This weekend I was up in Woodstock, CT for the Lavender Country & Folk Dancers' Spring Dance Camp. Beautiful setting, good friends, good music, good dancing, some meaningful conversations, and a missed opportunity. Someone asked me to go for a walk with him after breakfast on Sunday morning, except that it wasn't very clear that's what he was doing. By the time I realized that's what he was asking, it was too late. I mended that fence after lunch, though it really didn't need mending. Now I have to figure out just what this dance we're doing is...
Usually I take the Friday and Monday of Dance Camp weekends as vacation days. That means I'm not rushed to get out of the City from work and get to camp by 5:00 or 6:00 in the evening. I can take my time packing Friday morning and take my time getting to camp. Monday serves as a "re-entry to the real world" day. I didn't get the re-entry this time, because I had to drive to Philadelphia (well, Haverford) for the National Organization of Episcopal Resource Centers (NOERC) annual retreat/meeting. So last night I came home and unpacked the Dance Camp stuff. This morning I packed for the conference plus a visit to my brother & his family. I returned the rental car (four people plus dance camp luggage would not have fit in my little car!), had the oil changed in my car, ran a couple of errands , and left for Pennsylvania only 15 minutes after my target departure time of Noon.
So much for a gradual transition from camp to real world.
It was actually a decent day for a drive, in spite of the humidity. There was little traffic except for the usual slowdown on the Cross Bronx Expressway, and I arrived at my destination in about three hours, including a stop for lunch.
So, here we are at the Saint Raphaela Center of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The rooms are clean, if a little crowded by the furniture in them. The meeting spaces are good. The food is well-prepared. There are no fans in the rooms. It may be a sleepless night.
Tomorrow is a field trip into Philadelphia.
Showing posts with label Christian Formation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian Formation. Show all posts
Monday, May 3, 2010
Monday, October 5, 2009
Time To Learn New Skills
I have a stack of books in my office on Christian Formation and children. Some of them are classics, and some of them are recent. The one I just finished is Postmodern Children's Ministry: Ministry to Children in the 21st Century by Ivy Beckwith. The publisher's web site says it
Basically this tells me is that the Emergent Church is even less aware of how children learn than I thought. It also tells me that not much has changed in the last 30 years in the area of Christian Education/Formation.
However, Beckwith does give one of the best explanations of the transition from modern to postmodern that I have encountered so far.
Obviously, our culture has a very different understanding of the physical world, genetics, and a host of other things about which the ancient world had little or no knowledge. Governments, churches, and other social institutions cannot ignore those changes, as much as the Taliban or the Southern Baptists might wish otherwise. You can't put the genie back in the bottle.
However, we now live in a world where Christianity is a minority religion, or soon will be. In some places in the world Christians are persecuted. Yet the church--especially in the "West," but even in the so-called "Global South"--is still operating from a place that assumes Christianity is the social norm.
Our Christian Formation programs must begin to help us see the world around us realistically and equip us to live in it graciously and productively.
I'm not holding my breath, but as I Christian, I live in hope.
Peace,
Jeff
Presents a new paradigm for children’s ministry in the emerging church of the 21st century and explores current ways churches are putting that vision into practice.Yet Beckwith quotes John Westerhoff's 1976 Will Our Children Have Faith? and Gretchen Wolff Pritchard's 1992 Offering the Gospel to Children. Essentially, what she has to offer forward thinking Christian Educators and Formation Leaders have been saying for 30 years or more.
Basically this tells me is that the Emergent Church is even less aware of how children learn than I thought. It also tells me that not much has changed in the last 30 years in the area of Christian Education/Formation.
However, Beckwith does give one of the best explanations of the transition from modern to postmodern that I have encountered so far.
But these kinds of cultural shifts are never easy--or quick. When the world was moving from the Middle Ages to the Age of Reason, not everyone got there at the same time. People didn't wake up on January 1, 1700, look at their calendars, and say, "Goodness! Look at that! We've moved into the age of modernity." These cultural changes, while tumultuous and significant, are gradual.Not only has she pinpointed our culture's challenge, she has highlighted the problem the church finds itself confronting today. Some 400 years after the fact, the church has finally adapted to modern age only to find itself in a world very much like the one in which it was born. And it doesn't have the skills to cope.
