522 CED
Teacher as Facilitator of Learning
Timothy W. Brock
Facilitating and Fashioning the Curriculum of the Church
Introduction
The material in this presentation was derived from Part Three, “The Planning,” of the textbook, Fashion Me a People: Curriculum in the Church, by Maria Harris. The professor will provide additional information as required.
A Process for Designing Curriculum:
Historical Perspectives
In the Introduction to Chapter 9, “Facilitating the Fashioning,” Little outlined a six-step process that has often been used to develop curriculum in the congregational context. These six steps included:
1. Discover Needs and Interests…Using several different processes to gather data, the leaders of the congregation determine the driving needs and the passionate interests of the people who are or will be a part of the congregation and/or the people who live in the context in which the congregation will function.
2. Set General Goals…Based on the interpretation of the data collected in Step 1, the leaders of the congregation will determine the broad goals that will guide the shared life of the congregation. Often these general goals are articulated in a mission statement or a vision statement.
3. Define Specific Objectives…For each general goal stated in Step 2, the leaders of the congregation will develop a number of objectives (making sure that each objective is well-stated, clear, specific, realistic, and measureable).
4. Design a Program…Combining similar objectives defined in Step 3, the leaders of the congregation will design and implement one or more specific programs, ministries, ongoing events, or single events which will accomplish the stated objectives.
5. Examine Your Resources…The leaders of the congregation will assess congregational resources (time, money, facilities, people-power, etc.) to determine which aspects of the program designed in Step 4 can be implemented immediately and which aspects might have to wait for additional resources.
6. Determine an Evaluation Procedure…The leaders of the congregation will establish specific criteria (based on the objectives developed in Step 3) that will be used to evaluate the curriculum. This information will be fed back into the process of curriculum development.
On the following pages of these class notes, the professor provided examples of materials (associated with these steps) used in the curriculum development process of Fredericksburg Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Fredericksburg Baptist Church
Survey
In an attempt to identify ministries and programs which are important to our church membership, the Strategic Planning Committee asks that you complete this survey. Please return the completed survey to the Church Office by Sunday, February 9. Thank you for your help.
If offered by our church, to what extent would each of the following activities, groups, or services increase your interest and participation in the life of our church? Please consider each as both a ministry in which you might serve or from which you might benefit. Use the following scale: 5=great amount of increase in interest and participation; 3= some increase in interest and participation; 1= no increase in interest and participation
|
Weekday Preschool Program
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Child Care
(Care for Preschoolers and Children
in early morning, after school, or early evening)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Adult Day Care
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Wellness Clinics
(Including Blood Pressure Screening, Diabetes Screening,
Mammography, Blood Drives, Childhood Immunizations)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Age-Graded, Organized Sports
(Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Swimming, Soccer, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Craft Groups
(Sewing, Quilting, Holiday Baking and Decorating, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Community Ministries
(Hospice, Homeless Shelter, Habitat for Humanity,
Moss Free Clinic, Adult Literacy Classes,
English-as-a-Second Language Classes, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Special Needs Ministries
(Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Mental Retardation, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Artistic Presentations
(Concerts, Recital Series, Plays, Art Displays,
Literature Discussion Groups, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Special Activities for Community Youth
(Concerts, Coffee Shop, After-Games Events, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Ministry Trips
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Pleasure Trips
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Spirituality Retreats
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Support Groups
(Alcoholics Anonymous, Parenting, AIDS, Divorce Recovery,
Persons who have experienced hearing loss, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Emergency Assistance
(Housing, Utilities, Travel Assistance, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Weeknight Activities for Children and Youth
(Wednesday Night Study Hall, Computer Lab, Tutoring Program, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
In the space provided below, please list other activities, groups, or services which would increase your interest and participation in Fredericksburg Baptist Church.
What personal or community needs would you like to see met by Fredericksburg Baptist Church?
In what ways can Fredericksburg Baptist Church nurture your family or this community?
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Please circle the appropriate responses.
Gender
Age
|
18-24
|
25-34
|
35-44
|
45-54
|
55-69
|
70-up
|
Marital Status
|
Single (Never Married)
|
Married
|
Divorced
|
Widowed
|
Children (List Ages)
Residence
|
City of Fredericksburg
|
Spotsylvania
|
Stafford
|
King George
|
Caroline
|
Other
|
Length of Residence in this Area
|
0-7 years
|
8-17 years
|
18-30 years
|
More than 30 Years
|
Place of Employment
|
Greater Fredericksburg
|
Greater Washington, D.C.
|
Greater Richmond
|
Other
|
Retired
|
Church Attendance
|
More than once a week
|
Weekly
|
More than once a month
|
Monthly
|
6-10 times per year
|
Annually
|
Seldom
|
Never
|
Fredericksburg Baptist Church
Survey
In an attempt to identify ministries and programs which are important to residents in the Greater Fredericksburg area, the Strategic Planning Committee of Fredericksburg Baptist Church asks that you complete this survey. Thank you for your help.
