Jan
4
Written by:
Different Voice
1/4/2010 7:00 AM
The start of the year is a perfect time to evaluate your Christian education model. You'll need plenty of time to make significant changes, so starting an evaluation process in January will help you to be ready to launch something new in August or September. Your Christian education model is composed of several parts, including your:
- assumptions about and theology of faith formation
- plan or process for “doing” the ministry of Christian education
- curriculum you use or develop
- training plan for your teachers and leaders
- process for the administrative details of communication, tracking involvement, and evaluation
So, the question to ask yourself, simply put, is “Why?” Why do we do things the way we do? Why do we use [brand name] curriculum? Why do we publicize our events using [tools and media you utilize]? Why do we schedule events and classes the way we do? Questions like these should have a clear answer; if not, you may need to revisit, refine, or renew your faith formation model in the coming months.
Begin by seeking out persons and/or resources you might utilize to help you as you do your evaluative work. Denominational staff persons, general Christian education books, consultants (e.g. the staff of Different Voice), and other resources are available and ready to guide you. Set aside a couple of hours this week to view your congregational landscape and think about the big picture. And then, get ready to make 2010 your best year ever!
~ by Tim Gossett
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