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ELCA Department for
Schools
Ministry of the
Congregation Recognition
Program
This resource is
designed to assist congregations and school ministries to
appreciate the role that each plays in their unique ministry
relationship.
Ministry of
the Congregation is primarily a
process of self evaluation and review. It looks at the
relationship the congregation and school has shared in the past,
the relationship that is currently active and where that
relationship wants to be in the future.
Some of you may
recognize this program as that being previously available
exclusively to early childhood centers and known as Phase I of
the Certification process. We have discovered that the tool is
so valuable that we have revised it to be applicable for both
elementary schools and early childhood programs and have
eliminated the “Phase I” designation. It is available as a
stand-alone piece.
This recognition
program helps the congregation and school to take a fresh look
at how their school ministry program operates within the context
of the congregation.
Who uses this
resource?
Director/Principal
Pastor
Schools Committee
Congregational
Council
Teachers and staff
What is included
in this program?
You will look for the
answers to the questions of “Where are we now?”, “Where
do we want to be?” and “What do we need to get there?”
in each of the five sections of this resource:
Ministry and
Mission
Spiritual
Formation
Governance
Administration
Finance
What do we do with
the results?
CELEBRATE!!!
Send your letter
of completion to the ELCA Department for Schools
Share with the
congregation how you will be affirming this program
Decide how you
will cherish the gifts of children by enriching the
relationship of the school’s ministry and the congregation
Decide how often
you will review the relationship of the congregation and
school ministry programs.
As Lutherans we
believe that educating our children is how we fulfill our
baptismal promise and the great commission to teach given by
Christ in Matthew 28:19. We build strong Christ-centered,
positive, trusting relationships and are able to continue to
nurture the spiritual growth of children and help to strengthen
families when our church school relationship is healthy.
The ELCA Division
for Higher Education and Schools, Department for Schools is
encouraging each of our schools and centers to reevaluate their
relationship with their congregational ministry partner now and
at regular intervals. This will help to keep the lines of
communication open between church and school and create a
healthy working relationship. The ELCA Department for Schools is
making Ministry of the Congregation available on line
after February 15, 2002.
For more information
about this valuable program contact the Department for Schools
at Dbraband@elca.org
or 800-638-3522 extension 5074. It can be found on line at http://www.elca.org/dhes/schools.
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to Spring 2002 Index
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