Ready, Teddy GodReady, Teddy Godtheology and practice of theology and practice of

Christian EducationChristian Education

with with Leslie J FrancisLeslie J Francis

A presentation in three A presentation in three partsparts

Part threePart three

Education for Education for discipleshipdiscipleship

The Craft Show

On Saturday afternoon Betsy Bear visits the local craft show.

The Craft Show

Betsy Bear watches the potter turn the wheel and sees the pots take shape.

The Craft Show

Betsy Bear watches the weaver at the loom and sees the cloth take shape.

The Craft Show

Betsy Bear watches the carver chiselling wood and sees the carving take shape.

The Craft Show

Betsy Bear watches the jeweller threading beads and sees the necklace take shape.

The Craft Show

Betsy Bear sees God’s handiwork in all the world around her.

Betsy Bear sees the changing pattern of the sky, so delicate and fine. She gives thanks for the skill and care of God the Creator.

So what is education So what is education for discipleship?for discipleship?

How is it done?How is it done?

The classic bookBaptism, Eucharist and Ministry

Faith and Order Paper 111World Council for Churches,

1982

Baptism

Eucharist

Ministry

Meets Jesus’ Disciples

Teddy Horsley’s church helps him to understand how the stories of Jesus illuminate the experience of the young bear who comes to worship on a Sunday.

Meets Jesus’ Disciples

Teddy Horsley discovers the link between: the call of Simon and Andrew; the call of James and John; the call of Levi; his own call to follow Jesus.

So what is education So what is education for discipleship?for discipleship?

How is it done?How is it done?

The new bookChildren, Churches and

Christian Learning

Leslie J Francis and Jeff AstleySPCK, 2002

Christian learning

Formation Education Celebration

Systematic theologycreation

Systematic theologyfall

Systematic theologyredemption

Systematic theologysanctification

Introducing four projects

Exploring Faith Called to Share Faith Sunday Gospels with Teddy Horsley Psychology and Biblical Hermeneutics

Exploring FaithExploring Faith

Aims

Develop a learning church Education for discipleship Platform for ministry Secular accreditation

Exploring Faith

Certificate of Higher Education 12 ten-credit modules

Exploring Faith

Books by Darton, Longman and Todd 14 titles Adult education principles

Each book

Ten chapters of 4,000 words Reflection on experience Information Exercises

Exploring Faith

Shaping the Tools: study skills in theology Choosing Life? Christianity and moral

problems God’s world Exploring God Talk Using the Bible: studying the text Communication and the Gospel Literature in Christian Perspective

Exploring Faith

Being Anglican Ministry and Priesthood God’s Here and Now: social contexts of

ministry Faith and Feminism The Authority of the Bible Living Theology Faith and Psychology

SCM

Old Testament New Testament

and so on

Method

Five sessions Prepared exercises Local education group facilitator Regional Saturday school

Assessment

3,000 words Six at 250 words One at 1,500 words

Cost

Church covers delivery University covers assessment

When I started the course, two years ago I felt so nervous and unsure. I had no formal education and each time I presented work for assessment I panicked.

I never thought I could do it with a farm, four children and a husband but here I am with my degree

Exploring Faith provided me with the confidence I needed to go on and study for a degree full-time.

Called to Share Called to Share FaithFaith

Aims

Enhance status of children’s ministry

Enhance quality of children’s ministry

Align with other ministries Secular accreditation

Called to Share Faith

Certificate of Higher Education Building on Exploring Faith

Called to Share Faith

Modules by the Welsh National Centre for Religious Education

Nine titles Adult education principles

Called to Share Faith

Choose six Called to Share Faith modules

Choose six Exploring Faith modules

Two access modules

Core Skills Developing Ministry with Children Working with Children

Core Module 1

Child Development and Faith

The development of the pre-school child

The development of the primary school child

The development of the adolescent Faith development Caring for children’s needs

Core Module 2

Ministry Among Children

Models of ministry Ministry and motivation Ministry and management Ministry and communication Ministry and the bible

Core Module 3

Children in the Church

The Sunday school movement Baptism and initiation Children and communion Children and all age worship Becoming an adult member of the

church

Core Module 4

Children Growing in Faith

Children and the bible Children and prayer Children and the church Children and stories of faith Children and the lectionary