And that's where we are now. We find ourselves in a world slowly leaning toward postmodern but still populated by a lot of people who hold a modern worldview. This leads to conflict and to at least one popular misconception about postmodernism. Lots of speakers and writers like to use the word postmodern and generational monikers like Generation X or millenial interchangeably. They treat the postmodern worldview as a life stage that one will likely outgrow as maturity settles in. (p. 21)
Obviously, our culture has a very different understanding of the physical world, genetics, and a host of other things about which the ancient world had little or no knowledge. Governments, churches, and other social institutions cannot ignore those changes, as much as the Taliban or the Southern Baptists might wish otherwise. You can't put the genie back in the bottle.
However, we now live in a world where Christianity is a minority religion, or soon will be. In some places in the world Christians are persecuted. Yet the church--especially in the "West," but even in the so-called "Global South"--is still operating from a place that assumes Christianity is the social norm.
Our Christian Formation programs must begin to help us see the world around us realistically and equip us to live in it graciously and productively.
I'm not holding my breath, but as I Christian, I live in hope.
Peace,
Jeff
Friday, July 10, 2009
Convention - If It's Day 4, It Must Be Friday
Good news this morning. The Education received three new resolutions for consideration:
D062 was written by the Education networks that work with my office and proposed by a deputy who is a member of the Education Committee. She spoke to the resolution, and when she pointed out the line item in the proposed Triennial Budget was approximately $24,000 per year, the committee gasped audibly. The committee passed the resolution with a minor change that corrected a wording problem. After they passed the resolution came some discussion about the online training that is available. I was called upon by the Bishops' Chair, Bishop John Rabb. I explained that yes, there is an online program for Safeguarding God's Children, but as a trainer and someone who has worked with survivors of abuse, it was not a good idea to use the online version for a first time training.
D064 calls for a Young Adult gathering in Geneva for the Churches in Europe. The title of the resolution is Youth Meeting in Europe, but the body of the resolution speaks of a Young Adult gathering and the Office of Young Adult Ministry. Later this morning I spoke with Jason, the Associate Program Officer for Young Adult and Campus Ministries. He told me that in Europe "youth" means "young adult." I let him know that the language would not be understood people here.
The major issue I and many of the educators here at Convention have with D064 is that they are asking for $50,000 for scholarships for a one-time event. That is half of my entire budget for the triennium and a quarter of the Adult Formation budget for the triennium. Tomorrow morning's meeting should be interesting.
The rest of today was light in terms of schedule. I spent most of the morning in the Church Center Staff Office on the second floor of the Convention Center. I checked email and filed off a bunch of email read over the past few days, since we can access the Church Center public drives from the computers set up in the office. I attended the daily Center Director Check-In, which is open to any staff free/available when it is held.
I went down to the worship hall early to assist with the arrival of the children. The movement of the Children's Program participants from place to place is much easier now that we've had a few days under our belts.
After lunch I dropped by the Discovery Center and had a chance to spend some time with Robyn Szoke who hired me at the Church Center seven years ago this month. It was good to catch up with her, and we're hoping to have some more time together while she's here.
The Children's Program came to the Discovery Center at 3:00 for story time with Nancy Tennyson and learned about bishops. Stephanie Wight assisted with the demonstration of a bishops' vestments. Here are two future bishops:
- D044 - Title IV Training
- D062 - Sexual Misconduct: Implementation of Sexual Abuse Misconduct Prevention Training
- D064 - Youth Meeting in Europe
D062 was written by the Education networks that work with my office and proposed by a deputy who is a member of the Education Committee. She spoke to the resolution, and when she pointed out the line item in the proposed Triennial Budget was approximately $24,000 per year, the committee gasped audibly. The committee passed the resolution with a minor change that corrected a wording problem. After they passed the resolution came some discussion about the online training that is available. I was called upon by the Bishops' Chair, Bishop John Rabb. I explained that yes, there is an online program for Safeguarding God's Children, but as a trainer and someone who has worked with survivors of abuse, it was not a good idea to use the online version for a first time training.
