Educating Congregations: The Future of Christian Education
A practical guide for revisioning and reworking the church's educational programAfter identifying the weaknesses in current education programs (which depend on the public school model), Charles Foster offers an alternative vision of Christian education that is more corporate, more attentive to the whole of the congregation's life, and helps people critically correlate the Bible and Christian tradition to their experience.By drawing from the theories of writers such as C. Ellis Nelson and Maria Harris, the author moves beyond their work to make a unique contribution to the field. He incorporates a series of exercises in congregational analysis so that readers can revise and perform the exercises in terms of their own congregational settings.By providing a practical guide for the pastor or Christian educator interested in reworking the church's educational program, Educating Congregations will appeal primarily to church leaders, with additional use as a supplementary text for introductory courses in Christian education."Educating Congregations is a thoughtful and insightful prophetic book out of the Protestant, liberal, enlightenment tradition worthy of reflection and conversation by all who care about the future of Christian education."--John H. Westerhoff, Professor of Theology and Christian Nurture, The Divinity School, Duke UniversityA leading Christian educator offers a practical guide for revisioning a church's educational program. After identifying the weaknesses in current education programs, Charles Foster offers an alternative vision that is more cooperative, more attentive to the whole of the congregation's life, and that helps people critically correlate the Bible and Christian tradition to their own experience.--Dr. Joyce Ann Mercer, Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Christian Education, The Graduate Theological Union and San Francisco Theological SeminaryIn Educating Congregations, Charles Foster offers a clear and challenging picture of the state of education in the church today. But the real gift of this book is the vision he offers as to the ways in which congregations can educate for the future and become communities of meaning and hope. A practical, yet conceptually solid book, this is an important resource for pastors, church educators, lay leaders, and any who care about the future of the church and its educational ministry.--Karen B. Tye, Professor of Christian Education, Eden Theological SeminaryI have used this book in classes with seminary students for years and know it has been used with good results in congregations as well. Foster provides insightful analysis of contemporary challenges for Christian education as well as immanently practical guidance for making local church education responsive to particular social contexts while drawing faithfully on the riches of tradition.--Theodore Brelsford, Assistant Professor of Religion and Education, Candler School of Theology