CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CURRICULUM SURVEY May PDF Free Download

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CURRICULUM SURVEY May 2013 An n- line survey was held n a vluntary basis frm April 1 May 1 t learn what curricula was being used in cngregatins with children, yuth and adults. The survey was initially psted thrugh scial media (Facebk, Twitter, Building Faith) and varius rganizatinal list- serves (Frma, PARC, ALRC, CEF), and the April 2013 Living IN- Frmatin newsletter. A subsequent CPI press release saw an additinal bump in respndents. Sme netwrks and judicatries als shared the link with their cngregatins, which may have cntributed t sme Episcpal diceses being represented mre than thers. Nt surprisingly, mst respndents were Episcpal, due t hw individuals learned abut the survey. A similar survey was cnducted in Octber 2010 in a similar fashin (with less scial media) and in June 2009 with Episcpal churches nly. When apprpriate, cmparisns are made in the fllwing cmmentary with numbers in brackets referring t 2010/2009 statistics. CHILDREN S EDUCATION Of the 340 [291/260] churches that respnded, 8 [5,6] did nt have any prgramming invlving children. Mst churches cntinue t use mre than ne curriculum in their ministry with children (ages 0-12 years r Nursery 5 th grade). The larger the church, the mre likely mre than ne curriculum is being used. Eighty- six respndents 24.2% [63/86] nted that they write their wn curricular resurces fr children s ministries. Of these, few listed this as their nly resurce. Thse cngregatins that use several r a cmbinatin f prgrams were the nes wh predminately write their wn. Wrkshp Rtatin Mdel 7% Bible Stry Based 39% Type f Curriculum used with Children Mntessri - Apprach 39% Lectinary- Based 15% Gdly Play cntinues t be the mst used prgram: 145 cngregatins ut f 339 43% (48% in 2010/ 6 in 2009). Other Mntessri- type prgrams, such as Catechesis f the Gd Shepherd 9% (12.4% / 14.7%), and Children & Wrship 5.6% (27% / 12.4%). While in 2009 churches ften used several f these prgrams tgether, these appear t stand n their wn nw. While traditinal curriculum (Stry- based) was nce predminately used in churches, Mntessri- based prgrams are nw used just as widely. Cngregatins use a variety f curricular materials. Mst d nt use ne resurce alne. The tp resurces, in rder used are: Gdly Play 42.2% Seasns f the Spirit 6.2% Write wn 25% Yung Children & Wrship 5.6% Weaving Gd s Prmises 16% Celebrate the Gd News 5% Spark 13% (Children s Chapel prgram) Living the Gd News 9.7% Wrkshp Cycles 4.7% Catechesis f the Gd Shepherd 8.8% Lessn Plans That Wrk 3.2% The Sunday Paper 8% Rtatin.rg 3.5% Episcpal Children s Curriculum 6% 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 1

The cngregatins wh fllw a Wrkshp Rtatin mdel tend t use several f the published materials, as well as write their wn. The number f churches using this type f curriculum cntinues t drp. Lectinary- based curriculum cntinues t see a decline in usage with children, including thse that are ffered freely nline. A new lectinary curriculum was released in 2012. Children's Curriculum Write wn Weaving Gd's Prmises Spark LTGN Gdly Play All Things New All- in- One Bible Fun Beulah Land Bible- in- Life (Ck) Bible Max Bible Zne Live! Catechesis f the Gd Shepherd Celebrate the Gd News (Chapel) Cme Jin the Circle Cnnect Crnerstne's Discipleland Episcpal Children's Curriculum Faith Practices FaithWeaver Feasting n the Wrd Gather Rund Gd and Cunty (PRAY) Gdly Play Gspel Light Sunday Schl Grapple Grup's Hands- On Bible Grup's Living Inside Out Grw, Prclaim, Serve! HeartShaper Hly Mly Lessn Plans That Wrk Let the Children Cme LIVE Children's Curriculum Living the Gd News Messy Church Mustard Seed Series NEST Orange: 252 Basics Ptter's Publishing PwerXPress Rhythms f Grace ritefrmatin Rad t Rme (Gdly Jurney) Rck- a- Bye Rtatin.rg Seasns f the Spirit (Encre) Seedlings Spark Splash! The Sunday Paper Walk With Me Weaving Gd's Prmises fr Children Best f Whle Peple f Gd Witness Wrkshp Cycles Wrship fr Life Yung Children & Wrship Other Write wn D nt have children's prgramming Traditinal curriculum makes up the remaining resurces predminately used. The number f curricula being tapped by churches has grwn extensively with many new prgrams ffered by all denminatinal and independent publishers. Presbyterian, ELCA and United Methdist cngregatins tend t use curriculum that is denminatinally spnsred. This is nt the case with 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 2

