There has been a resurgence in clergy peer learning groups of late. A significant contribution to this has been the funding from the Lilly Foundation that has challenged and enabled denominations to bring about external impetus to the creation of clergy support groups. I’ve been a member of a peer learning support group for fifteen years. In fact, this GRACE (Greater Richmond Area Christian Educators) blog is one dimension of it.

[Read more...]

One of the most underused, but potentially one of the most transforming, approaches to Christian education formation is the retreat. Often relegated to the area of youth ministry programs (but rarely formatted as a retreat even then) the retreat holds the potential of providing ways of learning and relationship building unavailable in any other type of church education programming. I find that for church leaders and members the first major obstacle to overcome when considering offering retreats is the fear of the unknown (or, “We’ve never done retreats in our church and I don’t think anyone will attend.”).

[Read more...]

In the midst of preparation to lead a retreat this weekend, with “Home for Christmas” as its theme, I’ve been reminded of the old adage about how the more things change, the more they remain the same.

The idea for this particular retreat came to me as “the holidays” were drawing to a close a year ago.  I had taken a hastily scheduled trip to Portland to spend a week with my younger sister, as she prepared to begin radiation and chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer.  That ordeal was to begin in January.  Meanwhile, we were to have a week of “sister time,” the week we usually had in August, but this year August had been consumed by our joint effort to connect, or reconnect, cousins – - her children, my children, their children – - whose homes are on opposite coasts.  That was before the cancer changed everything.

[Read more...]

Tomorrow marks the official “back to school” mark for me with the requisite faculty “retreat” (that in quotes as there’s nothing akin to a retreat about it. Let’s all just admit that it’s work-related, therefore work). So, summer is officially over, and along with it, summer travels.

They say traveling is educational in the sense that it expands one’s worldview. I got world travel out of my system when I was much younger, and today don’t feel much compelled to put up with the discomfort and inconvenience of tourist travel (not the least of which is putting up with airline travel). But I’m happy for the memories and experiences of those interesting places I have visited.

[Read more...]

This past weekend I headed off with Matthew, my 10 year old son, for a father-son weekend at Camp Piankatank. We’ve been for four years and we always look forward to it. We get to play sports, canoe, swim, practice our archery, swing from the ridiculously high V-Swing (I am afraid of heights) and even sleep for a few hours. The best part is being able to walk around, talk about things going on in our lives, and to share some of how we have changed in the past year. As I was driving down to camp, I thought back to all those years in youth ministry and how the most memorable moments took place when I was spending time with students outside of the regularly scheduled programming. Hanging out after worship, talking at the beach, working in a missions setting together, praying in my office, or just being together and sharing our lives.

[Read more...]

Someone asked me for a list of congregations who had “strong adult education ministries.” I knew what he was asking, but the more I thought about it, the less able I was to compile a list. I got stuck on the question because what constitutes “adult Christian education” in congregations is all over the map—and that’s without even talking about effectiveness related the philosophy, objectives, and goals.

[Read more...]