If offered by a local church, to what extent would each of the following activities, groups, or services increase your interest and participation in the life of that church? Please consider each as both a ministry in which you might serve or from which you might benefit. Use the following scale: 5=great amount of increase in interest and participation; 3= some increase in interest and participation; 1= no increase in interest and participation
|
Weekday Preschool Program
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Child Care
(Care for Preschoolers and Children
in early morning, after school, or early evening)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Adult Day Care
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Wellness Clinics
(Including Blood Pressure Screening, Diabetes Screening,
Mammography, Blood Drives, Childhood Immunizations)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Age-Graded, Organized Sports
(Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Swimming, Soccer, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Craft Groups
(Sewing, Quilting, Holiday Baking and Decorating, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Community Ministries
(Hospice, Homeless Shelter, Habitat for Humanity,
Moss Free Clinic, Adult Literacy Classes,
English-as-a-Second Language Classes, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Special Needs Ministries
(Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Mental Retardation, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Artistic Presentations
(Concerts, Recital Series, Plays, Art Displays,
Literature Discussion Groups, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Special Activities for Community Youth
(Concerts, Coffee Shop, After-Games Events, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Ministry Trips
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Pleasure Trips
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Spirituality Retreats
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Support Groups
(Alcoholics Anonymous, Parenting, AIDS, Divorce Recovery,
Persons who have experienced hearing loss, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Emergency Assistance
(Housing, Utilities, Travel Assistance, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Weeknight Activities for Children and Youth
(Wednesday Night Study Hall, Computer Lab, Tutoring Program, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
In the space provided below, please list other activities, groups, or services which would increase your interest and participation in any church.
What personal or community needs would you like to see met by local churches?
In what ways might a local church nurture your family or this community?
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Please circle the appropriate responses.
Gender
Age
|
18-24
|
25-34
|
35-44
|
45-54
|
55-69
|
70-up
|
Marital Status
|
Single (Never Married)
|
Married
|
Divorced
|
Widowed
|
Children (List Ages)
Residence
|
City of Fredericksburg
|
Spotsylvania
|
Stafford
|
King George
|
Caroline
|
Other
|
Length of Residence in this Area
|
0-7 years
|
8-17 years
|
18-30 years
|
More than 30 Years
|
Place of Employment
|
Greater Fredericksburg
|
Greater Washington, D.C.
|
Greater Richmond
|
Other
|
Retired
|
Church Attendance
|
More than once a week
|
Weekly
|
More than once a month
|
Monthly
|
6-10 times per year
|
Annually
|
Seldom
|
Never
|
FREDERICKSBURG BAPTIST CHURCH
PROPOSED MISSION STATEMENT
We, the family of Fredericksburg Baptist Church, are on mission together, striving to continue the work of Christ. Building upon a distinguished heritage, we actively seek to minister to the changing needs of our community of faith and of our world. We commit ourselves to this task through:
· WORSHIP, as the praise of God and the proclamation of the Word of God;
· WITNESS, as the preservation, instruction, and the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ;
· FELLOWSHIP, as nurturing the family of faith through Christian love, and as discovering, developing, celebrating and sharing our spiritual gifts; and
· SERVICE, as meeting the needs of humanity in the name of Christ.
We are a diverse group of people who with God’s guidance and through the empowering of the Holy Spirit findunity of purpose on mission together.