Episcpal cngregatins, wh chse frm acrss the denminatinal and thelgical perspective (i.e.: David C. Ck s Bible- in- Life à Spark). A large number f respndents (188) shared ideas f what resurces they wuld like t see develped fr using with children; resurces fr tweens (thse in 4 th & 5 th grade were mentined frequently as has been in bth previus surveys). A summary: Interactive and experiential curriculum that incrprates multi- media and technlgy, including DVDs Resurces fr using at hme daily devtinals, bks, faith practices, family based prgrams Children s Chapel resurces Gdly Play suggestins fr use with lder children (4 th & 5 th grade), materials that are less expensive, blending Gdly Play with ther prgrams, mre New Testament stries, mre mature way f engaging adults, Updated resurces fr using with wrkshp rtatin mdels Supplementary material music, using the Bible, hlidays, relief maps, children s bibles, puppets, drama, music, dance Nursery resurces (0-2), preschl activities (fr under 3 years) Stewardship mney, earth, self Resurces in Spanish Bible study resurces DVDs f stries, hw t use the bible, Resurces that are written better develpmentally fr the audience; mre age- apprpriate activities VBS resurces Teacher training materials spiritual develpment, webinars that are prgrammatic (Gdly Play, Rhythms f Grace, etc.) Sacramental prep liturgy, Eucharist, baptism The survey represents the typical range f cngregatinal size and average Sunday attendance f children s participatin in a Sunday mrning frmat. These numbers have remained cnsistent ver the past 5 years, with slight increases in the 25-50 attendance range. 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 3

The typical time frame alltted t educatin fr children is between 45-60 minutes, with an increase in thse ffering 45 minutes fr educatin. Many als nted that additinal time is ften given fr a Children s Chapel r wrship prgram; almst all children are in wrship with the cngregatin at sme pint each Sunday. Althugh there has been in an increase in churches using Gdly Play, this des nt crrelate t the typical 2 hurs required, and may dente that thse wh are using Gdly Play (r a similar mdel) d nt fllw the whle prgram (stry, wrk, feast). Times frm previus surveys: (1 hur = 33.6% in 2009; 1 hur = 34.5% in 2010; 1 ½ hurs = 3.9% in 2009; 1 ½ hurs = 4.8% in 2010; 2 hurs = 1.5% in 2009; 2 hurs = 2.4% in 2010). 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 4

YOUTH MINISTRY & EDUCATION As in previus surveys, there were fewer respnses (311) t the survey questins regarding curricular resurces used with yuth (ages 12-18) as thse with children. Within this grup, 12.9% (2010-8.5%) d nt have a yuth ministry prgram. The largest percentage 33.8% (an increase frm 30.5% in 2010), write their wn in additin t tapping int several prgrams and resurces, as well as many nting the use f music and vides. Of the curricula used, the Jurney t Adulthd prgram frm Leader Resurces cntinues t be the mst used in Episcpal cngregatins, althugh there has been a marked decrease in its use: Rite- 13 13.5% (18.8% / 24%); J2A 17% (25.7% / 26.6%); YAC 5. (1. / 13.5%). There is a plethra f curricular resurces used with yuth, with mst cngregatins using several and nt ne particular prgram dminating. It shuld be nted that thse curricula mst ppular (ther than the J2A prgram) invlve vide and/r technlgy. 33.8% Write wn 17% J2A (Jurney t Adulthd) 14.8% Other (resurce nt listed in the survey) 13.5% Rite- 13 (Jurney t Adulthd) 11.9% re:frm 10.3% NOOMA 6.4% re:frm Ancestrs 5.5% Making it Real and Relevant 5. YAC (Jurney t Adulthd) 5. Living the Gd News In listing ther resurces used, the fllwing were typical respnses: 4-6 week series Free nline cntent Dicesan r judicatry events: retreats, Happening, camp Wrship bulletins Teachers discuss tpics teens bring t class with/withut Bible study 129 respndents shared the type f resurces they wuld like t see develped fr using with yuth. Many wh are using Jurney t Adulthd wish there was smething else they culd turn t, as they felt the materials were utdated. Materials that are interactive and experiential, relevant t the lives f yuth tday, easy t implement, and make use f tday s technlgy (smart phnes, digital devices and ther media) were a pririty. A summary f cmments: Scial issues, current events Pilgrimage, Retreat ministry, missin trip curriculum Outreach and service Relevancy spirituality, faith & current events, wrld religins, utreach / missin, mrals & values, cntemprary issues, eclgy, prayer & actin (all tied t biblical lessns) Bible- related studies teaching thelgical reflectin; faith in daily life with scripture; nt typical bible study Devtinals Human sexuality 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 5

