collaboration
We believe our effectiveness as educators is greatest when we share resources and knowledge with one another, because in doing so we demonstrate our willingness to be continual learners. We will strive to build a collaborative community where progressive people of faith can work together in matters of faith formation, sharing their gifts from God.
Compassion
We believe our highest call from God is to exercise love and compassion in all aspects of our lives. We will express kindness and gentleness in our interactions with one another, strive to be accepting of all persons, and promote an active faith in which God's love is shared with all through word and action.
Creation-care
Caretaking of God’s creation is a responsibility we each share. Christian educators who educate themselves about environmental issues can live as good stewards of God's world and better encourage others to do so. We will promote and work for social justice for all people.
Change
We believe God is continually active in the world and that God is still speaking. Change is critical to growth. We embrace the best of contemporary progressive biblical and theological scholarship, and we see technology as an important tool in our ministry when it is used in ways that support our other values.
To the greatest extent possible, we will seek to use the following core values as guidelines in our evaluation and recommendation of books, curricula, technological tools, and other resources for ministry. We ask that contributors to Different Voice respect these core values and use them as guidelines for submissions to this site.
Connection
We believe in the value and necessity of connectional ministry. God's grace and love are continuously present in our lives, even before we are aware of this connection. God has created us to be in relationship with one another, connected in ways seen and unseen.
Collaboration
We believe our effectiveness as educators is greatest when we share resources and knowledge with one another, because in doing so we demonstrate our willingness to be continual learners. We will strive to build a collaborative community where progressive people of faith can work together in matters of faith formation, sharing their gifts from God.
Compassion
We believe our highest call from God is to exercise love and compassion in all aspects of our lives. We will express kindness and gentleness in our interactions with one another, strive to be accepting of all persons, and promote an active faith in which God's love is shared with all through word and action.
Creation-care
Caretaking of God’s creation is a responsibility we each share. Christian educators who educate themselves about environmental issues can live as good stewards of God's world and better encourage others to do so. We will promote and work for social justice for all people.
Change
We believe God is continually active in the world and that God is still speaking. Change is critical to growth. We embrace the best of contemporary progressive biblical and theological scholarship, and we see technology as an important tool in our ministry when it is used in ways that support our other values.
What is "Progressive Christian Education"?
I'm often asked questions like, "How do you define progressive?" or, "What is a progressive Christian educator?" Our core values above are part of what we think it means to be both "progressive" and "Christian" in today's world, and I'm sure each progressive Christian educator would define the term a little differently. Here's my short summary of how we each talk about what it is to be a "progressive Christian educator."
The word progressive has quite a number of definitions in our world today, as a quick glance at an online dictionary will reveal. For me, I especially like to think about the concept of movement, and the metaphor of a multifocal lens. First, Christian education is about movement, because the life of progressive faith is not just about belief but about action on behalf of others. It's about movement toward a world in which all people experience shalom, the peace and wholeness of God. And it's about movement toward a way of understanding God, scripture, and the life of faith as expansive, as dynamic, as metaphorical, and as "active love."
Second, progressive Christian education is like a multifocal lens, which is a type of camera lens that can gradually focus between different lengths. In my own experience, the journey toward a progressive Christian faith has been a gradual one, as new ideas and insights take on increased clarity and my life takes on greater focus. I have seen that same kind of change in others, too, when they are introduced to ways of reading scripture that take the Bible seriously rather than literally, for example. Progressive Christian persons progressively grow closer to the compassionate and creative character of God, and progressive Christian educators assist and nurture persons through and in that growth process. As John Wesley put it, we are going on toward perfection, toward the perfect love of Christ. And in today's world, any movement in that direction would indeed be progress, don't you think?
Please share with us your definition of what it means to be a progressive Christian educator, using the form below.
I'm often asked questions like, "How do you define progressive?" or, "What is a progressive Christian educator?" Our core values above are part of what we think it means to be both "progressive" and "Christian" in today's world, and I'm sure each progressive Christian educator would define the term a little differently. Here's my short summary of how we each talk about what it is to be a "progressive Christian educator."
The word progressive has quite a number of definitions in our world today, as a quick glance at an online dictionary will reveal. For me, I especially like to think about the concept of movement, and the metaphor of a multifocal lens. First, Christian education is about movement, because the life of progressive faith is not just about belief but about action on behalf of others. It's about movement toward a world in which all people experience shalom, the peace and wholeness of God. And it's about movement toward a way of understanding God, scripture, and the life of faith as expansive, as dynamic, as metaphorical, and as "active love."
Second, progressive Christian education is like a multifocal lens, which is a type of camera lens that can gradually focus between different lengths. In my own experience, the journey toward a progressive Christian faith has been a gradual one, as new ideas and insights take on increased clarity and my life takes on greater focus. I have seen that same kind of change in others, too, when they are introduced to ways of reading scripture that take the Bible seriously rather than literally, for example. Progressive Christian persons progressively grow closer to the compassionate and creative character of God, and progressive Christian educators assist and nurture persons through and in that growth process. As John Wesley put it, we are going on toward perfection, toward the perfect love of Christ. And in today's world, any movement in that direction would indeed be progress, don't you think?
Please share with us your definition of what it means to be a progressive Christian educator, using the form below.
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