| Readers will note that this interview with Sharon Ely | | | | ages. |
| Pearson is the result of several questions, answers, | | | | There is a hunger in Episcopal Churches to better |
| and responses over a period of separate days. The | | | | understand how to read scripture and apply it to |
| title for this piece on “Sunday School,” | | | | today’s world. There is a hunger to learn spiritual |
| suggested by Sharon, says a great deal about where | | | | practices to keep one grounded in the midst of a |
| 2009 brings us in formation of members of The | | | | busy lifestyle. There is a desire for intergenerational |
| Episcopal Church in the United States, part of the | | | | methods of engaging each other, understanding that |
| worldwide Anglican communion of 77 million. Her title | | | | elders have much wisdom to share, children are often |
| for the interview is contained in this email response | | | | prophets calling us to see God in the world, and all |
| by her: | | | | ages in between make up the whole people of God. |
| | | | | Many adults in our society today were not brought |
| As far as title (suggested by me), "Sunday School | | | | up in a religious tradition, or had a bad experience as |
| with Sharon" (you reply that it) is rather demeaning | | | | a child with the institutional church. So when their |
| to the ministry of Christian formation and I prefer | | | | own children start asking existential questions about |
| you not use it. A title such as "Christian Formation: No | | | | God, Jesus, and the meaning of life, they turn back |
| Longer Your Grandmother's Sunday school" if you | | | | to the Church for assistance. |
| need to use the term Sunday school (which is not | | | | While many are looking for “education” for |
| used in the Episcopal Church very often anymore). It | | | | their children, they too are hungry for a deeper |
| is LIFE LONG formation and education into living out | | | | spiritual life and connection to the holy. |
| one's baptismal promises. | | | | Our world today is very fragmented, and our lives |
| | | | | are like a gerbil running on a wheel. The Church |
| Tell us then, is Christian Formation or what was called | | | | provides a community of faith in which one can slow |
| Sunday school, for children only? | | | | down, be renewed, and fed. |
| Christian formation is life long, so it includes all ages. | | | | And the Episcopal Church is open to all people. Our |
| This is occurring across denominational lines, and is | | | | doors are open to any seeker. As many would say, |
| not new to Christianity. It is reclaiming the | | | | you do not need to leave your questions at the door |
| understanding of how Christians were | | | | before you enter. We embrace Scripture, the |
| “formed” in the early Church. | | | | Traditions of the past, as well as Reason—our |
| Sunday school is no longer seen as a separate | | | | ability to make up our own minds and personal |
| component of education just for children. We like to | | | | decisions as to where we believe God is calling us. |
| use the term, “Christian formation” to | | | | |
| describe the continual lifelong process of deepening | | | | As we end this part of our article-interview, tell us |
| one’s understanding of his or her faith. | | | | something of your title and who you work for, as |
| In the Episcopal Church it involves all aspects of our | | | | well as something about what published materials are |
| life together – worship, service to others, | | | | offered by Church Publishing on Christian formation: |
| mission, pastoral care, evangelism, fellowship, AND | | | | My title is as the Christian Formation Specialist for |
| education. Education is comprised of learning and | | | | Church Publishing Incorporated (CPI) ( the publisher |
| reflecting, integrating holistically all of our experiences | | | | for the Episcopal Church. |
| with God’s Word, connecting faith and daily life. | | | | CPI publishes books on prayer, faith in the world, and |
| | | | | other topics of interest to those lay and ordained. |
| Where did the term “Sunday school” | | | | We publish “The Book of Common Prayer,” |
| originate? | | | | various Episcopal hymnals, and many resources. |
| The term “Sunday school” originated with | | | | (I) also work closely with one of its divisions, |
| Robert Raikes, a devout Anglican layman, (1736-1811) | | | | Morehouse Education Resources, which publishes |
| who started a movement of prison reform and | | | | curricula and educational materials for The Episcopal |
| education of offenders and poor children. The | | | | Church and other denominations, including the Roman |
| purpose of the school was to teach poor children (in | | | | Catholic Church. |
| “Soot Alley”) the rudiments of learning on | | | | These include the original lectionary-based curriculum, |
| Sunday, their free day. Of course the Bible was their | | | | Living the Good News, as well as Godly Play books |
| textbook, and from the movement the idea of | | | | and materials, All Things New, and many more. |
| Sunday schools spread to the Baptist, Congregational, | | | | Confirm not Conform a groundbreaking confirmation |
| and Methodist churches throughout England. In 1803 | | | | program for youth that was developed by St. |
| the London Sunday School Union was created. It was | | | | John’s Episcopal Church in Oakland, CA is also |
| also brought to America, and in 1824 the American | | | | part of their resources. |
| Sunday School Union was formed in Philadelphia. It | | | | Some basic questions of Sharon: |
| was, and is still today, characterized by strong | | | | Morehouse Education Resources is a division of |
| missionary and evangelistic zeal. There continues to | | | | Church Publishing Incorporated, located in Denver. |
| be a Unified Lessons Series curriculum, though this is | | | | Church Publishing’s main office is in New York |
| not usually used in Episcopal Churches. | | | | City, along with its parent company the Church |
| | | | | Pension Fund, which serves all (7,500) Episcopal |
| So, what is the official curriculum used for Christian | | | | congregations in the United States and beyond |
| Formation for Episcopalians? | | | | (many countries in the Caribbean and Latin |
| The Episcopal Church does not have a | | | | America): and Church Publishing publishes all liturgical |
| “mandatory” or endorsed curriculum for all to | | | | materials as stipulated by General Convention. |
| use. Holy Scripture (The Old and New Testaments) | | | | |
| and “The Book of Common Prayer” ground | | | | We also are partners with The Godly Play |