Yuth Curriculum Other Write wn Rite- 13 re:frm J2A NOOMA By reviewing the lng list f resurces t the right, it is bvius that there are a great numbers f prgrams available. Yet thse wh wrk with yuth have nt fund a prgram that they they d nt need t supplement. Fr thse in the Episcpal Church, tinding smething thelgically cmpatible is difticult. Animate Best f Whle Peple f Gd Bible- in- Life (Ck) Claim the Life CONNECT (Abingdn) Cnnect (Sparkhuse) encunter Episcpal Curriculum fr Older Yuth Episcpal Curriculum fr Yunger Yuth Faith in Mtin Faith Practices FaithLens FaithWeaver Feasting n the Wrd Gd Talks Gdly Play Grapple Grw, Prclaim, Serve! Ignite! J2A (Jurney t Adulthd) Kid Text Lessn Plans That Wrk Live It! Bible Studies Living in Christ (LinC) Living the Gd News Making it Real and Relevant Mustard Seed Series NOOMA re:frm re:frm Ancestrs re:frm Traditins Rite- 13 (Jurney t Adulthd) ritefrmatin Seasns Encre Synag Teen Text The Stry (Teen) The Thughful Christian The Way f Pilgrimage Thinking Thelgically Tweens in Transitin We Believe Weaving Gd's Prmises fr Yuth YAC (Jurney t Adulthd) Other Write wn 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 6

YOUTH CONFIRMATION The same number f respndents wh shared infrmatin abut educatinal curriculum with yuth als respnded t the Cnfirmatin preparatin questins. Of the 311 respndents, 1 (8.5% in 2010) d nt have a Cnfirmatin prgram and 39.2% (41.9% in 2010) write their wn, ften in additin t prgram materials. Educatrs and lay vlunteers were ften unaware f what was used if clergy prvided the instructin. Clergy tended t write their wn as ppsed t Christian educatrs r yuth leaders, wh tapped int prgram resurces. Nt surprisingly, chices f materials used were chsen alng denminatinal lines. It shuld als be nted that the average age f yuth preparing fr Cnfirmatin has increased frm 2010. We Believe T Knw, T Live, T Grw Thse Episkpals The Discvery Series CnMirmatin Curricula The Seekers The New Episcpal Way Write wn 29% re:frm 4% Sealed and Sent Frth Other 12% A Peple Called Episcpalians Aftirming Faith Claim the Name Cntirm nt Cnfrm 9% My Faith, My Life 15% CREDO Crssings I Will, With Gd's Help 7% My Cntirmatin D nt have a Cntirmatin preparatin prgram 8% Encuntering Christ Fr. Matthew Presents Grw in Grace Here We Stand I Believe Jesus Was an Episcpalian Jurney t Keeping the Discipleship Prmise Making Disciples Living Water: Baptism as a Way f Life 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 7

