wfn.org | Jean Love Named APCE Educator of the Year

[PCUSA_NEWS@ecunet.org]

15-Feb-96

96064       Jean Love Named APCE Educator of the Year 
 
                         by Julian Shipp 
 
CHICAGO--Lauded by her peers as a dedicated professional and an 
"organizer's organizer," Texas native Jean Floyd Love was honored Feb. 9 as 
the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE) Educator of the 
Year. 
 
     "I've always believed children need roots and wings to fly," Love said 
during her acceptance speech. "Every one of us needs someone who encourages 
them in that way and for me it was my parents." 
 
     Born in Longview, Texas, Love graduated from Texas Christian 
University with a B.S. in home economics and worked briefly as a research 
home economist at Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Co. in North Canton, Ohio. 
 
     Deciding that home economics was not her "calling," Love entered 
Presbyterian School of Christian Education in 1961 and received her M.C.Ed. 
in 1963. She accepted a call to Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in 
Houston, Texas, and remained there until 1965, when she became director of 
Christian education (DCE) at First Presbyterian Church in Denton, Texas. 
 
     After leaving First Presbyterian Church, Love served two years as 
college admissions and church relations officer for Arkansas College, and 
in 1970 she became director of Christian education at Ridglea Baptist 
Theological Seminary, where she graduated with an Ed.D. in early childhood 
education in 1977. 
 
     Love was called to Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C., 
and later went to her current position as director of Christian education 
at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, also in Charlotte. 
 
     In addition to her work as DCE at Myers Park, Love is adjunct 
professor of Christian education at Pfeiffer College, Charlotte campus. As 
part of her present ministry, Love has developed an interim program for 
college students in which they work for a year in the field of Christian 
education. 
 
     An accomplished author, Love has written curriculum for CE:SA and 
articles for "Alert" and "Southwestern Baptist Bulletin." She is also 
co-author of "Get Ready, Get Set, Worship!" which was published in 1991. 
 
     Love has served her denomination in many capacities and jokingly said 
her roots run deep in "Presbyterian soil and Texas dirt." 
 
     Love has led workshops and leadership events in local churches, 
presbyteries and at Montreat.  In Mecklenburg (now Charlotte) Presbytery, 
Love has served as chair of the Christian Education Committee and on the 
Presbytery Council. She has also served as education vacancy consultant and 
certified adviser. 
 
     "I'm grateful for the teachers who nourished my roots of 
understanding," Love said, "and for mentors who encouraged me and 
challenged me to keep on keeping on." 
 
     Love also credited her husband, Walter E. (Buddy) Love, whom she 
married in 1981, for her continued success. And she attributed her passions 
for photography, cross-stitching, travel and beach-combing the North 
Carolina shores to her frequent childhood request:  "Give me something to 
do, Mom." 
 
     During the progam, several other award recipients were recognized. 
Honored with the APCE Life Achievement Award were Eloise Van Heest and Sara 
Covin Juengst. The Val Murphy Scholarship Award recipients were Lillie M. 
Green and Helen Parr. 
 
     Judy Ferguson, 1996-97 APCE president, said 22 educators have been 
certified since last year's APCE event, held in Atlanta. 

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  Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Louisville, KY 40202
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