| us in study. We are the curriculum – individually | | | | Foundation and the founders of Confirm not |
| and our congregations together in all that we say and | | | | Conform -– both are used in the San Francisco |
| do as well as what is implicitly stated in how we | | | | Bay area. |
| shape our environment and provide hospitality. | | | | These two programs exemplify the ‘cutting |
| And remember, Christian Formation is not just about | | | | edge’ in the area of Christian formation and |
| memorizing doctrine, Bible verses, a Catechism, and | | | | education in the Episcopal Church (and beyond). |
| certain prayers. It is about developing a relationship | | | | |
| with God, and living out Jesus’ commandments in | | | | Are all the people you help Episcopalians? If others, |
| the world, “You shall love the Lord your God | | | | give me a couple of examples, please. |
| with all your heart and all your soul, and with all your | | | | Morehouse Education Resources publishes curricula |
| mind, and all your strength …You shall love your | | | | and sacramental resources used by many |
| neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12: 30-31) | | | | denominations. I participate with APCE, the |
| Episcopalians are called to live out The Baptismal | | | | Association of Presbyterian Christian Educators, the |
| Covenant and, what many consider the foundation of | | | | National Association for Episcopal Christian Education |
| our lives together and which guides us to live out our | | | | Directors as well as many educators from the |
| ministry in the world. | | | | United Methodist, Evangelical Lutheran Church of |
| All churches are called to use this as a foundation for | | | | America (ELCA), and Roman Catholic Church. |
| our life together, including our educational programs. | | | | |
| | | | | Will you name five people around the country who |
| How do you offer teachings on Baptism as part of | | | | you consider "partners" in your work and in its |
| Christian formation? | | | | direction? Notable ones are good, with Church name. |
| This Covenant takes seriously our call to be | | | | Is there anyone in specific in the San Francisco Bay |
| Christ’s ministers in the world at the moment of | | | | Area you can name? This is not to contact or |
| our Baptism. We understand that we are not empty | | | | interview, but as a kind of list of endorsers and |
| vessels to be filled with knowledge, but are known | | | | people who are prominently involved in Christian |
| by God and already have a relationship with God, no | | | | Formation and Sunday school. |
| matter what age. | | | | - Julia McCray-Goldsmith, Director of Ministry |
| By virtue of our Baptism, in the Episcopal Church, we | | | | Development, Episcopal Diocese of California (located |
| believe we are full members of the Body of Christ. | | | | in San Francisco); |
| God was present with us at birth, and at Baptism we | | | | - Melissa Neofes Mischak, Director of Christian |
| are filled with the Holy Spirit, that continues to remain | | | | Formation, Christ Episcopal Church (Alameda, CA); |
| with us, being “marked as Christ’s own | | | | - Carol Campbell, Resource Center Director, Episcopal |
| forever” with the sign of the Cross on our | | | | Dioceses of El Camino Real and California (located in |
| forehead, one of the outward and visible signs, with | | | | Sunnyvale); |
| water that is exhibited at Baptism – no matter | | | | - Wendy Cliff, Director of Christian Formation, St. |
| what age we are. | | | | Paul’s’ Episcopal Church, Oakland, CA; and |
| | | | | - The Rev. Beth Foote, Rector, Holy Trinity, Menlo |
| Will you give an example? | | | | Park, CA |
| An excellent example of how this is experienced in a | | | | |
| church setting with children is through a program | | | | How many Churches do you serve? |
| called Godly Play ( | | | | 7,500 Episcopal churches (a membership of over 2 |
| This Montessori-approach to children’s formation | | | | million) and many from other denominations. |
| was developed by The Rev. Dr. Jerome Berryman, | | | | |
| understanding that children have a desire to learn | | | | Are all the people you help Episcopalians? If others, |
| liturgical language while exploring their relationship with | | | | give a couple of examples, please. |
| God and Jesus on their own terms. While learning the | | | | I participate with APCE, the Association of |
| lessons of the Old and New Testaments, children | | | | Presbyterian Christian Educators as well as many |
| learn to fall in love with God all over again and again. | | | | folks from the United Methodist, Evangelical Lutheran |
| The program is child-centered and is story-based, | | | | Church of America (ELCA), and Roman Catholic |
| using beautiful materials and open-ended wondering | | | | Church. Morehouse Education Resources publishes |
| questions to allow the child to place themselves in | | | | curricula and sacramental resources used by many |
| the various stories of God’s people. It is a | | | | denominations. |
| program used in a growing number of churches of | | | | |
| many denominations. | | | | Note: Sharon says she:travels extensively, offering |
| | | | | workshops and consultations to congregations in |
| So Christian formation is just for children? It seems | | | | need of training and program planning |
| so many parents come to a church for the moral, | | | | support.produces a free, monthly e-newsletter, Living |
| spiritual, and religious education of their children. They | | | | IN-Formation as well as maintains an on-line Resource |
| want their child to have a firm sense of right and | | | | Room of support materials for the Christian |
| wrong: | | | | educator. |
| But Christian formation is not just for children. It is a | | | | Readers may write Sharon: Sharon Ely Pearson, |
| lifelong process in which all of us are continually | | | | Christian Formation Specialist Church Publishing |
| learning and growing in our relationship with God. | | | | Incorporated/Morehouse Education Resources Mailing |
| At the Episcopal Church’s triennial gathering this | | | | address:17 Pumpkin Lane - Norwalk, CT 06851 |
| July in Anaheim, one of the pieces of legislation will | | | | |
| include a Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation. | | | | Images: (1) Godly Play class. Photo courtesy Church |
| Patterned after The Children’s Charter for the | | | | Publishing. (2) Sharon Ely Pearson. Photo courtesy of |
| Church passed in 1998, this document will highlight | | | | Church Publishing. |
| the importance of education and formation for all | | | | |