Editor: Mark Edward Simpson, 4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Living and Teaching in a Pluralistic World
Wanted: Current Research Presentations
NAPCE Membership Report
Help NAPCE Promote the 1998 Annual Conference
Book Reviews
Research Grant Proposal Guidelines
News Briefs
Discussion Groups Are Coming to the NAPCE Web Site!
Youth Ministry Educators Forum
Conference Reservation Information
Nominations to the Board
Living and Teaching in a Pluralistic World–NAPCE Annual
Conference 1998 Schedule
Change is inevitable, growth is not. So said one of my mentors a number of years ago. I think he was right! Are you having trouble living and teaching (catching your breath?) in your world? Does it seem like a culture war swirls around your ministry? Or perhaps you wonder what the confabulation is all about! Well, let's plan to meet! For what purpose? To cultivate the personal and professional development of the Christian educator. Review and research. Relax and relate. Rethink and refer. Read (as in discern) and reach out. Retool and revive. We need the restoration; we need the refreshment; we need the relationship with other members of our academy.
Where? Nashville. Music City USA. "Athens of the South" (think Centennial Park and the Parthenon). Music Row (think Country Music Hall of Fame, Wax Museum, and Car Collectors Hall of Fame). Historic Market Street (think good restaurants). Tennessee State Capitol and State Museum. The Hermitage and other historical mansions. The Grand Ole Opry. Publishing houses, academic institutions and education centers. The Sunday School Board. Where? The Club House Inn and Conference Center at 920 Broadway in downtown Nashville!
Our conference sessions will be held in the facilities of The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention across the street from the Club House Inn. You will have the opportunity to tour there tremendous facilities as well as meet the president of the Sunday School Board, Dr. James Draper. Other members of the Sunday School Board may also drop in from time to time to join our general sessions and workshops.
This year our conference will feature two keynote speakers: Dr. D. A. Carson (think The Gagging of God and Christianity Confronts Pluralism), and Dr. Carolyn Tennant (think an astute implementer in the multicultural arena and a student of cultures applying what she has learned to help Bible colleges and seminaries address pluralism).
Donald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Donald has a Ph.D. in New Testament
from Cambridge University, and has written or edited over 40 books. He will be the
featured speaker during the first two general sessions on Thursday and Friday.
Carolyn Tennant is the Vice President of Academic Affairs at North Central
Bible College in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. Carolyn has a Ph.D. in Education from
the University of Colorado, and has served in the field of education for 30 years. She
will be the featured speaker during the final two general sessions on Friday and Saturday.
After each general session, a reaction team moderated by a NAPCE member will lead conference participants in dialogue with the guest speakers. No passive listening here–each session will challenge us to wrestle with the ideas and issues presented by our conference speakers.
In addition to the general sessions, the conference will also feature Professional Development Workshops (think challenging presentations to equip you for teaching); Current Research sessions (think the latest and best, maybe you sharing yours!); Seasons of Life Workshops (think "mentor modes" according to where you find yourself in your career); publisher displays (think new resources, expert advice, and free materials!); and dialogue with NAPCE colleagues (think informally and during the general sessions). As always, fellowship, relaxation, and recreation will be present as well (remember: we are in Nashville–if you can’t find something to do here, a restaurant to check out, or some time to relax . . .).
I want to encourage you to come to Nashville for this year’s annual conference. Together let’s learn to live and teach in a pluralistic world!
We are looking for faculty and students interested in sharing their research at the upcoming NAPCE annual conference. The research can be empirical in nature, or fit more of an historical, philosophical, or theological model. A high quality of research workmanship is expected. Research presentations are set for Friday, October 16th, during the conference in Nashville.
If you are interested in making a presentation, send a one-to-two page abstract of your research to:
Kevin E. Lawson
Talbot School of Theology
13800 Biola Avenue
La Mirada, CA 90639
Phone: (562) 903-6000
The deadline for submissions is September 1st. However, if space is limited, those who apply early and are accepted will be given preference. This is a great opportunity to share what you have been working on, receive feedback from others, and stimulate others to extend your work into new arenas. Join us for a great conference, and share your work with us!
