The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church— Department of Christian Education Making disciples through "events that form and transform"
Volume MMX - Issue III - March 2010
Points of Interest:
Memories from the 4th Annual Christian Educator’s Retreat — Dr. Willa Ross
The Great Gathering March 1 - March 3 WMS Executive Council March 3 - March 6 Young Adult FOCUS Retreat May 27 – May 30
Inside this issue: Youth & Young Adult Week
2
Right Formula for Mission
2
Theology of Leadership
4
The Great Gathering
5
Resurrection?
6
CED Retreat
5
The Great Gathering
5
Resurrection
6
VBS: Praise Party
7
CED Curriculum
7
YA FOCUS Retreat
8
Christian Educators from across the Connection gathered together this past weekend in Memphis, Tennessee for the 4th Annual Christian Educator’s Retreat hosted by Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield, General Secretary of Christian Education and staff. Christian Educators from Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee participated in Saturday’s event which took place at the CME Headquarters. The theme for this year’s retreat was Discipleship: Equipping Active and Relevant Local Boards of Christian Education Several out of town participants were
inspired by the visit to the Slave Haven on Friday, February 19th where tour guides informed them about details slaves travelling the Underground Railroad. This former home of the Burke Family located in Memphis, Tennessee had been a stop for slaves travelling to Freedom. The Slave Haven also known as the Burke Estate Museum provides information and details on the slave trade, runaway slaves, message systems and travel
patterns for those who travelled the Underground Railroad. On Saturday participants gathered at the C.M.E. Headquarters in the offices space of the Department of Christian Education for a time of spirited worship led by Rev. Juanita Payne, followed by a time of sharing of Christian Educators and small groups. Focused presentations after lunch included:
Cont’d on Page 3
Sunday School Resource Available Online (www.thecmechurchced.org) The Department of Christian Education provides notes from the Committee on Uniform Series that prepares associated Sunday School lesson outlines long in advance of their usage. Included in this Guide are thoughts that are reflected in the Lesson Development Guide for writers of Sunday
school lessons and the recommended commentary of the Department of Christian Education, The New International Lesson Annual published by Abingdon Press Nashville, Tennessee. Send an email to sundayschool@thecmechurchced.org to receive these notes electronically
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church—Department of Christian Education
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CYYAW Review—Turning the World Upside Down Local churches across the Connectional Church celebrated Connectional Youth and Young Adult Week during the week January 31 – February 7, 2010. The Department prepared a Resource Guide entitled Disciples Called to Turn the World Upside Down which included activities, recommended worship services, litanies, and prayers to be used in local churches during the week.
Formation + Nurture + Leadership = Mission
One of the highlights of the week was the Youth Prayer Calls where youth were invited to call in and join in daily during from February 5 – February 7, 2010. The calls were open to youth during eight different time slots daily. Prayer requests could also be submitted on-line on Facebook. This activity was designed and coordinated by the Interim Connectional Director of Youth Ministry, Rev. Cyreeta Collins. In addition local CYF Groups were asked to participate in Souper Bowl Sunday by collecting donations for the Tenth Episcopal District Haiti Relief Fund. Groups were asked to report
their collections at www.souperbowl.org in order that a national total could be determined for the C.M.E. Church To date, a total of eight CYF groups have reported to Souper Bowl of Caring for a total amount of $2,262.00 and 75 youth participating. So far, the Champions for Christ are the leading CME Contributors with $914. They are members of the College Park CME Church in College Park, Ga. If your CYF group has not made its report to Souper Bowl of Caring, please do so immediately (www.souperbowlsunday.org). The Youth Vice-President’s Council under the leadership of Rev. Collins initiated the Matthew 25/35 Project in which youth groups have been asked to collect monetary donations which will go toward purchasing much needed food for Haitian families. The plan is to sponsor a Youth Mission trip in the Spring to Haiti in an effort to deliver and distribute the foods. The goal set by the Youth Vice President’s Council is $25,350.00. The following churches have contributed thus far to
The Right Formula for Mission
the Matthew 25/35 Project: • Bells Chapel CME Church, Fulton, KY • Brown Temple CME Church, Sheffield, AL • Carter Metropolitan CME Church, Danville, IL • St. Mark’s CME Church, Smiths Station, AL • Tabernacle Community Church, St. Albans, NY Total funds donated to date = $781. 28 Thanks to all those churches who participated in Souper Bowl of Caring for the Haiti Relief Fund and those contributing to the Matthew 25/35 Project. Donations are still being received for the Matthew 25/35 Project. Contributions should be forwarded to the Department of Christian Education.
Formation + Nurture + Leadership = Mission
Christian Formation
Christian Education
Leadership
The intentional process of opening of ourselves to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit so that we might be more fully formed to the likeness of Christ
The business of guiding people toward Christian formation in the likeness of the One we follow as disciples; helping people find their way to loving God with all their heart, mind, body, and strength and loving their neighbors as they love themselves.
