Nominations will be taken up to October 1st. The NAPCE
Board will then discuss the slate of nominees and contact the
prospective board members to confirm interest in serving on
the board. The slate of new officers will then be presented
during the annual meeting luncheon on Friday, October 27th.
The NAPCE Board is configured to represent the diversity of
our membership. The Board uses eight factors in forming the
slate of nominees:
- Geographical distribution.
- Balance between college and seminary professors.
- Ratio of male and female board members.
- No more than one Board member from a school.
- Minimum of three years of previous involvement in NAPCE.
- Able to attend board meetings and the annual conference.
- Willing and able to be an officer.
- Professional contribution to the field.
Please send your list of nominees to:
Greg Carlson - NAPCE President
Grace University
1311 South Ninth Street • Omaha, NE 68108
Phone: (402) 449-2842 • Fax: (402) 341-9587
E-mail: carlsondrg@aol.com
NAPCE Online!
Mark Simpson, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
NAPCE has its own domain name on the Internet. You are
invited to access the NAPCE web pages through the URL http://www.napce.org.
This permanent URL should make locating the NAPCE web pages
easier if/when a change in Internet Service Provider (ISP) is
necessary.
Please note that the online research discussion groups
and the placement opportunities discussion groups have been
discontinued due to a lack of interest by the membership.
You are encouraged to watch future issues of this
newsletter for information on the new protocols being
implemented in the coordination of placement opportunities.
Mari Gonlag is the NAPCE Board Placement Coordinator.
Research Grants
James Davies, Simpson College
NAPCE, through the generosity of David C. Cook Church
Ministries, has funds available to assist members with
research projects related to the field of Christian education.
David C. Cook Church Ministries has the option of publishing
the research in cooperation with the NAPCE Board. The results
will be made available to all NAPCE members and their schools
biennially. Agreement to publication is a condition for
funding.
In February, a research grant of $750 was awarded by the
NAPCE Board to Donna Thoennes for her dissertation research.
Persons interested in submitting a research proposal for
consideration should submit a current curriculum vitae and a
proposal outline (1,000 word maximum) addressing the following
questions:
- Type of Research: Is the research descriptive,
evaluative, or archival?
- Quality of Proposal: Does the research project have
clearly defined problems and goals, appropriate research
methodology, and a realistic budget?
- Promise of the Applicant: Does the applicant have the
necessary background and skills for the project, hold promise
for solid scholarly work, demonstrate need for this funding,
and demonstrate skill in writing for publication?
- Potential Contribution: Will the research project
address a significant question/issue for Christian education,
benefit scholars and practitioners in the field, and
strengthen and give focus or direction to the discipline?
- Potential for Completion: Does the project have access
to the necessary resources and a clear time schedule with the
promise of completion within two years?
The following principles will influence the review of
proposals:
- NAPCE Research Grant applicants/recipients must have
been members of NAPCE for at least two years.
- In awarding funds, preference will be given to:
a. Applicants who have never received any research
funding from other sources
b. Applicants who have not received research funding from
NAPCE in the previous 5 years or
c. Non-dissertation research proposals.
- Funding will not usually be available for expenses
related to travel, tuition for courses, or attendance at
conferences or seminars.
- Funding will normally be limited to a maximum of $1,000
per funded proposal.
- Awardees will sign an agreement to handle the funds with
accountability and submit a written summary of 20 to 50 pages
on the results of the research project by a mutually
acceptable deadline (normally January of the following year).
- A committee appointed by the NAPCE Board will serve as
editors for a potential publication of the results. They will
work with David C. Cook Church Ministries to produce said
volume within the stated financial limitations.
Funding is on a first come basis. Please send research
proposals to:
James Davies
Simpson College
2211 Collegeview Drive • Redding, CA 96003
Phone: (530) 224-5600 x2149
Fax: (530) 224-2051
News Briefs
Ratcliff Research URL Changes
Don Ratcliff has changed the URL address for his web pages
on qualitative research to the following: http://don.ratcliff.net/qual.