D064 calls for a Young Adult gathering in Geneva for the Churches in Europe. The title of the resolution is Youth Meeting in Europe, but the body of the resolution speaks of a Young Adult gathering and the Office of Young Adult Ministry. Later this morning I spoke with Jason, the Associate Program Officer for Young Adult and Campus Ministries. He told me that in Europe "youth" means "young adult." I let him know that the language would not be understood people here.
The major issue I and many of the educators here at Convention have with D064 is that they are asking for $50,000 for scholarships for a one-time event. That is half of my entire budget for the triennium and a quarter of the Adult Formation budget for the triennium. Tomorrow morning's meeting should be interesting.
The rest of today was light in terms of schedule. I spent most of the morning in the Church Center Staff Office on the second floor of the Convention Center. I checked email and filed off a bunch of email read over the past few days, since we can access the Church Center public drives from the computers set up in the office. I attended the daily Center Director Check-In, which is open to any staff free/available when it is held.
I went down to the worship hall early to assist with the arrival of the children. The movement of the Children's Program participants from place to place is much easier now that we've had a few days under our belts.
After lunch I dropped by the Discovery Center and had a chance to spend some time with Robyn Szoke who hired me at the Church Center seven years ago this month. It was good to catch up with her, and we're hoping to have some more time together while she's here.
The Children's Program came to the Discovery Center at 3:00 for story time with Nancy Tennyson and learned about bishops. Stephanie Wight assisted with the demonstration of a bishops' vestments. Here are two future bishops:
One of the great blessings to the Children's Program is the presence of staff from Camp Wrightwood. They adjusted their Summer Camp schedules and brought four of their young leaders to assist with the program. The directors have participated in the planning of the program from the beginning. The diocese is lucky to have these folks as part of their organization. Here is one of the young leaders in the tee shirt they all wear in various versions:
Good rules of the road for almost any situation, don't you think?
In other legislative news, A082, the Lifelong Formation Charter passed the House of Deputies with some minor changes. You can find the current version here. A084, Continued Development of A Province IX Curriculum, is also on its way to the House of Bishops. Resolution A085, Ministry of the Child, has been filed, but it has not yet been assigned to a committee.
I collected lots of buttons today, but not as many as the daughter of one of our volunteers. Emma Li had covered her hat with them and then filled it half-full with more. Her mother figures she will go home with one of every single button available at Convention. Three of these buttons are part of the series of four produced by the Older Adult Ministries network. I picked up the first one--a child's hand holding an older adult's hand--a couple of days ago. And I couldn't escape the EfM booth without one of their buttons.
Two of these buttons are from the organization pushing for 1% of the Episcopal Church's budget to go toward the Millennium Development Goals. Devon Anderson, executive director of Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation and a deputy to General Convention, is the daughter of House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson. My favorite of this group is the one from Heifer International that says "Love a Llama."
And here is the last of today's collection:
As a member of the Church Center Staff, I have to be very careful about buttons, etc., because it could be seen as advocating for something. This is especially important when it comes to any organization promoting anything that might be related to the work of my office. So I am not even wearing the Evangelism & Congregational Life button I have.
Joe and Trudy invited me to have dinner with them this evening. I had planned on attending the Integrity Eucharist, but after a week of ever increasing crowds, the last place I wanted to be was at one of the most heavily attended events of convention. We went to a Red Lobster not too far from the Convention Center, but far enough away that there were no other identifiable Episcopalians in sight during our meal. Time away with a couple of good friends was the perfect way to end my first week in Anaheim.
Even though tomorrow is Saturday, it is a work day. First up will be the 7:30 a.m. Education Committee meeting.
Peace,
Jeff
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Convention - Day 3
I keep a daily schedule that fits in my name badge holder. It starts out as one sheet of paper:
And is still one sheet of paper when I'm finished with it:
Go to http://www.pocketmod.com/ if you want to see how this works.