The membership of the association has reached 247 for the 1997-1998 year (October 1-September 30). This is the highest membership we have had in several years and indicates the growing 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 $40 per year and student membership is $25 per year. Checks should be made to NAPCE and payable in U.S. funds. Memberships received between now and October 1st will be counted for the 1998-1999 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:
c/o 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).
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.
Each issue of the NAPCE Newsletter features two book reviews by our membership. These new reviews, plus reviews from previous newsletters, are available online at the NAPCE home page.
Rogers, William B. 1996. Being a Christian educator: Discovering your identity, heritage, and vision. Macon, GA: Smith & Helwys Pub. 100 pgs. ISBN: 1-57312-092-8. Reviewed by Kevin Lawson, Associate Professor of Educational Ministries, Talbot Theological Seminary.
This book is the first in the "Faith Growth" series by Smith & Helwys, overviewing the work of Christian education. In it, Rogers develops a philosophical perspective built on his understanding of the dynamic synergism of various components that are foundational to educational ministry (faith growth): the curricular tasks (worship, community, Bible study, discipleship), church functions (administration, witness, teaching), and the groupings (family, children, youth, adult), that are utilized in its accomplishment. He also addresses issues and raises questions regarding the locus of authority for faith growth and the roles of discipline and historical and personal experience in the spiritual growth process.
Rogers provides a helpful basic structure for examining foundational issues, and responds to the issues raised with positions that are at times simple and profound, and at other times vague or not well developed. His evaluation of other positions and historical practices tends toward caricature, while his own position is presented as a dialectic between others' extremes. In some respects the text raises significant issues and provides a glimpse at how they might be approached. Ultimately, the work suffers from its brevity and the attempt to interact with so many ideas in so little space. It could serve as supplemental reading in a philosophical foundations course to raise issues for discussion.
Moran, Gabriel. 1997. Showing how: The act of teaching. Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International. 250 pgs. Reviewed by Bob De Vries, Professor of Church Education, Calvin Theological Seminary.
Moran, who is generally acknowledged to be a leader in the field of religious education, turns his attention in this latest work to the philosophical and ethical aspects of teaching. Rather than settling for a simplistic answer to the question "Why teach?," Moran pursues the epistemological and ethical aspects of the issue–"How do we know? How are we able to communicate that knowledge to others? Ethically we must ask about the morality of effecting change in others. What are the moral implications of indoctrination and/or teaching morality?"
The book is divided into three principal parts: what does it mean to teach, what are the languages of teaching, and what are the implications of this teaching for education, the school, and the morality of teaching.
Moran's volume, like so many of his other works, breaks the pattern of traditional thought. He asks hard questions and especially challenges those rooted in the evangelical tradition. But the questions are valid insofar as they are necessary questions for all educators to consider.
This book is likely best suited for use in upper level college and seminary courses on the philosophy and theology of Christian education. The text is well footnoted and contains a full index of topics.
NAPCE has been given a renewable grant of $5,000 each year by David C. Cook Church Ministries to award money for 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.
The applicant should submit a current curriculum vitae and a proposal outline (1,000 word maximum) addressing the following questions:
1. Type of Research: Is the research descriptive, evaluative, or archival?
2. Quality of Proposal: Does the research project have clearly defined problems and goals, appropriate research methodology, and a realistic budget?
3. 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?
4. 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?
5. 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:
1. NAPCE Research Grant applicants/recipients must have been members of NAPCE for at least two years.
2. 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.
3. Limit the funding of up to one dissertation research proposal to be funded biennially.
4. Funding will not usually be available for expenses related to travel, tuition for courses, or attendance at conferences or seminars.
5. Funding will normally be limited to a maximum of $1,000 per funded proposal.
6. 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).
7. 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: (916) 224-5600
Fax: (916) 224-5608
Retiring or Recently Retired?