Toronto Airport Code
When making your plane reservations to attend the NAPCE
Annual Conference in Toronto, be sure to use the airport code
YYZ.
David C. Cook Article Service Online!
David C. Cook Church Ministries makes available a free Christian
Education Article Service. This service provides magazines
with excerpts from significant writings across a variety of
vocations in Christian education ministry. This article
service will soon also be available electronically via the
Internet. Please contact Dawn
Boden for additional information if you are responsible for a
magazine or other publication: 4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado
Springs, CO 80918, phone (800) 708-5550, x3983, e-mail MinistryRelations@cookministries.org.
What’s News with You?
If you would like to update your mailing profile or share
information about yourself or another Christian
educator for publication in the Newsletter, please send
your updated information, news item, name and institution name
to Mark Simpson: 2825 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40280, or
e-mail msimpson@sbts.edu.
NAPCE Membership
Dennis Williams, Executive Administrator
The membership in NAPCE has continued to grow each year,
indicating the strength of the association. Members receive
the NAPCE Newsletter, the Christian Education
Journal and, from time to time, free books provided by
publishers.
Many who receive this newsletter have not renewed their
membership. We invite you to do so for the coming year.
Membership is open to persons who teach Christian education
in institutions of higher learning, persons who teach in
related areas, persons who formerly taught Christian education
in colleges or seminaries, and leaders of related Christian
education organizations. Full membership is $50 per year and
student membership is $25 per year. Checks should be made to
NAPCE and payable in U.S. funds. Memberships are now being
accepted for the 2000-2001 membership year. Please send your
membership fee payable in U.S. funds along with your name and
title, address (indicate home or work), home phone, work
phone, fax line, e-mail address, and school/organization to
NAPCE:
Dennis E. Williams
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
2825 Lexington Road • Louisville, KY 40280
Phone: (502) 897-4813
Fax: (502) 897-4004
E-mail: celead@sbts.edu
Please indicate if we have permission to post your
membership on our web pages (excluding home address and/or
home phone of course).
Help Promote the Annual Conference
Dennis Williams, Executive Administrator
Enclosed with this newsletter is our annual conference
brochure. We hope you will use it to register for the
conference as soon as possible. If you have already
registered, please pass the brochure to a colleague and
encourage him or her to attend. If necessary, feel free to
duplicate the brochure as needed. We would like to have a
large attendance at the conference again this year.
It is not too early to make reservations for the Toronto
conference, particularly for hotel accommodations and airline
travel. You will especially want to renew your membership
using the form on the conference brochure.
Please make note of the custom requirements for travel
between the United States and Canada. You will need a
passport, or a drivers license AND birth certificate to enter
Canada.
Book Reviews
James Davies, Simpson College
Each issue of the NAPCE Newsletter features book reviews by
our membership. These new reviews, in addition to reviews from
previous newsletters, are available online at the NAPCE web
site.
Maddux, George L., ed. 1995.
The encyclopedia of aging.
2nd ed. New York, NY: Springerpub Co. Reviewed by
James Davies, Simpson College.
This 1216 page reference book is a "comprehensive
resource" in Gerontology and Geriatrics. It shows good
scholarship and breath of coverage. Compilations range from
‘abilities’ to ‘World Assembly on Aging.’ This is a
rework of the first edition (1986) which sold thousands of
copies. It is written in language and style understandable to
nonspecialists. Seventy percent of the original material was
updated and revised, another 20 percent is entirely new.
Articles are concise and well written.
Social, political and physiological aspects of aging are
well covered. Unfortunately, emphasis on religion and the role
of religious faith for people over 55 years of age are not.
Only three pages are devoted to ‘religion,’ even though it
has moved into mainstream gerontology research.