January, 1997
ORGANIZING THE WORK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH
Church Functions:
*Worship*Proclaim and Witness*Nurture*Minister
Church Program Organizations
|
Sunday School
|
Discipleship Training
|
Woman's Missionary Union
|
Brotherhood Program
|
Music Ministry Program
|
|
Reach persons for Bible study
|
Reach persons for discipleship training
|
Teach missions
|
Teach missions
|
Provide musical experiences in congregational services
|
|
Teach the Bible
|
Orient new church members for responsible church membership
|
Engage in mission action and personal witnessing
|
Engage in missions activities
|
Provide church music education
|
|
Witness to persons about Christ and lead persons into church membership
|
Equip church members for discipleship and personal ministry
|
Support missions
|
Pray for and give to missions
|
Lead the church to witness and minister through music
|
|
Minister to persons in need
|
Teach Christian theology and Baptist doctrine, Christian ethics, Christian history, and church polity and organization
|
Interpret and undergird the work of the church and the denomination
|
Develop personal ministry
|
Assist the church programs in providing music skills and in consultation about music equipment
|
|
Lead members to worship
|
Train church leaders for ministry
|
|
Interpret and undergird the work of the church and the denomination
|
Interpret and undergird the work of the church and the denomination
|
|
Interpret and undergird the work of the church and the denomination
|
Interpret and undergird the work of the church and the denomination
|
|
|
|
|
Pastoral Ministries
|
|
Lead the church in the accomplishment of its mission
|
|
Proclaim the gospel to believers and unbelievers
|
|
Care for the church's members and other persons in the community
|
AN INTRODUCTION TO FREDERICKSBURG BAPTIST CHURCH
Evaluation of A New Member Class
|
The members of the New Member Development Workgroup are so pleased that you have chosen to participate in An Introduction to Fredericksburg Baptist Church. In an effort to improve the process used to introduce new and prospective members to our church family, the members of this workgroup ask for your candid responses to the following questions.
Please circle your response and make any additional comments in the space provided.
|
1. I attended:
2. I found the information provided in the session(s) to be:
|
COMMENTS
|
|
Very Helpful
|
|
|
Somewhat Helpful
|
|
|
Not Helpful
|
|
3. In general, the presentations were:
|
COMMENTS
|
|
Great!
|
|
|
O.K.
|
|
|
In need of refinement
|
|
4. This course should be offered on:
|
Sunday morning during
Bible Study
|
Sunday evening during Discipleship Training
|
Wednesday evening as an Adult Optional Study
|
5. What additional information would you like to have about Fredericksburg Baptist Church?
6. What other classes, courses, or activities would you like to see offered by Fredericksburg Baptist Church?
Thank you for your participation in the sessions and your help in this evaluation.
The Church as Artist
In the text, Little noted that the processes described above have traditionally been used to facilitate curriculum development in the congregational context. Because Little assumed that curriculum development is more artistry and imagination than science and organization, she proposed a different process for “fashioning” the curriculum of the church. Her process included the following five steps:
· Contemplation. Defined as “the human capacity to sit back, be still, and allow ourselves to be receptive,” Little proposed that contemplative should be the first movement in curriculum development. In an atmosphere of prayerfulness, Little suggested that we should contemplate people (church members and persons in the wider community), present ministries (as a reflection of the total life of the church in the present moment), and purpose (an honest assessment of the hopes, dreams, and desires for the congregation’s life together).
· Engagement. In this step of the process, the congregation begins to act upon the results of the contemplation. Little stated that this movement included both holding on (claiming the vision developed in the first movement and all aspects of congregational life that support this vision) and letting go (abandoning ideas, programs, events, and attitudes that no longer fit that vision). Remember: sacred cows make the best hamburgers!
· Formgiving. In the engagement movement, the congregation has determined all of the facets of congregational life, deciding what to keep and what to let go. In this movement, formgiving, the leaders of the congregation work to structure the current and future life of the congregation. According to Little, the five aspects of church mission developed in the second section of the text (Kerygma—engaging in forms of community and communion, Leiturgia—engaging in forms of prayer, worship, and spirituality, Kerygma—attending to and practicing the Good News in the speech of our lives, Didakonia—attending to our own service and reaching out to others, and Didache—attending to the most appropriate forms of teaching and learning in our own communities) give form to the curriculum of the church. In this movement, the member of the church work together to identify and implement specific ministries, programs, and activities which will embody each of these aspects of congregational life.
· Emergence. In an action akin to giving birth, Little suggested that the work associated with the first three movements described above be creatively displayed at a given moment in time. In this moment, the church has an opportunity to define itself and its mission and to celebrate the process to this point.
· Release. In the final movement of this process, the members of the congregation are released into the world to live out the commitments of the joint life of the congregation.
On pages 182-183 of the text, Little provided some examples of resources that could be used at various points in this process of fashioning the curriculum of the church.
Reflection Questions
· Prior to class, please be sure to read Chapter 9 of the text.
· If you have ever been involved in a curriculum design or planning process in your church, please be prepared to share your experience with the other members of the class.
· During class, be prepared to share your opinions and insights into the processes that Little outlined and explained in the text.