PARTICIPATION OF YOUTH Yuth ministry, whether it is an educatin class, yuth grup r cmbinatin f the tw is usually a small ppulatin f the cngregatin. Since 2010, there is an increase in the number f churches wh d nt ffer yuth prgrams. A majrity f churches have less than ten yuth in educatin prgrams, while there are still a significant number f churches that have between 10-20 attending. Churches are mre likely t have prgramming fr Middle Schl teens than High Schlers. Number f Churches 200 150 100 50 0 Nne Less than 10 Between Between Between Between 50 r mre Weekly Participatin Middle Schl High Schl The time that yuth gather varies greatly; the majrity meet mre than 2 hurs per week. There has been a decrease in thse that meet fr 1 hur 16.7% (19. / 14.3%) r 1½ hur 10.9% (11.4% / 7.8%) Thse that meet lnger have Sunday mrning prgramming as well as anther pprtunity, such as Sunday evening r mid- week activities ffered. Experiences fr special prgrams such as retreats, service prjects, and missin prjects were nted. Many churches nly ffer Cnfirmatin classes fr their yuth. 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 8

ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS 303 respnses were received in the Yung Adult and Adult Prgram Materials sectin f the survey. Of them, 4.6% (5.3% / 1.3%) f the churches d nt ffer adult educatin pprtunities, shwing that adult educatin prgrams have increased. 70.3% (71.6%) design their wn prgrams (including many wh als use published materials) shwing relative stability. Adult Curriculum 7 Design wn 8.6% The Thughtful Christian 13.5% NOOMA 2 Educatin fr Ministry 9.2% Embracing series 20/30 Bible Study fr Yung Adults Adam Hamiltn studies The Adult Jurney Alpha Animate Augsburg Bible Studies Beth Mre studies Bible Challenge Bible Wrkbench Bluetish TV Christian Believer Cmpanins in Christ Cntirm nt Cnfrm Adult D6 Curriculum Disciple (lng term) Discple (shrt term) Disciples f Christ in Cmmunity (DOCC) The Discvery Series Educatin fr Ministry (EfM) Embracing Series Emmaus Experiencing the Bible fr the First Time Faith Practices Faith Lens FaithLink FaithQuestins FaithWeaver Feasting n the Wrd Gdly Play The Greatest Stry series Hrizn Bible Study Interpretatin Bible Study series Jurney in Faith Jurney Thrugh the Bible Kerygma Prgram KLESIS Prject Lessn Plans That Wrk Life Cycles Living Cmpass Living the Gd News Living the Questins NOOMA On Being (Krista Tippet) Renvare ritefrmatin Seasns f the Spirit Synthesis CE The Thughtful Christian via media The Wired Wrd Zete=T Seek Design wn D nt ffer Adult Ed pprtunities Prgrams used mst frequently: Educatin fr Ministry (EfM) NOOMA (vide based) The Embracing Series (vide based) The Thughtful Christian fferings Kerygma On Being with Krista Tippet Adam Hamiltn studies Feasting n the Wrd (lectinary curriculum) Living the Questins (vide based) via media (vide based) Several categries were als listed in which sme prgrammatic resurces might be included: Bk studies Bible studies f varius natures (Cnversatins with Scripture series, The Bible Challenge) 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 9

Adult educatin typically ccurs n Sunday mrning 75.6% (80.3%) r a weeknight evening 61.4% (64.8% / 66.2%), but thse numbers are decreasing. Sunday afternn 10.2% (8.7%) and Saturday time frames are increasing 10.6% (6.9%). In 2013, the largest average number (33%) f adults attending educatin was 10-20 individuals (23. / 24.4%). Eighty- six respndents listed types f resurces r curriculum they wuld like see develped fr using with adults. Many requested materials that culd be used in 4-6 week time blcks. Themes are listed here: Stewardship Wmen s studies Spirituality, including Christian mystics Bks with study guides Optins fr the whle family, intergeneratinal Parenting curriculum, at hme resurces, marriage, family resurces & prgrams Episcpal materials that use media and technlgy that are nt fundamental / evangelical Faith and daily life, tpical studies, current events Bible studies and basics using DVDs fr small grup discussins Prayer practices 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 11