Kimble's
Aging, Spirituality and Religion
(Fortress Press, 1995) remains the standard for religious
gerontology addressing service delivery, applied research,
theology, ministry, prayer, congregational programming,
community intervention and more.
In spite of its shortfalls,
The Encyclopedia of Aging
should be found in every college and seminary library. It
is a treasure house showing the diversity, professions,
organizations, issues and programs associated with the mature
adult population.
Larson, Edward, and Darrel Amundsen. 1998. A different
death. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. Reviewed by
James Davies, Simpson College.
A scholarly and comprehensive exposition of the teaching of
the Christian church on assisted suicide and euthanasia
throughout the ages. In a culture unable to come to grips with
aging, pain, terminal illness, and discouragement the claims
of assisted suicide can be seductive. This book, co-written by
the 1998 Pulitzer Prize winning author, will firmly plant one’s
feet on a biblical, ethical and moral path. Beneficial for
youth workers and up. The resources here will be most helpful.
Someone should tell Jack Kevorkian that we need more Christian
caring not killing. Of related interest:
Johnston, Brian. 1997. Death of a salesman. Sacramento,
CA: New Regency Publishing.
A well done popular level book dealing with the issues of
pain and assisted suicide. The author, a Commissioner on the
California Commission on Aging, clearly documents the concerns
for making a case against euthanasia.
Chamberlain, Paul. 2000. Final wishes. Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
A tale of death and dignity. Addresses the legal, political,
medical and ethical questions between a doctor and his friend
dying a slow, agonizing death. The personal side is
highlighted by a caring family and deep friendship.
Garland, Diana R. 1999. Family ministry: A comprehensive
guide. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. Reviewed
by James Davies, Simpson College.
Full of careful research and seasoned reflection, this text
blends together three vital arenas: the Christian purpose of
family, the multifaceted, complex world our families inhabit,
and the practice of family ministry in the church. Upbeat yet
realistic. It has easy to follow structure and is written in
nontechnical terms.
This reviewer found the segments on creative and
destructive uses of anger–I have a 23-year-old son who
wrestles with that difficulty–the historic influence of the
church on family life, and God as Covenant partner, to be
stimulating.
The book is not without weaknesses. Blended families and
step-parenting deserve more than three pages of discussion,
however precise. Also, at 627 pages the publishers should have
included a comprehensive index.
A majority of chapters end with a well-thought out list of
ministry strategies and implications. This book may well
replace Sell’s Family Ministry as the standard text
in the field. Instructors using this work as a text will find
experiential exercises and case studies for classroom or
workshop use at http://www.cfcm.baylor.edu.
There is no charge for downloading and making copies of these
resources.
Venable, Stephen, and Donald Joy. 1998. How to use
camping experiences in religious education. Birmingham,
AL: Religious Education Press. Reviewed by James Davies,
Simpson College.
This book, in the Kenosis series, is one of the best
nuts-and-bolts treatments on Christian camping in the last 15
years. Beginning with the premise that camping is an effective
tool for bringing people to Christian faith and for nurturing
and discipleship, the eleven short chapters constitute
handbook tools on critical aspects: the power of community,
the importance of Scripture and worship experiences,
recruiting and training counselors, types of camps, rites of
passage, budgeting and leadership team. The chapter on back
country camping was a highlight.
Each chapter ends with an annotated bibliography of
additional resources. Written by two seasoned professionals,
this is a must get book for those teaching about camping or
retreat experiences.
Harbaugh, Jim. 1999. A 12-step approach to the spiritual
exercises of St. Ignatius. Franklin, WI: Sheed & Ward.
Reviewed by James Davies, Simpson College.
A fascinating weaving between the four-week long exercises
of St. Ignatius and the currently popular 12 Step approach.
The author, a Campus Minister and professor in the Addiction
Studies Program at Seattle University, has directed 12 Step
retreats for many years. A potentially powerful sourcebook for
people seeking to use both prayer and meditation during
recovery.
Reaching
the Nations Through Christian Education