522 CED
Teacher as Facilitator of Learning
Timothy W. Brock
Facilitating and Fashioning the Curriculum of the Church
Introduction
The material in this presentation was derived from Part Three, “The Planning,” of the textbook, Fashion Me a People: Curriculum in the Church, by Maria Harris. The professor will provide additional information as required.
A Process for Designing Curriculum:
Historical Perspectives
In the Introduction to Chapter 9, “Facilitating the Fashioning,” Little outlined a six-step process that has often been used to develop curriculum in the congregational context. These six steps included:
1. Discover Needs and Interests…Using several different processes to gather data, the leaders of the congregation determine the driving needs and the passionate interests of the people who are or will be a part of the congregation and/or the people who live in the context in which the congregation will function.
2. Set General Goals…Based on the interpretation of the data collected in Step 1, the leaders of the congregation will determine the broad goals that will guide the shared life of the congregation. Often these general goals are articulated in a mission statement or a vision statement.
3. Define Specific Objectives…For each general goal stated in Step 2, the leaders of the congregation will develop a number of objectives (making sure that each objective is well-stated, clear, specific, realistic, and measureable).
4. Design a Program…Combining similar objectives defined in Step 3, the leaders of the congregation will design and implement one or more specific programs, ministries, ongoing events, or single events which will accomplish the stated objectives.
5. Examine Your Resources…The leaders of the congregation will assess congregational resources (time, money, facilities, people-power, etc.) to determine which aspects of the program designed in Step 4 can be implemented immediately and which aspects might have to wait for additional resources.
6. Determine an Evaluation Procedure…The leaders of the congregation will establish specific criteria (based on the objectives developed in Step 3) that will be used to evaluate the curriculum. This information will be fed back into the process of curriculum development.
On the following pages of these class notes, the professor provided examples of materials (associated with these steps) used in the curriculum development process of Fredericksburg Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Fredericksburg Baptist Church
Survey
In an attempt to identify ministries and programs which are important to our church membership, the Strategic Planning Committee asks that you complete this survey. Please return the completed survey to the Church Office by Sunday, February 9. Thank you for your help.
If offered by our church, to what extent would each of the following activities, groups, or services increase your interest and participation in the life of our church? Please consider each as both a ministry in which you might serve or from which you might benefit. Use the following scale: 5=great amount of increase in interest and participation; 3= some increase in interest and participation; 1= no increase in interest and participation
|
Weekday Preschool Program
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Child Care
(Care for Preschoolers and Children
in early morning, after school, or early evening)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Adult Day Care
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Wellness Clinics
(Including Blood Pressure Screening, Diabetes Screening,
Mammography, Blood Drives, Childhood Immunizations)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Age-Graded, Organized Sports
(Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Swimming, Soccer, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Craft Groups
(Sewing, Quilting, Holiday Baking and Decorating, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Community Ministries
(Hospice, Homeless Shelter, Habitat for Humanity,
Moss Free Clinic, Adult Literacy Classes,
English-as-a-Second Language Classes, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Special Needs Ministries
(Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Mental Retardation, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Artistic Presentations
(Concerts, Recital Series, Plays, Art Displays,
Literature Discussion Groups, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Special Activities for Community Youth
(Concerts, Coffee Shop, After-Games Events, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Ministry Trips
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Pleasure Trips
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Spirituality Retreats
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Support Groups
(Alcoholics Anonymous, Parenting, AIDS, Divorce Recovery,
Persons who have experienced hearing loss, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Emergency Assistance
(Housing, Utilities, Travel Assistance, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Weeknight Activities for Children and Youth
(Wednesday Night Study Hall, Computer Lab, Tutoring Program, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
In the space provided below, please list other activities, groups, or services which would increase your interest and participation in Fredericksburg Baptist Church.
What personal or community needs would you like to see met by Fredericksburg Baptist Church?
In what ways can Fredericksburg Baptist Church nurture your family or this community?
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Please circle the appropriate responses.
Gender
Age
|
18-24
|
25-34
|
35-44
|
45-54
|
55-69
|
70-up
|
Marital Status
|
Single (Never Married)
|
Married
|
Divorced
|
Widowed
|
Children (List Ages)
Residence
|
City of Fredericksburg
|
Spotsylvania
|
Stafford
|
King George
|
Caroline
|
Other
|
Length of Residence in this Area
|
0-7 years
|
8-17 years
|
18-30 years
|
More than 30 Years
|
Place of Employment
|
Greater Fredericksburg
|
Greater Washington, D.C.
|
Greater Richmond
|
Other
|
Retired
|
Church Attendance
|
More than once a week
|
Weekly
|
More than once a month
|
Monthly
|
6-10 times per year
|
Annually
|
Seldom
|
Never
|
Fredericksburg Baptist Church
Survey
In an attempt to identify ministries and programs which are important to residents in the Greater Fredericksburg area, the Strategic Planning Committee of Fredericksburg Baptist Church asks that you complete this survey. Thank you for your help.
