wfn.org | APCE Exhibits Range from the High Tech to the Hand Crafted

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

11-February-1997 
97073 
 
 
                     APCE Exhibits Range From 
                The High Tech to The Hand Crafted 
 
                         by Julian Shipp 
 
SAN DIEGO, Calif.--Exhibits at this year's Association of Presbyterian 
Church Educators (APCE) conference ranged from high-tech, computerized 
versions of the "Book of Order" and "The Book of Confessions" to a 
hand-crafted Jesus doll designed to be a visual reminder of Christ's 
constant presence. 
 
     Brenda Grauer, a liturgical artist and president of In Stitches Center 
for Liturgical Art of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, said the concept of the Jesus 
doll came to her through recurring dreams she experienced for a period of 
approximately eight months. After yielding to her dreams, Grauer said, she 
designed a prototype of the doll and exhibited it at an APCE meeting in 
Dallas. 
 
     "Toying" with the image of Jesus was initially a great challenge for 
Grauer -- and one that she approached with great humility, fear and 
commitment. Yet demand for the 25-inch-tall doll proved incredible -- so 
much so that the doll is now manufactured by Commonwealth Toys in New York 
City, then shipped to Ohio for final detailing. 
 
     "I perceive this doll to serve not as an  idol' but, as my 
Episcopalian friends say, a  three-dimensional icon,' Grauer told the 
Presbyterian News Service, "an icon which helps us to draw near Jesus and 
serves as a reminder of his nearness, care, love and compassion for us." 
 
     Grauer said the Jesus doll serves as a reminder of God's love for 
people who are separated from their communities of faith due to illness, 
distance or institutionalization. It is an interactive figure for children 
and adults alike, and, Grauer said, the doll is also "incredibly huggable." 
 
     Visitors to the APCE Community Center (exhibit area) were also able to 
shop at the conference bookstore managed by Cokesbury, purchase exotic, 
hand-crafted international gifts, and gaze over tabletop displays featuring 
information, resources, and other tools of the trade for those involved in 
educational ministry. 
 
     Curriculum Publishing PC(USA) displayed its line of resources designed 
to support the educational ministry of congregations. Featured in the 
Curriculum Publishing 1997-98 catalog, they included "Celebrate," "Bible 
Discovery," resources in Korean and Spanish and the popular "Men's Bible 
Study Series."  
 
     In step with the information age, several eye-catching, multimedia 
resources were also displayed, including electronic versions of  "The 
Presbyterian Hymnal," "The Annotated Book of Order" and "The Book of 
Confessions." The latter two were produced cooperatively by the Office of 
the General Assembly and Presbyterian Publishing Corporation's (PPC) Geneva 
Press. PPC provides technical support to either PC or Macintosh users of 
the software through its Curriculum Helpline. 
 
     PPC also unveiled a major new focus on congregational resources, 
including "The Whole People of God," an independently produced, ecumenical 
curriculum for all age groups, and "Witness," an ecumenical curriculum for 
young children through the eighth grade produced by Augsburg Fortress 
Publishers. 
 
     "We're excited about working with a variety of highly respected 
religious publishers," said Davis Perkins, PPC president and publisher. 
"The ecumenical curricula and Bible studies we're offering already enhance 
Presbyterian values and beliefs, and in most cases PPC will also provide 
Presbyterian editorial consultation for future resource development." 

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