Two more views of the Discovery Center, so you can see what it looks like up and running:
This morning's legislative committee meetings began at 7:00 a.m. The Education Committee held hearings on D014, B013, C014, and A068. The resolution we thought might bring in a crowd was C014, which asks for a committee to develop a theology of Christian marriage. Only one persons testified, the deputy from the Diocese of El Camino Real who wrote the resolution. I think the committee may "kill" it. The rest of the meeting was spent deliberating on D014, a resolution on Environmental Justice.
During today's Eucharist, the Archbishop of Canterbury offered a meditation. I literally almost fell off my chair because I dozed off during the meditation. I was not the only one. Most of the people I spoke with were not impressed by the Archbishop.
This afternoon, since I was not needed in the Education Committee, I attended the Prayer Book and Liturgy Committee meeting where they were holding hearings on C019, C025, C041, C042, C004, C009, Co17, C028, C031, Co56, and D043, all of which dealt with same sex marriage or blessings. Testimony was less rancorous than in the past, fewer people than in the past signed up to testify, and everyone who signed up was able to testify. What really surprised me was that there were fewer con witnesses than pro. Most likely, these 11 resolutions will be merged into two--one addressing the Canons and one the issue of marriage.
Ruth-Ann attended the Education hearing where they deliberated on the Charter for Lifelong Formation. In the end, the committee changed four words before passing it and sending it on to the House of Deputies.
The final hearing of the day was this evening's Program, Budget, and Finance committee hearing on spending. I was disappointed in the way the chair handled the people who signed up to testify. To begin with, witnesses were not called in the order in which they signed up. She claimed she was trying to get a variety of issues in each group of 10 called. That was clearly not the case, as speakers for the Four Supported Dioceses (Native dioceses) outnumbered those on any other topic. Only two deputies who signed up to speak on formation issues were called. No visitors or guests were called.
My major disappointment so far is that children were dropped for the priorities. The priority where they should have been included states "youth and young adults." People you talk to say that "youth" includes all age groups under adults in their thinking. However, the way the Church Center offices are structured, "youth" does not include people under the age of 12.
Here are today's buttons. There are two batches. The second group is a set of buttons with faces of LBGTQ folks from around the world. Each button comes attached to a card with the person's story on it.
Peace,
Jeff
And is still one sheet of paper when I'm finished with it:
Go to http://www.pocketmod.com/ if you want to see how this works.Two more views of the Discovery Center, so you can see what it looks like up and running:
This morning's legislative committee meetings began at 7:00 a.m. The Education Committee held hearings on D014, B013, C014, and A068. The resolution we thought might bring in a crowd was C014, which asks for a committee to develop a theology of Christian marriage. Only one persons testified, the deputy from the Diocese of El Camino Real who wrote the resolution. I think the committee may "kill" it. The rest of the meeting was spent deliberating on D014, a resolution on Environmental Justice.
During today's Eucharist, the Archbishop of Canterbury offered a meditation. I literally almost fell off my chair because I dozed off during the meditation. I was not the only one. Most of the people I spoke with were not impressed by the Archbishop.
This afternoon, since I was not needed in the Education Committee, I attended the Prayer Book and Liturgy Committee meeting where they were holding hearings on C019, C025, C041, C042, C004, C009, Co17, C028, C031, Co56, and D043, all of which dealt with same sex marriage or blessings. Testimony was less rancorous than in the past, fewer people than in the past signed up to testify, and everyone who signed up was able to testify. What really surprised me was that there were fewer con witnesses than pro. Most likely, these 11 resolutions will be merged into two--one addressing the Canons and one the issue of marriage.
Ruth-Ann attended the Education hearing where they deliberated on the Charter for Lifelong Formation. In the end, the committee changed four words before passing it and sending it on to the House of Deputies.
The final hearing of the day was this evening's Program, Budget, and Finance committee hearing on spending. I was disappointed in the way the chair handled the people who signed up to testify. To begin with, witnesses were not called in the order in which they signed up. She claimed she was trying to get a variety of issues in each group of 10 called. That was clearly not the case, as speakers for the Four Supported Dioceses (Native dioceses) outnumbered those on any other topic. Only two deputies who signed up to speak on formation issues were called. No visitors or guests were called.
