Christian Education
 ICENET meeting in June 2001, Montreux, Switzerland |
In the last 25 years the LWF Christian Education (CE) Program has endeavored to assist member churches in study/research, publications, and training. The focus of the program has shifted over the years from an emphasis on transmission of faith and confession, to nurturing Christians to reflect contextually on their faith and thus equipping them for mature witnessing in society. There has also been a shift away from concentrating on Sunday school children and confirmation class teenagers to viewing CE as a "lifelong journey of faith" which includes children, youth, young adults, and the "golden ages" (LWF Council, 1999).
DMD has conducted two main studies on Christian Education since 1990, namely the Ministry of Teaching and Confirmation Ministry. To help guide these studies the LWF Council at its meeting in Kristiansand, Norway (1993) discussed and approved an understanding of Christian Education as prophetic and liberatory, holistic and contextual. In 1999 the view that Christian Education was an accompaniment to a lifelong journey of faith was also recognized.
Confirmation handbook
The study on confirmation ministry resulted in the publication of a Confirmation Handbook in 1998. The handbook was conceived and written to assist confirmation class teachers and Christian educators to develop contextual courses and teaching materials for teenagers and young adults. The handbook uses the Bible, Luther's Catechism, and local stories as resources. Thus, it can be used in the preparation of a variety of CE courses. The handbook is available in English, French, German, and Spanish.
ICENET-RCENET
 RCENET Latin America and the Caribbean, October 2001, Sao Leopoldo, Brazil |
In order to benefit from the rich experiences of member churches worldwide, networks of international and regional Christian educators have been established. The International Christian Education Network (ICENET), with its 12 members from all 7 regions, begun its work in June 2000. ICENET concentrates on the view that Christian Education is for mission: "Going deep in order to go wide." The ICENET members focus their studies on CE methodology, e.g. how to go about implementing "Christian Education is for Transforming Mission." ICENET meets once a year and its members network electronically to keep in constant communication.
Christian Education Network utilizes the Internet for communication |
The Regional Christian Education Networks (RCENETs) working in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America and the rest of Europe, concentrate on the contextual content of CE themes (e.g. nurturing a culture of peace). RCENETs meet once every two years and are in contact with Christian educators and seminary institutions in the regions. The findings of ICENET and RCENETs will be published in the Christian Education magazine, The Educator.
For more information please contact:
DMD Director
Rev. Dr Kjell Nordstokke
E-mail: kno@lutheranworld.org