The capacity to identify and develop one’s resources whether human or material and the ability to mobilize those resources in realizing a vision, or reaching a goal, or resolving a problem, or making a decision.
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church—Department of Christian Education
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Memories from the 4th Annual Christian Educator’s Retreat (Cont’d)
• “Strengthening and Equipping Active and Relevant Local Boards of Christian Education by Becoming Learning Communities,” – Dr. Willa Ross
• “Practical Theology of Leadership Formation for Adolescent African American Males – Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield
• “Christian Education & Technology” – Mr. Charles Coney, Dept. Webmaster
Later in the day participants were able to practice “Formation and Nurture in Action,” by sharing in a selected lesson taken from the Department’s latest resource, 21st Century Discipleship. Participants were challenged to become enablers of ministry through processes of lifelong learning and
shared leadership. They were reminded of the Department’s continued focus on the major theme of Doing a New Thing in Christian Education. The formula Formation + Nurture + Leadership = Mission, which was the thrust for the 2008 Connectional Youth and Young Adult Conference, was intentional and deliberate during the course of the day. Retreat Attendees shared in their excitement of the day and commented that the retreat was the best ever. They were anxious to go back to their local boards of Christian Education to share their learnings and expectations with members of local directors and boards of Christian education. They were really excited about the Department’s new website and the possibilities it offers for Doing a New Thing in Christian Education via technology and the Internet. They were also delighted to hear and see the information provided on the SS lessons and the Newsletter which could
Formation + Nurture + Leadership = Mission
be accessed on-line and shared with all age levels at the local church. Several of the participants stayed over and attended Sunday school and worship with Dr. and Mrs. Crutchfield and staff at Greenwood CME Church
where the Rev. Dr. Travis C. Robinson is the Senior Pastor. Check out the photos from the Retreat on our website. Great things are in the horizon for our Department of Christian Education. We hope to see you at next year’s retreat.
The Right Formula for Mission
Discernment
Intentionality
Nurture
The intentional practice of listening and hearing, seeing, touching, and feeling God in order to grasp and comprehend God’s will individually and/or communally.
Planning with deliberation and with focus on goals based on a specific mission.
Mission
Prioritizing the educational ministry of the church in order that teaching becomes the life long process by which people come to love God and their neighbor more.
Being sent by Jesus Christ to fulfill His will.
Discipleship
Hospitality The intentional practice of welcoming and embracing others.
The process of becoming a learner and follower of Jesus Christ.
Formation + Nurture + Leadership = Mission
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church—Department of Christian Education
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Theology of Leadership Formation for Adolescent African American Males
Formation + Nurture + Leadership = Mission
On August 24, 2006, I started my fifth journey in higher education in pursuit of a Ph.D. degree in Christian Education and Congregational Studies at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. For two years I was mostly in residence at the seminary and commuting from home to the seminary as I was engaged in a total of 46 semester hours of courses. Additionally, I passed a test in Greek and a research course to qualify for taking the comprehensive examinations in December 2008. After passing those exams I was admitted into candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. For nearly two years I have been working on my dissertation. The week before the Christian education retreat I sent my complete dissertation to my committee at Garrett. Although not the final document, it represents a significant move toward anticipated graduation. What does all this have to do with the Christian education retreat and the definitions above? Well, as a part of the retreat in previous years we have always invited a scholar from Memphis Theological Seminary who addressed an aspect of Christian education. This year we decided that the scholar would be the General Secretary.
I presented from the topic of A Practical Theology of Leadership Formation of Adolescent Males. This is a section from my dissertation entitled “How Can Leadership Formation of Adolescent African American Males in the Church is Transformative and a Catalyst for Social Change?” I began the presentation by elaborating on the terms above and the need for the congregation to have an understanding of theology and how to think theologically. I honed in on the subject of Christian education as practical theology. A common definition that is most helpful for me is that practical theology is the study of institutional activities of Christianity including Christian education, Preaching, Church administration, Pastoral care, Liturgics, and Spirituality. Therefore, I have been studying, researching and working in a particular area of Christian education. I present a practical theology of leadership formation of adolescent males from a Practical Theologian Wesleyan perspective. This involves using scripture, tradition, reason and experience to construct a practical theology of leadership formation in African American
adolescent males. In order to accomplish this the use of the contextualization of the mission of the Black church; tradition of social reform of the Black church; appropriation of theories of human development; and the plight of Black males in United States of America society are addressed. I look forward to sharing more of my dissertation that develops a theology of love and several Christian education theories and a strong definition of leadership. Moreover, I look forward to this work being useful to the church and society.