My major disappointment so far is that children were dropped for the priorities. The priority where they should have been included states "youth and young adults." People you talk to say that "youth" includes all age groups under adults in their thinking. However, the way the Church Center offices are structured, "youth" does not include people under the age of 12.
Here are today's buttons. There are two batches. The second group is a set of buttons with faces of LBGTQ folks from around the world. Each button comes attached to a card with the person's story on it.
Peace,
Jeff
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Convention - Day 2
In spite of the fact that today was the second day of General Convention, we had our Opening Eucharist this morning. The children are in the Hilton, one of two hotels right by the Convention Center, so they processed from the lobby of the Hilton and into the worship hall. Here they are entering the Convention Center.
Here they are entering the worship hall:
Everywhere they go, the children become a photo op. Great. Let's show them off, but then they disappear from everyone's radar screen. It's kind of like those churches where the kids are in Sunday School while their parents are in church, except for one Sunday a month where they get brought up to the front of the church for the "children's homily." Given the proposed budget for the next triennium, there won't be a lot of work coming out of the Children's Formation Office, and most of the budget for 2012 will go to the Children's Program at the 77th General Convention, where once again they will become a photo op.
We had our first protesters today--three men shouting at convention participants. When I passed by they were yelling something about the "adulterer Clinton." Some of the local people we spoke to said this bunch are local crazies that picket just about every kind of church, no matter what their political or theological point of view.
I attended two hearings of the Education Committee. They cancelled the evening hearing so people could go hear the Archbishop of Canterbury speak. Quite frankly, there was no reason for me to be at the hearings. None of the resolutions assigned to the committee deal with children. In fact, no proposed resolutions deal with concern children or the work of my office. The committee called on Ruth-Ann several times to provide information on resolutions they were deliberating upon. Most of their discussion dealt with Resolution A082, the Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation. When the broke into sub committees, Ruth-Ann and Keane, vice chair of the Standing Commission on Lifelong Christian Education and Formation, remained to serve as resources for them.
MerLynne and I went to the Exhibit Hall and wandered around. We stopped by the St. Nicholas Center booth and picked up a bunch of information. At Forward Movement we picked up some samples that we can pass on to folks at home. We looked at a variety of arts and crafts. Here is today's collection of buttons:
This evening I had dinner with the Children's Program Staff. A local parish, the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Placentia, hosted us for lasagna, salad, wine, coffee and soy sorbet. It was a treat for the staff to sit at a real table and eat from real dishes with real stainless utensils.
Tomorrow's hearing begins at 7:00 a.m., so I'm off to bed.
Peace,
Jeff
Here they are entering the worship hall:
Everywhere they go, the children become a photo op. Great. Let's show them off, but then they disappear from everyone's radar screen. It's kind of like those churches where the kids are in Sunday School while their parents are in church, except for one Sunday a month where they get brought up to the front of the church for the "children's homily." Given the proposed budget for the next triennium, there won't be a lot of work coming out of the Children's Formation Office, and most of the budget for 2012 will go to the Children's Program at the 77th General Convention, where once again they will become a photo op.
We had our first protesters today--three men shouting at convention participants. When I passed by they were yelling something about the "adulterer Clinton." Some of the local people we spoke to said this bunch are local crazies that picket just about every kind of church, no matter what their political or theological point of view.
I attended two hearings of the Education Committee. They cancelled the evening hearing so people could go hear the Archbishop of Canterbury speak. Quite frankly, there was no reason for me to be at the hearings. None of the resolutions assigned to the committee deal with children. In fact, no proposed resolutions deal with concern children or the work of my office. The committee called on Ruth-Ann several times to provide information on resolutions they were deliberating upon. Most of their discussion dealt with Resolution A082, the Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation. When the broke into sub committees, Ruth-Ann and Keane, vice chair of the Standing Commission on Lifelong Christian Education and Formation, remained to serve as resources for them.