If offered by a local church, to what extent would each of the following activities, groups, or services increase your interest and participation in the life of that church? Please consider each as both a ministry in which you might serve or from which you might benefit. Use the following scale: 5=great amount of increase in interest and participation; 3= some increase in interest and participation; 1= no increase in interest and participation
|
Weekday Preschool Program
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Child Care
(Care for Preschoolers and Children
in early morning, after school, or early evening)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Adult Day Care
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Wellness Clinics
(Including Blood Pressure Screening, Diabetes Screening,
Mammography, Blood Drives, Childhood Immunizations)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Age-Graded, Organized Sports
(Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Swimming, Soccer, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Craft Groups
(Sewing, Quilting, Holiday Baking and Decorating, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Community Ministries
(Hospice, Homeless Shelter, Habitat for Humanity,
Moss Free Clinic, Adult Literacy Classes,
English-as-a-Second Language Classes, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Special Needs Ministries
(Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Mental Retardation, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Artistic Presentations
(Concerts, Recital Series, Plays, Art Displays,
Literature Discussion Groups, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Special Activities for Community Youth
(Concerts, Coffee Shop, After-Games Events, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Ministry Trips
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Pleasure Trips
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Spirituality Retreats
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Support Groups
(Alcoholics Anonymous, Parenting, AIDS, Divorce Recovery,
Persons who have experienced hearing loss, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Emergency Assistance
(Housing, Utilities, Travel Assistance, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Weeknight Activities for Children and Youth
(Wednesday Night Study Hall, Computer Lab, Tutoring Program, etc.)
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
In the space provided below, please list other activities, groups, or services which would increase your interest and participation in any church.
What personal or community needs would you like to see met by local churches?
In what ways might a local church nurture your family or this community?
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Please circle the appropriate responses.
Gender
Age
|
18-24
|
25-34
|
35-44
|
45-54
|
55-69
|
70-up
|
Marital Status
|
Single (Never Married)
|
Married
|
Divorced
|
Widowed
|
Children (List Ages)
Residence
|
City of Fredericksburg
|
Spotsylvania
|
Stafford
|
King George
|
Caroline
|
Other
|
Length of Residence in this Area
|
0-7 years
|
8-17 years
|
18-30 years
|
More than 30 Years
|
Place of Employment
|
Greater Fredericksburg
|
Greater Washington, D.C.
|
Greater Richmond
|
Other
|
Retired
|
Church Attendance
|
More than once a week
|
Weekly
|
More than once a month
|
Monthly
|
6-10 times per year
|
Annually
|
Seldom
|
Never
|
FREDERICKSBURG BAPTIST CHURCH
PROPOSED MISSION STATEMENT
We, the family of Fredericksburg Baptist Church, are on mission together, striving to continue the work of Christ. Building upon a distinguished heritage, we actively seek to minister to the changing needs of our community of faith and of our world. We commit ourselves to this task through:
· WORSHIP, as the praise of God and the proclamation of the Word of God;
· WITNESS, as the preservation, instruction, and the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ;
· FELLOWSHIP, as nurturing the family of faith through Christian love, and as discovering, developing, celebrating and sharing our spiritual gifts; and
· SERVICE, as meeting the needs of humanity in the name of Christ.
We are a diverse group of people who with God’s guidance and through the empowering of the Holy Spirit findunity of purpose on mission together.