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church—Department of Christian Education
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The Great Gathering — March 1st thru 3rd The “Great Gathering” in Columbia will attract 12,000 attendees and seeks to combine the congregational, social, political and spiritual strengths of the three African American Methodist denominations whose collective histories date back more than 215 years
and whose aggregate congregants currently total more that 7 million. In the words of the event’s organizers,
“This gathering of three powerful denominations will be a major signal to all that the Church will now take an even more proactive and aggressive role in addressing the critical problems that are hurting our communities nationwide.”
Comments on The Great Gathering — Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield One pastor has said the mission of the Black church is to meet the needs of the people, wherever those needs might be. Historically, many leading Black scholars have spoken to the presence and importance of the Black church in the life of Black people.
March 1-3, 2010, the three historical African American Methodist bodies will give impetus to the significance of the Black church. Members of the African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion and Christian Methodist Episcopal denominations will gather in Columbia, South Carolina. Part of the rationale for the meeting is to address some of the major issues facing this nation.
A major concern and focus of this gathering will be to address the state and condition of the Black male in the United States. As one who has spent the last four years in academic rigorous research around the Black adolescent males and who has been in-
volved in a ministry for twenty years I am personally interested in the gathering. In addition to addressing real societal, political and economic concerns of our society, the gathering gives witness that the church is relevant and viable. This gathering is an example of
why the Black Church was formed as a problem solving institution where education has always been paramount. I will look forward to reporting how this gathering generates new energy within all three denominations. Pray
that God will give us all what we need to be vessels that make a difference in our churches, communities, nation and world.
Formation + Nurture + Leadership = Mission
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church—Department of Christian Education
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Resurrection? Prove It to Me — Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
Formation + Nurture + Leadership = Mission
"Raised from the dead? Sure. Right. And I have a bridge I'd like to sell you." That's how Thomas might have responded if he had lived in our day. "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." He'd seen dead people before. And Jesus was dead. He sounds like sophisticated rationalists of the Twenty-first Century. "It isn't plausible," they would contend. "It didn't happen." But what if it did happen? Thomas was convinced when Jesus appeared to him, reached out his hands to Thomas, and said, "Put your finger here." Thomas dropped to his knees. "My Lord and my God!" It was self-hypnosis, you counter. The disciples wanted to believe that their Lord was not dead, so they just invented it out of whole cloth. Really? Let's look at some of the evidence.
1. Jesus' body was missing. If the Jews could have found it, they could have stilled the preaching of Jesus' resurrection that filled Jerusalem. But they could not. 2. The body wasn't stolen. The Romans had no motive. The Jews had no motive. Ah-ha, you say, the disciples stole it. There is the matter of the Roman guards, and the disciples' initial disbelief when the women brought them the news early that Easter morning. This brings me to my third point. 3. If the disciples had stolen the body, you wouldn't expect them to risk their lives. People don't die for what they know is not true. But the disciples put their lives on the line, and nearly all were eventually martyred for their faith. They certainly believed it. The church mushroomed size in Jerusalem, the very place he was crucified. Followers of Jesus in the city of Jerusalem grew from a few dozen to thousands upon thousands soon after Jesus' resurrection. They believed it was true. Contemporary documents refer to the
event. Thallus the Samaritan, Suetonius, Tacitus, Pliny contain references to Jesus. Jewish historian Josephus writes about Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. They knew something had happened. Jesus' resurrection from the dead is actually more plausible than any other explanation. That's why we Christians make such a big deal about Easter. That's why we celebrate. Jesus' resurrection means that death is not the end. That though my body may lie mouldering in the ground, Jesus, whom the Father raised from the dead, gives me eternal life. Ultimately, we Christians believe, our bodies, too, will be raised from the dead. And since Jesus is not dead, people can encounter him today. You can know him through a personal relationship. I could point to lots of people who can testify what Jesus has done in their lives to bring them from the brink of disaster to peace and meaning and joy. He changes people for good. If you're not sure can't really say you've met this risen Jesus, this Easter Sunday why don't you slip into church to seek him. And perhaps in the midst of our celebration, you'll find him for yourself.