MerLynne and I went to the Exhibit Hall and wandered around. We stopped by the St. Nicholas Center booth and picked up a bunch of information. At Forward Movement we picked up some samples that we can pass on to folks at home. We looked at a variety of arts and crafts. Here is today's collection of buttons:
This evening I had dinner with the Children's Program Staff. A local parish, the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Placentia, hosted us for lasagna, salad, wine, coffee and soy sorbet. It was a treat for the staff to sit at a real table and eat from real dishes with real stainless utensils.
Tomorrow's hearing begins at 7:00 a.m., so I'm off to bed.
Peace,
Jeff
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Convention Day 1
Convention has begun, although it is still gearing up. My day started with the first Education Committee hearing at 8:00 this morning. The committee--as most committees are--is a cognate committee. Officially, there are two separate committees meeting in the room, one for the House of Bishops and one for the House of Deputies. However, they operate as one committee except when it comes to voting. The morning session was devoted to introductions, explanation of procedures and scheduling. Scott Evenbek, the Deputies Chair, asked the committee members and visitors to spend time in pairs discussing with each other the following question:
What was the most powerful event in your Christian Formation?
Each member of the pair introduced the other to the entire group, including we visitors. After introductions, John Rabb, the Bishops Chair, ran through the nuts and bolts of how things worked. That was followed by a discussion of the Resolutions assigned to the committee and developing a hearing schedule.
At one point during the meeting a runner came in with a message, which he handed to John, who handed it to Scott. Scott then read it to the committee. "Committees can ask for only one power strip."
The hearing schedule is as follows (as amended at this evening's hearing):
Tuesday July 7 - 7:00 p.m.
And here is the Discovery Center fully together and just before the Native American Smudging Ceremony opening the Center. Pictures were not allowed during the sacred ceremony.
Ruth-Ann and I had to leave after the first portion of the ceremony to run upstairs to the Program, Budget, and Finance Committee hearing. This was an important hearing because it was the meeting where the committee asked for input regarding the priorities of the Episcopal Church for the next triennium. It was clear that the Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation were once again well organized to push for continuation of the Millennium Development Goals as a top priority. Two speakers did speak to the inclusion of Formation, but were far outnumbered. We can only wait and see what comes out of the committee later this week.
I had half an hour for lunch and decided to eat at the concession in the Exhibit Hall. The food was actually pretty good and not all that expensive. The short lunch period was due to my shift at the Church Center booth from 2:00 to 4:00. It wasn't very busy, because there was a legislative session.
I went from the booth to the Children's Program to check in and see how things were going. I also spent a few minutes with the toddlers who were having a grand time in their room.
And, of course, what would convention be without the collecting of STUFF. Here is my first day's accumulation of buttons:
Today shouldn't be as busy, but one never knows what can happen in committees or legislative sessions.
Peace,
Jeff
What was the most powerful event in your Christian Formation?
Each member of the pair introduced the other to the entire group, including we visitors. After introductions, John Rabb, the Bishops Chair, ran through the nuts and bolts of how things worked. That was followed by a discussion of the Resolutions assigned to the committee and developing a hearing schedule.
At one point during the meeting a runner came in with a message, which he handed to John, who handed it to Scott. Scott then read it to the committee. "Committees can ask for only one power strip."
The hearing schedule is as follows (as amended at this evening's hearing):
Tuesday July 7 - 7:00 p.m.
- A161: AIDS Education and Resources
- A182: Continue Forward Movement
- A163: AIDS Education Materials (I don't have the full name handy)
- A082: Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation
- A083: Directive for Dioceses to Formulate a Strategy for Lifelong Christian Formation in the Next Triennium
- B003: Camping Ministries
- C014: Theological Study of Christian Marriage (this could be a hot topic one)
- A068: Reconciliation Training
- D014: Environmental Justice
- B013: Equipping the Baptized for Ministry in TEC
And here is the Discovery Center fully together and just before the Native American Smudging Ceremony opening the Center. Pictures were not allowed during the sacred ceremony.