Members who are retiring this year or who retired recently are asked to let the
newsletter editor know so this milestone may be announced in a future issue. Members who
know of retirements in our membership should let the editor know as well so that we will
not miss anyone.
Gary Newton Appointed Associate Professor of Educational Ministries at
Huntington College
Gary Newton will be joining the Huntington College Educational Ministries team
beginning with the 1998-1999 academic year. He will also be the Director of Graduate
Educational Ministry Programs at Huntington. Gary will be joining the existing leadership
team of David Rahn, Mark Lamport, and Karen Jones at Huntington.
The Huntington team has preliminary approval to add another full-time faculty member to teach primarily at the undergraduate level beginning Fall 1999. If you are interested in being considered for this position or know of an excellent prospect for candidacy, please contact:
Mark A. Lamport
Huntington College
Huntington, IN 46750
Phone: (219) 359-4291
Fax: (219) 358-3700
E-mail: mlamport@huntington.edu
Vic Ostrom to Teach in Singapore
Vic Ostrom, adjunct with AGTS and Education Enrichment Ministries, will be
teaching two short-term courses in Singapore at the Assemblies of God Bible College in
June and July. He will then teach one course at the Asia Theological College. This will be
his fourth visit to these institutions, wholly supported by short- term missions funding.
Karen Jones Completes Dissertation on Faith Development and Missions
Karen Jones successfully completed her doctoral dissertation at Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary for the Ph.D. in Youth Education. Her topic was a
quasi-experimental study of the impact of short-term missions projects on the faith
development of adolescents. If you would like to know more about her study, please contact
Karen by phone at (219) 359-4270, or by e-mail at kjones@huntington.edu.
Southern Seminary Announces Mediated Learning Model Ed.D. in Leadership Degree
The School of Christian Education and Leadership of The Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary recently received approval from the Association of Theological
Schools (ATS) to offer a doctoral degree based on a mediated learning instructional model.
Southern Seminary is the first institution ATS has approved to use the mediated learning
format at the doctoral level.
The Ed.D. in Leadership program utilizes accelerated format for the research seminars conducted on campus three times a year encompassed by full-time, home-based study requiring heavy use of the Internet, discussion groups, and e-mail. For more information on this degree, visit the program web site at: http://www.sbts.edu/celead/edd/edd.html.
PACE to Create a CE Database Online
The Professional Association of Christian Educators (PACE) will be "linking
up" with NAPCE in the near future through our web pages. PACE is looking to expand
their web site to include a Christian education database online that would provide current
help for people throughout the world with CE materials, e.g., reference works, journal
articles, book reviews, etc. Although the project will be a major step for PACE, and will
involve a significant amount of fund-raising, the PACE officers believe God is behind the
project and will see it come to fruition.
For further information about this project, contact Jay Sedwick at Dallas Theological Seminary (214) 874-4499 or at jsedwick@flash.net.
Member Directory and E-mail Lists Online
The NAPCE membership directory has been posted online at the NAPCE web site. Only
members who have given us permission to provide selected information are listed. You can
reach the directory via the home page:
http://www.sbts.edu/celead/napce/napce.html
Several of you have asked for the membership e-mail list to announce faculty positions, etc. This list is available online at a special URL released to members only. To request the address list, contact web site manager Mark Simpson at msimpson@sbts.edu. The list is made available as a text file that any word processor can modify to accommodate bulk e-mail requirements.
David C. Cook Article Service and Techno-Methods
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.
The Church Ministries division also offers free telephone and video conferencing for the Christian education classroom. For additional information on either service contact:
Lee Cook
David C. Cook Church Ministries
4050 Lee Vance View
Colorado Springs, CO 80918-9952
Phone: (800) 708-5550, x3983
What's News with You?
If you would like to update your mailing profile for the NAPCE Newsletter and
mailings from publishers or share information about yourself or another Christian educator
for publication in the NAPCE Newsletter, please send your updated information,
news item, name, and institution name to:
Mark Simpson
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
2825 Lexington Road
Louisville, KY 40280
Phone: (502) 897-4813
Fax: (502) 897-4004
E-mail: msimpson@sbts.edu.