He's alive, you know. That's what Easter is all about! www.joyfulheart.com/easter/resurrec.htm
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church—Department of Christian Education
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Praise Party: Worshiping GOD with Head, Heart, Hands, Feet, and SOUL!!! The origins of Vacation Bible School can be traced back to Hopedale, Illinois in 1894. Sunday school teacher D. T. Miles, who also was a public school teacher, felt she was limited by time constraints in teaching the Bible to children. So, she started a daily Bible school to teach children during the summer. The first Bible school enrolled forty students and lasted four weeks. A local school was used for classes, while an adjoining park was used for recess. Today, many churches run their own Vacation Bible School programs without being under the umbrella of a national organization. The Department of Christian Education recommends the Abingdon Press Theme Kit: Praise Party. Praise Party is a heritagebased Christian education curriculum that will have your community celebrating the saving grace of Jesus Christ with head, heart, hands, feet, and SOUL!! Through Bible study, crafts, skits, movement, contempo-
rary music, and well-loved hymns and songs of the Black Church, Praise Party will create passionate worship that truly makes disciples for Jesus Christ. More information is available on their website www.abingdonpressvbs.com . Day 1: Willing Hands (Exodus 35: 4-10a, 22, 25-26; 36:2-3a) The Hebrews offer gifts to God. Soul Goal: With hands and heart, I will adore, and bring my all unto the Lord! Day 2: Stomp (1 Chronicles 13:1-8) David and the Hebrews praise God by dancing. Soul Goal: At church, at home, and in the street, I will praise God with my feet! Day 3: Stand up Straight in Praise (Luke 13:10-17) Jesus heals a bent-over woman. Soul Goal: I will always stand up straight and give my life to God in praise!
Day 4: Breakthrough (Acts 16:25-34) When Paul and Silas pray and sing, a jailer’s household receives salvation. Soul Goal: No matter when, no matter where, I will lift my heart in prayer. Day 5: Sing a Song Ephesians 5:15-20 (The Message, NRSV) Instructions on a Spirit-filled life Soul Goal: I will lift my voice in song to my Jesus all day long!
Christian Education Recommended Curriculum for Local Churches CE101—Membership in the CME Church Resources: Membership Manual, Apostles Creed, Trifold Understanding, CME Discipline, CME History, Ships That Sail Us From Good to Great
CE201—21st Century Discipleship Resource: 21st Century Handbook; 21st Century Leader Guide/Study Guide
Study Period: 14 to 30 weeks
Study Period: 9 to 18 weeks CE201—Understanding Discipleship Resource: Ships That Sail Us From Good to Great
CE401—Worship Resources: Ships That Sail Us From Good to Great, 21st Century Handbook, 21st Century Leader Guide/Study Guide
Study Period: 4 to 6 weeks CE203—Disciple Bible Study Resource: Becoming Disciples through Bible Study
Study Period: 34 weeks
Study Period: 4 to 6 weeks
CE501—Relationships Resource: Ships that Sail Us From Good to Great
Study Period: 4 to 6 weeks CE301—Stewardship Resources: Ships That Sail Us From Good to Great, Trifold Understanding of Giving
Study Period: 8 to 12 weeks
Formation + Nurture + Leadership = Mission
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church - Department of Christian Education Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Department of Christian Education P. O. Box 16507 Memphis, TN 38186-6507
We are of the belief that the ultimate essence of "Doing A New Thing" in Christian Education is discipleship. We
Telephone: (901) 345-4109 Fax: (901) 261-3289 E-mail: news@thecmechurchced.org
love of Jesus Christ will be spread in such a way that lives will be saved, educated, and liberated. There are four
strongly believe that an emphasis on discipleship will lead to formation, nurture, leadership, and mission taking place in our local, district, regional, national, and world wide communities. We believe that the witness of the
aspects of understanding of what is involved in "Doing A New Thing" in Christian Education. Namely, they are formation, nurture, leadership, and mission. When the first three aspects are attended to, mission will be the
Make disciples through "events that form and transform"
result. Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield, General Secretary Dr. Willa Ross, Executive Assistant Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Department of Christian Education
We’re on the Web! www.thecmechurchced.org
Young Adult FOCUS Retreat We would like to invite you to the 2010 FOCUS Retreat scheduled to be held Thursday, May 27 – Sunday, May 30, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana as we ‘Serve the Present Age through Service and Christian Nurture!’ Come and be a part of this spiritual breakthrough. We will be offering Sprit-filled and informative workshops, with topics ranging from ‘Love and Relationships’ to ‘Engaging Young Adults in your Local Church.’ There will be awesome Praise and Worship, as well as nightly Worship Service led by renowned Preachers of the Gospel. There will also be opportunities to fellowship with other CMEs across our great Zion and participate in a service
project destined to bless the community of New Orleans! Our goals for the Retreat are simple but bold: to raise awareness of the diverse national interests of young adults, to promote greater young adult involvement within the community and church, and to enhance the spiritual enlightenment of all in attendance. We are offering an all inclusive registration of $100.00, if postmarked before March 1st, $125 postmarked by May 1st, and $150 on-site. Registration includes a daily breakfast (based on double occupancy in the Westin), participation in the Day of Service project, Cook-out, Reception and much more!
Hotel accommodations will be furnished by The Westin New Orleans Canal Place located at 100 Rue Iberville, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130, at a rate of $94 nightly, plus tax. You may contact (504) 566-7006 or visit www.starwoodhotels.com to reserve a room at this special rate.
Yours in Christ, Mr. Brian L. Magwood, Sr. President Connectional Young Adult Ministry