Joint Educational Development Projects
Diocesan Press Service. May 31, 1972 [72065]
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- More than 4 million Sunday school students throughout the United States will become part of an interdenominational Christian education network in the next three years, although they may never know it's happening.
Christian education executives of six Protestant denominations announced here recently the launching of 21 cooperative projects under the Joint Educational Development partnership (JED) which includes the Christian Church (Disciples), Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church in the U.S., Reformed Church in America, United Church of Christ and United Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
By 1975 it is expected that any national Christian education staff person will be able to assist congregations of all of the six denominations, according to Dr. Oscar J. Hussel, Philadelphia, executive of the United Presbyterian Board of Christian Education, and chairman of the joint executive committee.
Development of a comprehensive set of principles for future joint curriculum work of the partners has been assigned to a task force on " educational systems." The Rev. Ray Henthorne, of the Disciples staff in St. Louis was appointed to head the group which will also be responsible for assessing the present educational programs, curricula and other materials of the denominations.
The JED executive committee reacted favorably to a proposal by the United Church of Christ for a "Shalom curriculum," an informal plan for a year of study, worship and action on peace and justice in all parts of a congregation's life. The project is under the direction of the Rev. Edward A. Powers, head of the Christian Education Division of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries. The other denominations were encouraged to find "appropriate " ways of participating.
Each of the projects involves three or more of the six partners who have agreed to contribute staff or money or both. Most are expected to be completed before 1975. National publishing agencies of the churches as well as Christian Education organizations are involved in the process. Other (non-JED) denominations have joined in some of the projects.
Named co-chairmen of a committee to plan the 1973 convention for all professional Christian educators of the partner denominations were the Rev. Eleanor H. Allen, minister of Christian Education at First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ), Oak Park, Ill., and the Rev. E. Emerson Brokaw, of the Christian Education staff of the Disciples in Indianapolis. Called the National Event for Christian Educators, it is scheduled to take place in Houston, Texas, Feb. 4-8, 1973.
The Rev. Arthur M. Field, Jr., of the Presbyterian Church, U.S. staff in Richmond, Va., was named project director for a quarterly publication called SHARE in which the denominations will exchange ideas, programs, resources. Ms. Norma Koenig, Philadelphia, United Church of Christ, is the editor. First issue is expected this Spring.
JED projects in which the Episcopal Church is involved are:
* National Staff Equipped to Serve all Partners -- a communication process designed to equip and utilize national staff persons to function on behalf of all partnership denominations in all geographical areas in which they work.
* Facilitating Cooperation Among Area Staff Educators -- strategies for small teams of 2 or 3 national staff negotiating with denominational staff with area or regional responsibilities to jointly devise strategies for an area where there is a desire to develop coordination and/or cooperation in educational work.
* Youth Empowerment Teams -- In each of 3 judicatories a 4-member team of youth (14-24) employed and trained, together with their contemporaries and their adult advocates, to engage in developing a variety of strategies and activities designed to enhance the presence of the younger generation in the ministries of the church; a 2-year pilot.
* Resourcing Youth Ministry -- From a survey of presently available resource materials for youth ministry, to establish a catalogue of the best products for use in youth ministry, and to suggest areas in which other resource materials need to be developed to provide a spectrum of resources in various media.
* Black Church Education -- A 3-pronged approach, including the development by an interdisciplinary team of guidelines for doing education in the Black Church, the development of new designs for doing education in Black churches, and four regional leader development events for clergy and lay people to equip them to train others for leadership in education in Black churches.
* National Event for Christian Educators 1973 -- A meeting for all professional church educators of the partner denominations -- local, area or state, and national levels -- for professional development to be held in early 1973.
* SHARE -- A quarterly exchange of Christian Education ideas, programs, resources and concerns.
* Leadership Development System for Church Education in Appalachia -- Development and testing of appropriate ways to support and foster Christian faith in light of Appalachian culture.
* Educational Systems -- Development of a comprehensive pluralistic set of principles to guide joint educational ministries and resources of the partner denominations.