Ruth-Ann and I had to leave after the first portion of the ceremony to run upstairs to the Program, Budget, and Finance Committee hearing. This was an important hearing because it was the meeting where the committee asked for input regarding the priorities of the Episcopal Church for the next triennium. It was clear that the Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation were once again well organized to push for continuation of the Millennium Development Goals as a top priority. Two speakers did speak to the inclusion of Formation, but were far outnumbered. We can only wait and see what comes out of the committee later this week.I had half an hour for lunch and decided to eat at the concession in the Exhibit Hall. The food was actually pretty good and not all that expensive. The short lunch period was due to my shift at the Church Center booth from 2:00 to 4:00. It wasn't very busy, because there was a legislative session.
I went from the booth to the Children's Program to check in and see how things were going. I also spent a few minutes with the toddlers who were having a grand time in their room.
And, of course, what would convention be without the collecting of STUFF. Here is my first day's accumulation of buttons:
Today shouldn't be as busy, but one never knows what can happen in committees or legislative sessions.Peace,
Jeff
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
17 Days And Counting
In just over two weeks--on July 4th, to be exact--I fly to the Orange County John Wayne Airport to spend two weeks in Anaheim, California. No, I will not be spending two weeks at Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, or any of the other tourist attractions. I will be spending two weeks ensconced in the Anaheim Convention Center, the Anaheim Hilton, and the Anaheim Hyatt. Why? The 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church takes place in Anaheim July 8–17.
Why am I flying out on July 4th, four days early? As the Associate Program Officer for Children's Formation, I will be participating in the set up of the Children's and Infants' & Toddler's Programs in the Hyatt as well as the Discovery Center in the Convention Exhibit Hall. For the first time since we began the Children's program, it will actually be located on site, rather than in a local church six blocks or a mile away from the convention center. Of course, this poses new issues and challenges, including coping with hotel catering prices and policies regarding the bringing in of outside food and beverages.
This is the third General Convention I will attend, and it will be the first I attend as program staff. That means attending the meetings of the Education Legislative Committee as a resource for the committee members and tracking pieces of legislation (resolutions) affecting the Formation offices of the Church Center as they make their way through the legislative process. Along with resolutions pertaining to education and formation issues, I will also be tracking resolutions that affect lbgtq people, because we have no official office at the Church Center. There are over a dozen dealing with Resolution 2006-B003 (the infamous "Manner of Life" resolution) and an almost equal number dealing with same sex marriage.
And why am I staying an extra day? Because on the 18th the Diocese of Los Angeles committee that is doing most of the work on the Children's Program is planning a day at Disneyland.
Peace,
Jeff
Why am I flying out on July 4th, four days early? As the Associate Program Officer for Children's Formation, I will be participating in the set up of the Children's and Infants' & Toddler's Programs in the Hyatt as well as the Discovery Center in the Convention Exhibit Hall. For the first time since we began the Children's program, it will actually be located on site, rather than in a local church six blocks or a mile away from the convention center. Of course, this poses new issues and challenges, including coping with hotel catering prices and policies regarding the bringing in of outside food and beverages.
This is the third General Convention I will attend, and it will be the first I attend as program staff. That means attending the meetings of the Education Legislative Committee as a resource for the committee members and tracking pieces of legislation (resolutions) affecting the Formation offices of the Church Center as they make their way through the legislative process. Along with resolutions pertaining to education and formation issues, I will also be tracking resolutions that affect lbgtq people, because we have no official office at the Church Center. There are over a dozen dealing with Resolution 2006-B003 (the infamous "Manner of Life" resolution) and an almost equal number dealing with same sex marriage.
And why am I staying an extra day? Because on the 18th the Diocese of Los Angeles committee that is doing most of the work on the Children's Program is planning a day at Disneyland.
Peace,
Jeff
Monday, January 19, 2009
Catechism
cat*e*chism (kat' ǐ-kǐz' əm) n. 1. A book giving a brief summary of the basic principles of Christianity in question-and-answer form. 2. A manual giving basic instruction in a subject. 3. A body of fundamental principles or beliefs, esp. when accepted uncritically. 4. A close questioning or examination, as of a political figure.
--The American Heritage College Dictionary, 4th ed., 2002.
Who knew?