January, 1997
ORGANIZING THE WORK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH
Church Functions:
*Worship*Proclaim and Witness*Nurture*Minister
Church Program Organizations
|
Sunday School
|
Discipleship Training
|
Woman's Missionary Union
|
Brotherhood Program
|
Music Ministry Program
|
|
Reach persons for Bible study
|
Reach persons for discipleship training
|
Teach missions
|
Teach missions
|
Provide musical experiences in congregational services
|
|
Teach the Bible
|
Orient new church members for responsible church membership
|
Engage in mission action and personal witnessing
|
Engage in missions activities
|
Provide church music education
|
|
Witness to persons about Christ and lead persons into church membership
|
Equip church members for discipleship and personal ministry
|
Support missions
|
Pray for and give to missions
|
Lead the church to witness and minister through music
|
|
Minister to persons in need
|
Teach Christian theology and Baptist doctrine, Christian ethics, Christian history, and church polity and organization
|
Interpret and undergird the work of the church and the denomination
|
Develop personal ministry
|
Assist the church programs in providing music skills and in consultation about music equipment
|
|
Lead members to worship
|
Train church leaders for ministry
|
|
Interpret and undergird the work of the church and the denomination
|
Interpret and undergird the work of the church and the denomination
|
|
Interpret and undergird the work of the church and the denomination
|
Interpret and undergird the work of the church and the denomination
|
|
|
|
|
Pastoral Ministries
|
|
Lead the church in the accomplishment of its mission
|
|
Proclaim the gospel to believers and unbelievers
|
|
Care for the church's members and other persons in the community
|
AN INTRODUCTION TO FREDERICKSBURG BAPTIST CHURCH
Evaluation of A New Member Class
|
The members of the New Member Development Workgroup are so pleased that you have chosen to participate in An Introduction to Fredericksburg Baptist Church. In an effort to improve the process used to introduce new and prospective members to our church family, the members of this workgroup ask for your candid responses to the following questions.
Please circle your response and make any additional comments in the space provided.
|
1. I attended:
2. I found the information provided in the session(s) to be:
|
COMMENTS
|
|
Very Helpful
|
|
|
Somewhat Helpful
|
|
|
Not Helpful
|
|
3. In general, the presentations were:
|
COMMENTS
|
|
Great!
|
|
|
O.K.
|
|
|
In need of refinement
|
|
4. This course should be offered on:
|
Sunday morning during
Bible Study
|
Sunday evening during Discipleship Training
|
Wednesday evening as an Adult Optional Study
|
5. What additional information would you like to have about Fredericksburg Baptist Church?
6. What other classes, courses, or activities would you like to see offered by Fredericksburg Baptist Church?
Thank you for your participation in the sessions and your help in this evaluation.
The Church as Artist
In the text, Little noted that the processes described above have traditionally been used to facilitate curriculum development in the congregational context. Because Little assumed that curriculum development is more artistry and imagination than science and organization, she proposed a different process for “fashioning” the curriculum of the church. Her process included the following five steps:
· Contemplation. Defined as “the human capacity to sit back, be still, and allow ourselves to be receptive,” Little proposed that contemplative should be the first movement in curriculum development. In an atmosphere of prayerfulness, Little suggested that we should contemplate people (church members and persons in the wider community), present ministries (as a reflection of the total life of the church in the present moment), and purpose (an honest assessment of the hopes, dreams, and desires for the congregation’s life together).
· Engagement. In this step of the process, the congregation begins to act upon the results of the contemplation. Little stated that this movement included both holding on (claiming the vision developed in the first movement and all aspects of congregational life that support this vision) and letting go (abandoning ideas, programs, events, and attitudes that no longer fit that vision). Remember: sacred cows make the best hamburgers!
· Formgiving. In the engagement movement, the congregation has determined all of the facets of congregational life, deciding what to keep and what to let go. In this movement, formgiving, the leaders of the congregation work to structure the current and future life of the congregation. According to Little, the five aspects of church mission developed in the second section of the text (Kerygma—engaging in forms of community and communion, Leiturgia—engaging in forms of prayer, worship, and spirituality, Kerygma—attending to and practicing the Good News in the speech of our lives, Didakonia—attending to our own service and reaching out to others, and Didache—attending to the most appropriate forms of teaching and learning in our own communities) give form to the curriculum of the church. In this movement, the member of the church work together to identify and implement specific ministries, programs, and activities which will embody each of these aspects of congregational life.
· Emergence. In an action akin to giving birth, Little suggested that the work associated with the first three movements described above be creatively displayed at a given moment in time. In this moment, the church has an opportunity to define itself and its mission and to celebrate the process to this point.
· Release. In the final movement of this process, the members of the congregation are released into the world to live out the commitments of the joint life of the congregation.
On pages 182-183 of the text, Little provided some examples of resources that could be used at various points in this process of fashioning the curriculum of the church.
Reflection Questions
· Prior to class, please be sure to read Chapter 9 of the text.
· If you have ever been involved in a curriculum design or planning process in your church, please be prepared to share your experience with the other members of the class.
· During class, be prepared to share your opinions and insights into the processes that Little outlined and explained in the text.
|