Core Module 5

Ministry, Faith and Skills

Ministry and professional skills Ministry and personal faith Ministry and child protection Ministry and the lectionary Ministry and the Sunday gospel

Core Module 6

Ministry and Educational Practice

Ministry through story telling Ministry through dance and drama Ministry through art and craft Ministry through music Ministry through play and games

Core Module 7

Introduction to Godly Play

Module under development

Sunday GospelsSunday Gospelswithwith

Teddy HorsleyTeddy Horsley

Aims

Enhance appreciation of scripture Study scripture Apply scripture Celebrate with scripture

Sunday Gospels with Teddy Horsley Unify children’s ministries and adult ministries Link personal experience and text Listening to faith Shaping faith

Sunday Gospels with Teddy Horsley Revised Common Lectionary 171 gospel passages 171 concrete images

Sunday Gospels with Teddy Horsley Introduce the Gospel theme Identify the concrete image Explore the image with children Explore the image with adults Celebrating together

Method of working

Parents at home Sunday sessions for children Weekday evening sessions Special project days Association with schools

Practical example

Pentecost 17, year one Matthew 18:21-35 Gospel theme = forgiveness Concrete theme = mender

Gospel theme Forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-35)

In chapter 18 Matthew presents a block of teaching concerned with the relationship among Christians, or life in the church. After dealing with the need to recall sinners to repentance and seeking the lost, Matthew turns attention to the issue of forgiveness. Christians are people who have been forgiven much by God and should, therefore, go on showing forgiveness to others. The point is made in the parable of the slave who was forgiven a large debt but who refused himself to forgive a small debt. To forgive is to mend and to restore relationships.

We can begin to experience the significance of Matthew's teaching on forgiveness by exploring our own experiences of mending and of the mender.

Aims

to build on our experiences of people who mend and restore things;

to help us see forgiveness as mending relationships;

to want to be forgiving people.

EXPLORING WITH CHILDREN

Starting

Look at something broken and in need of repair.

Discuss this, drawing out ideas of: how it could be mended; broken things around the house; how they are mended and who mends them; how we feel when a precious object is repaired; sometimes our friendships need mending.

Talking points

Look at Jesus' story from Matthew about forgiveness. Talk with the children about the significance of this. You could include the following points: Jesus said it is important to forgive; the first slave was forgiven a lot of money; he refused to forgive a small amount; God has forgiven us; we should forgive and mend relationships.

Activities

Dress up as menders - builder, mechanic, shoe repairer, etc.

Act out Jesus' story of the unforgiving servant.

Prepare thank you cards to give to a person who has mended something for you.

Display

Today's theme is forgiveness. Jesus said to forgive and forgive again. Dear God, help us to be forgiving people. Forgiveness mends broken friendships. Our work today is about the mender.

EXPLORING WITH ADULTS

Experience

What are your experiences of people who mend and restore things?

What are your experiences of restored relationships?

How useful is the image of the mender to illuminate forgiveness?

Gospel

What does this gospel say about forgiveness?

How do you interpret this message for today? What do you understand by the number

seventy-seven?

Application

How can the church help people to forgive? How can you become more forgiving? How can the worship of the church promote

forgiveness?

CELEBRATING TOGETHER

Welcoming children

At an appropriate point in the service invite the children to present their work on the mender. At the Peace a special point can be made of restoring broken relationships. If the children have dressed themselves as menders, they can be invited to share in the Peace dressed in this way.

Psychology and Biblical Psychology and Biblical HermeneuticsHermeneutics

Aims

To hear scripture To apply scripture To give weight to the context of the

hearer To value a theology of individual

differences

Scripture mandate

The Great Command To love God with all your mind

A model of mind

Sensing Intuition Feeling Thinking

Sensing perspective

Facts and details Close study of all data Research into the context Research into the commentaries

Intuitive perspective

Ideas and inspirations Links and possibilities Speculation Bigger picture

Feeling perspective

Human values Interpersonal relationships Empathy with the people Desire for concensus

Thinking perspective

Matters of truth Theological concerns Interrogation of issues Desire for fairness

So what is education So what is education for discipleship?for discipleship?

How is it done?How is it done?

A presentation in three A presentation in three partsparts

Part ThreePart Three

Education for Education for discipleshipdiscipleship