Christian Education/ SYMPOSIUM
more than a pulpit ministry; it’s a greatly expanded educational min istry. Pastors are sensing that they must he interested in the Sunday school, in the youth organizations and the other educational outlets of their church. One thing that points this up is the increased inclusion of courses in Christian education in our semi naries. Ten years ago many of our leading evangelical schools had no courses whatever in the field of Christian education. Now because courses are required and electives are provided in this field, many seminary trained men are going into a church to develop a signifi cant program of education. Pastors’ conferences and semi nars are being provided by a num ber of our publishing houses during the summer. The pastor comes at their invitation to participate in workshops and to hear talks in this developing field. Although there is a great deal of land yet to be pos sessed, it foretells a good future for the work of Christian education. I earnestly believe that the pastor is the key to the educational program of a local church. If he is not pre pared to promote a program of edu cation at the local level, there is no program. Mr. Sholund: As pastors become increasingly aware of the complex ity of the ministry in terms of the average community, they also real ize that they have a limited amount of time. I think that the average church rightly believes and under stands that when a minister is called, he is called to minister the Word and to provide spiritual serv ice. There are so many hours a day to do that. The job isn’t very well done unless the man is prepared every week to do it. So theoretically it takes 20 hours per week for a minister to be well prepared in all
if play practices could be scheduled at another time. The principal acted immediately to clear Sunday mornings of school functions. Dr. Clyde Narramore, consultant in E du ca tion and Psychology, points out that those who have an influence upon their local public schools know the leaders. He rec ommends that the Christian church leader take the initiative in getting acquainted with school leaders. The desire to understand and cooperate with the public school makes a first hand fellowship contact important whether it is a telephone call, a luncheon engagement or an office chat. Continued contacts may lead to a voice on some school commit tee, parent-conference committee or school board. Here the value of a good solid thinking person brings credit to the name of Christ. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit people so touched may be quick ened in their response to the Sav iour as well. Question: What part should en lightened pastors have in further ing the educational work of the church? Mr. Hendricks: One of the most encouraging trends that I observe today is the trend toward pastors realizing that their job is far more than merely preaching. It’s far Dr. Charles L. Feinberg, Director of the Talbot Theological Seminary, asked the questions in this sympos ium article of three leaders in the Christian education field: Miss Thelma Bain, Assistant Pro fessor of Christian Education, Biola College. Rev. Howard Hendricks, repre senting Scripture Press and Profes sor of Practical Theology, Dallas Theological Seminary. Rev. Milford Sholund, Director of Research, Gospel Light Press.
Question: In recent conferences it has been brought to my attention that some public schools are plan ning and arranging certain school functions or extracurricular activ ities on Sunday morning. Young people are thus taken out of the Sunday school. The question arises as to whether one wants to be a so-called “ good citizen” and let it go without hatting an eyelash or whether the individual who has charge of Christian education in the local church wants to do something to counteract this problem. How do we go about this? M iss Bain: This is not an isolated example. When the Job’s Daugh ters, a girls’ club organization, start ed encroaching on Sunday morning at a Southern California church several years ago the pastor’s wife called the head of the organization. They were personal friends. The pastor’s wife valued the leader’s friendship and reminded her that they were both in the business of character building. Graciously she explained that their lead time to do the church’s work was on Sunday morning in Sunday school and that they would appreciate it very much if Job’s Daughters would cooperate with them in freeing this time. In this particular instance it meant that they had no further difficulty of this nature with Job’s Daughters. In the case of Hollywood High School where they were scheduling practices for the school play during the Sunday morning hour, Dr. Louis Evans who was then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, called the school principal. Dr. Evans reminded the principal that juvenile delinquency was a very great problem in Holly wood. He explained that the church was doing its best to use the Sunday morning time effectively for youth and that they would appreciate it
16
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker