wfn.org | Christian educators learn value of technology,

["Wilma Shuffitt"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

storytelling
Date: February 22, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

99b-10

	CHICAGO (UMNS) -- Churches must use today's music and 
technology to reach young people, a well-known United 
Methodist professor said at an ecumenical church educators 
event Feb. 3-6.

	The "emerging culture" is changing the way in which people 
sense and experience life, said the Rev. Tex Sample of  
Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Mo. 

	The emerging culture is multi-sensory and active, Sample 
said. Churches must use today's music, images and 
technology to reach youth, he said. "Churches that will 
reach the younger generations are those that touch people 
in a multi-sensory way." 

	Sample was among the speakers at FaithOdyssey: An 
Ecumenical Christian Educators Event. More than 2,000 local 
church educators, pastors, teachers and other educational 
leaders met to gain insights and inspiration for  ministry 
in the 21st century. One hundred and twenty Christian 
Church (Disciples of Christ) educators attended the event, 
according to the Rev. Jim Brooks, director of Christian 
education ministries for the Disciples Homeland Ministries 
division. (See accompanying release.)

	Throughout the event, speakers and workshop leaders 
stressed the importance of stories and storytelling. 
Participants were encouraged to use personal histories and 
faith stories as education tools.

	"We are a story-formed people. . . .  We must choose which 
stories we will claim. We must rehearse them and teach them 
to our children," said Elizabeth Caldwell, professor of 
educational ministry at McCormick Theological Seminary in 
Chicago. "The variety of cultures and faith traditions in 
our world today makes it essential that we know who we are 
and whose we are."

	The Rev. Ken Bedell stressed the importance of using new 
technologies in telling personal and faith stories. "We are 
moving from the campfire to the Internet," said the United 
Methodist minister and visiting professor at the Center for 
the Study of Communications and Culture, St. Louis. 
Religious education will be changed in the same way that 
television changed newspapers and the Internet has 
transformed other media, Bedell said. "Religious education 
will be changed, but we will still be building a community 
of understanding." 

	Linda J. Vogel, professor of Christian education at United 
Methodist-related Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary 
in Evanston, Ill., discussed the world in which Christian 
educators are called to work. She described it as a world 
in which "malls are cathedrals, and online shopping is 
Mecca." She reiterated that people must remember "who and 
whose we are. This is harder for people in our day because 
we are exposed to so much from so many different value 
bases."

	Other FaithOdyssey speakers included Mary Elizabeth 
Mullino Moore, professor, Claremont (Calif.) School of 
Theology; Charles Y. Chai, director, Korean-American Second 
Generation Ministry, Bethany Korean Presbyterian Church, 
Marietta, Ga.;  Marva J. Dawn, author of Reaching Out 
Without Dumbing Down and Is It a Lost Cause? Having the 
Heart of God for the Church's Children; the Rev. Emilie M. 
Townes, associate professor, Saint Paul School of Theology, 
Kansas City, Mo.; and Brian A. Wren, poet, theologian, 
teacher and author of Piece Together Praise -- A 
Theological Journey.

	Workshops included such diverse topics as "Gender Specific 
Ministry with Girls"; "Are Ye Liable? Ask the Lawyer"; 
"Discover Your Spiritual Type"; "Family, Faith and Terminal 
Illness"; "Ministry with the Millennial Generation"; 
"Quality Child Care"; "Domestic Violence"; "New Insights 
About the Bible from Archaeology"; "Cross-Cultural 
Considerations in Christian Education"; "The Learning 
Congregation"; and "Black Heritage and Christianity."  

	Among the Disciples presenting workshops were the Revs. 
Billye Bridges and Kaye Edwards, both Homeland Ministries 
associates; the Rev. Patrice Rosner, vice president, 
Christian Board of Publication, St. Louis; and the Rev. 
Marti Steussy, a professor at Christian Theological 
Seminary, Indianapolis.

	Other Disciples presenters included: the Revs. Fred 
Erickson and Ken Watson, Columbia, Mo; and the Revs. Carla 
Ficke, Denver, William Bingham, Frankfort, Ky., and Sharon 
Gouwens, Fort Worth, Texas.  

	Sponsoring denominations were the African Methodist 
Episcopal Zion Church; American Baptist Churches, U.S.A.; 
Church of the Brethren; Christian Church (Disciples of 
Christ); Episcopal Church; Evangelical Lutheran Church in 
America; Presbyterian Church (USA); Reformed Church in 
America; Presbyterian Church in Canada; United Church of 
Christ; United Church of Canada; and United Methodist 
Church. Cooperating denominations included the African 
Methodist Episcopal Church and Christian Methodist 
Episcopal Church.
                                                 
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                             Disciples educators look for 
new directions

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- While in Chicago for the church 
educators event, Disciples participants discussed new 
directions for the Association of Christian Church 
Educators. ACCE met Feb. 2-3.

	Five persons were named to a transition committee to 
explore new ways to nurture and support church education 
ministries, said the Rev. Jim Brooks. He is director of 
Christian education ministries for the Disciples Homeland 
Ministries division, and an ex officio member of the 
transition team.

	Named to the committee were the Rev. Richard English, 
Dallas; the Rev. Sharon Warner, Lexington, Ky.; the Rev. 
Charlsi Woodard, Paris, Ky.; the Rev. Becki Nunnally, 
Zionsville, Ind., and the Rev. Beth Dobyns, Des Moines, 
Iowa.

	The group will report its findings to ACCE in the spring 
of 2000. 

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