NEEDS, CONCERNS AND ISSUES 106 respndents shared their thughts, which were easily gruped int six categries, all f which have been mentined in the previus tw surveys. In the past, budgetary issues have been the mst named cncern; in this survey time and cmmitment utweighed mney. Cncerns & Issues: 1. Cmmitment Adults (especially parents) d nt shw cmmitment t educatin r regular attendance. While children have expressed a desire t attend prgrams, they are t busy and have ther bligatins. Sunday wrship and educatin is nt a pririty fr families. It is difficult t find vlunteers t teach (especially if using Gdly Play) fr extended perids f time. Vlunteers will cmmit t ne week at a time. In small cngregatins it is ne r tw individuals wh d all the teaching; in large cngregatins it is hard t get a cmmitment. 2. Time n ne has any vlunteers, families, children, yuth. 3. Mney lack f funding and inability t purchase materials limited what churches culd ffer in published curricula and resurces; annual fees fr curriculum limits chices 4. Participatin and attendance See time and cmmitment 5. Teacher training Many feel inadequate t teach and leaders desire mre resurces t prvide teacher training. 6. Pedaggy Mst adult prgrams still fllw an ld mdel ( 1950s was mentined several times) f teaching. Yung adults d nt want this type f curriculum r leadership (lecture, bks, handuts) and are seeking relatinal mdels. Thse wh tend t participate in adult educatin are thse wh grew up with a mre didactic mdel. This is a surce f frustratin fr Christian frmatin leaders. 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 12

DEMOGRAPHICS 254 respndents filled ut areas asking abut church infrmatin. As nted at the beginning f this reprt, a large respnse rate was frm Episcpal churches (largely due t hw the infrmatin f the survey was discvered). The results are prbably nt indicative f trends and usage in ther denminatins. Hwever, a strng crss- sectin f churches are represented in the survey, frm church size, lcatin, and average Sunday attendance. In the Episcpal Church, 77 diceses are represented. Denminatins Represented American Baptist Anglican Episcpal Evangelical Lutheran Federated ABC/UCC Nn- denminatinal Presbyterian Refrmed United Church f Christ United Methdist Respndents Clergy / Pastr 9% 5% 3% 3% 4 Paid Church Educatr Vlunteer Teacher Paid Yuth Leader 39% Vlunteer Yuth Leader Christian Ed Cmmittee 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 13

Episcpal Learned abut survey via: Church blg Other APCE ALRC Twitter Facebk 12% Press release / e- mail 17% Judicatry leadership 1 Clleague 1 Frma 2 Building Faith 8% Living IN- Frmatin newsletter 13% LACE Church Publishing website 5% 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 14

CONCLUSIONS Churches seek resurces that engage individuals in thelgical reflectin and making sense f ne s faith in daily life fr all ages. There is an verwhelming request fr materials that are interactive, experiential and hands- n. The use f technlgy (DVDs and nline materials) cntinues t grw, repeating the trend seen in 2010 and 2009. There is a cntinuing need fr mainline publishers t ffer thelgically sund and engaging material t use with yuth. Leaders cntinue t develp ( write ) their wn curriculum while als using materials fund n- line fr free and purchased resurces. Clergy tend t request mre didactic type resurces, while educatrs, yuth leaders and vlunteers are asking fr hands- n and interactive chices. Mre respndents are requesting resurces t supprt faith at hme, acknwledging that families are t busy t regularly attend educatin fferings, let alne wrship n a regular basis. In that same vein, seeking ways t prvide intergeneratinal experiences in which t teach spiritual practices, faith traditins arund the church seasns, and helping parents wh were nt raised in a faith traditin becme cmfrtable with the Bible were tpics frequently perplexing church leaders. There is a plethra f material available t churches. In the past tw surveys, budgetary cncerns were very high. While cst f materials cntinue t be a cncern, the biggest challenges invlved time and cmmitment. Churches are ffering prgrams with fewer vlunteers, less mney, less time and less cmmitment frm thers in church leadership. A mantra within the cmments culd read, Participatin, Cnsistency, Relevant material r Time, time, time. Churches that have higher participatin and mre fferings, n matter their lcatin r average Sunday attendance, are nes that are mre likely t have a paid staff persn verseeing Christian frmatin and/r yuth ministry (clergy r lay). This wuld seem t indicate that thse churches that have a designated persn (staff) t versee educatinal ministries have mre cnsistent and well attended prgrams, cmpensating fr the lack f time that vlunteers are able t give tward rganizing and implementing such prgrams. 2013 Church Publishing Incrprated. All rights reserved. 15