We do have one in the Episcopal Church. Honestly. It's on page 843 of our Book of Common Prayer. Although it's titled "An Outline of the Faith, commonly called the Catechism." Most of the church doesn't seem to pay much attention to it except in relation to Confirmation. Occasionally it will get pulled out when teaching new folks about our church. We used it in my confirmation class as a beginning place for discussion. I was 29 at the time, and if I found it boring, I can only imagine what teenagers think of it.
From time to time I refer to it in the course of my work as the Children's Formation Officer for the Episcopal Church. And sometimes I bring it up in conversations, especially when I get on my "the Episcopal Church doesn't believe its own Prayer Book" soap box.
If we're going to teach about Christianity and the Episcopal Church, then we need to think outside the book. The book is a great starting place, but let's face it, not everyone learns by reading, and even those of us that do are not held by the rote repetition of the Catechism. So what do I mean by outside the book? If you're not already familiar with Father Matthew Presents, I suggest you go to YouTube and check him out. We ought to be including his videos in Confirmation classes, newcomer classes, and quite frankly, many of our Christian Education/Formation programs.
Here is just one example of his work, and while it's not typical of it, it is a powerful piece.
Peace,
Jeff
(278)
--The American Heritage College Dictionary, 4th ed., 2002.
Who knew?
We do have one in the Episcopal Church. Honestly. It's on page 843 of our Book of Common Prayer. Although it's titled "An Outline of the Faith, commonly called the Catechism." Most of the church doesn't seem to pay much attention to it except in relation to Confirmation. Occasionally it will get pulled out when teaching new folks about our church. We used it in my confirmation class as a beginning place for discussion. I was 29 at the time, and if I found it boring, I can only imagine what teenagers think of it.
From time to time I refer to it in the course of my work as the Children's Formation Officer for the Episcopal Church. And sometimes I bring it up in conversations, especially when I get on my "the Episcopal Church doesn't believe its own Prayer Book" soap box.
If we're going to teach about Christianity and the Episcopal Church, then we need to think outside the book. The book is a great starting place, but let's face it, not everyone learns by reading, and even those of us that do are not held by the rote repetition of the Catechism. So what do I mean by outside the book? If you're not already familiar with Father Matthew Presents, I suggest you go to YouTube and check him out. We ought to be including his videos in Confirmation classes, newcomer classes, and quite frankly, many of our Christian Education/Formation programs.
Here is just one example of his work, and while it's not typical of it, it is a powerful piece.
Peace,
Jeff
(278)
Monday, July 28, 2008
Some Thoughts About Work
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until it was all leavened. (Matthew 11:33)Yesterday during Lois' sermon, I had a realization about working at the Church Center in this time of transition. The upper levels of management seem to think that the staff ought to be the flour being leavened by the church, instead of the other way around. That's an awful lot of leaven for a staff of approximately 200.
The new watch words seem to be "listen and learn best practices." I think this phrase is, or will be, in most job descriptions of the Evangelism & Congregational Life Center by the time we finish the writing process. Those of us who were serious about our work for the church have always been listening and learning so that we can share new resources, ideas, etc. with our networks and the larger church. The assumption, however, is that we have not.
The assumption is that the Church Center staff has not been doing its job, and that we have imposed on the church things they do not want or need. During the "research phase" leading up to the recent reorganization, the management listened to the complaints without listening to the compliments. They probably heard both, but only really listened to the complaints. I feel as if those of us on staff at the Episcopal Church Center are tref, unclean, defiled, and in danger of making the church unclean. It is not a comfortable feeling.
Those of us doing the Formation/Christian Education work in the Evangelism & Congregational Life Center--let me make this an "I statement"--I feel that the I as a staff person responsible for formation and education am being called upon to focus so much on evangelism that the formation piece is in danger of disappearing. It is because the Episcopal Church as a whole has not done a very good job of teaching newcomers--especially those from other denominations--what it means to be Episcopalian that we have this current tempest in a teapot in the Anglican Communion. Somebody has to be responsible for the teaching once the evangelising is done. That isn't to say that I shouldn't be reaching out to those outside the institutional church. But at what point do we say, "We ARE Episcopalians!"?
And where is the line which has to be drawn to preserve my integrity?
Peace,
Jeffri
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