News information can also be sent via the Update Your NAPCE Profile option on the NAPCE web site.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has recently added discussion group software to its web server that houses the NAPCE web site. Look for a discussion group to be set up for NAPCE sometime this summer.
The discussion group software will allow NAPCE members to dialogue about topics related to the mission of the organization and Christian education. Once the software is up and running, an e-mail announcement will be sent to all NAPCE members.
If you have a suggestion for discussion group topics, please e-mail them to Mark Simpson at msimpson@sbts.edu.
The 5th annual Youth Ministry Educators Forum will once again piggyback with the NAPCE conference. Youth ministry educators from across North America will gather at the Club House Inn in downtown Nashville from Saturday, October 17th through Monday, October 19th.
Ted Ward will be the keynote plenary speaker. In addition, workshops of interest to professional youth ministry educators and seminars on youth ministry research will be an attractive part of the schedule. Last fall over 70 educators from dozens of colleges, seminaries, and parachurch organizations attended these provocative meetings. Nothing is traditional about the dynamics and program of YME. There is a refreshing diversity of perspective wrapped in "a common-bond, same-purpose feel." Among other things, a proposed YME mission statement and information about a possible YME-sponsored journal will be addressed. Come help us make the important decisions in these first years of YME.
A letter detailing the program, costs, theme, workshops and other specific details will be mailed to those on the YME mailing list and published in the next NAPCE Newsletter. For those not on the mailing list or those who do not receive the information, please contact:
Mark Lamport
Huntington College
Huntington, IN 46570
Phone: (219) 359-4291
E-mail: mlamport@huntington.edu
It is not too early to make reservations for the Nashville conference, particularly for hotel accommodations and airline travel. You will especially want to renew your membership using the form on the conference brochure.
Hotel Reservations
Your hotel reservations should be made directly with: Club House Inn, 920
Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203, phone (615) 244-0150. Please indicate that you are with
NAPCE to receive the rate of $75 for single or double occupancy. The cut-off date is
October 1st–thereafter reservations will be accepted on a space available basis and
also at the prevailing rate of the hotel. You must make your reservations prior to October
1st to secure the NAPCE room rate.
Airline Special Rates
Southwest Airlines is offering NAPCE members a 10% discount on most of its
already low fares for travel to and from the conference in Nashville. You or your travel
agent may call the Southwest Airlines Group and Meeting desk at (800) 433-5368, Monday
through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. or Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 .m. To
receive the discount, you must refer to the following code: L.D. Code S4478.
Reservations must be made by October 8th to receive the discount. Fares and seating are
subject to availability.
Nominations are now being taken to fill upcoming vacancies on the NAPCE Board. Nominations can be in the form of recommendations of persons you would like to see on the board, or in the form of volunteering to serve on the board.
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 16th. Please send your list of nominees to:
David Rahn
Huntington College
Huntington, IN 46570
Phone: (219) 359-4291
E-mail: drahn@huntington.edu
| Thursday, October 15th 1:00-5:00 P.M. Registration 3:30-5:00 P.M. Tour of the Sunday School Board 5:30 P.M. Reception 6:30 P.M. Dinner 7:45 P.M. General Session—D. A. Carson "Deck Chairs on the Titanic: Living in a Pluralistic World" Friday, October 16th |
 Flag Room at the Sunday School Board |
| 10:15-10:45 A.M. Break 10:45 A.M.-Noon Professional Development Workshops 12:15-2:00 P.M. Lunch and NAPCE Annual Meeting 2:15-3:30 P.M. Current Research 3:30-6:30 P.M. Leisure Time or Tour of the Sunday School Board 6:30-7:15 P.M. Dinner 7:30 P.M. General Session—Carolyn Tennant "Viewing Christian Education through the Eyes of a Different Culture" Saturday, October 17th |
 Club House Inn Accommodations |
Please note that the Youth Ministry Educators Forum Begins Saturday P.M. and requires separate registration and room reservations.