All throughout the years, Christian education (and) spiritual formation have been important parts of the Presbyterian Church. Persons such as myself have felt a call to the ministry of education in the church. We have studied, prepared, and become Certified Christian educators. Now more than ever there is a need for those who have the calling and the expertise to help those who are seeking to know how the Christian faith and a 21st century world connect. I agree wholeheartedly with what Tom Gillespie, former president of Princeton Theological Seminary (and isn't this wonderful -- teacher of a second-grade Sunday school class!) is quoted as saying on page 7 of the October 27 issue of the OUTLOOK: "Without strategic thinking and discipleship tools such as curriculum, 'there's not going to be any stewardship, there's not going to be any mission. ... There's more to governance than balancing a budget. We need to be about our Father's business in a very serious way here.'" How are we different from the secular world? When will churches learn that they are a community of faith. They need to get on their knees and pray about doing the Father's business.
