Christian Education and Nurture at Westminster

 

Providing Christian education opportunities to members of the church is a vital part of the church’s responsibility, and Westminster has developed a comprehensive program of spiritual formation, Christian education, and nurture for adults and youth & children.  The Session is responsible for these offerings, and an overview of those responsibilities are stated in the following mandates:

 

 

Book of Order:

“The Session is responsible for the mission and government of the particular church. It therefore has the responsibility and power to provide for the growth of its members and for their equipment for ministry through personal and pastoral care, educational programs including the church school, sharing in fellowship and mutual support, and opportunities for witness and service in the world; to develop and supervise the church school an the education program of the church.” 

 In August 2008 the Session approved a “focus on mission and ministry to and with children and youth. This includes children and youth inside and outside our church, equipping our children and youth to do ministry and mission, and integrating children and youth into the life of the church.”

 

Goals of the 2003 Christian Education Task Force

The stated goal of the Christian Education Task Force 2003 was for Session to provide a “cradle to grave” Christian education program that nurtures all Westminster Presbyterian Church members in committed and faithful discipleship. Christian education at Westminster Presbyterian Church should:

 

1.

prepare children, youth and adults for full participation in worship and mission.

 

2.

develop and follow clear and definite goals that reflect the overall goal of Christian education.

 

3.

utilize curriculum materials that contribute to an understanding of reformed theology.

 

4.

review the goals of Christian education opportunities to ensure they enhance the overall goal.

2009 Christian Formation Visioning Task Force

This task force is meeting in March-September 2009 to create a vision for how we can make children and youth central to the mission of our church. We are also seeking a clear understanding of the staff requirements for this program. We will do this by:

1.       Hold listening/visioning sessions with members and friends of the congregation in both individual and small group settings. The goal of these conversations will be to gather information on what has worked well in the past and to generate new ideas for the future of children’s and youth ministry.

2.       Look at models of children and youth ministry in other congregations and what staffing is required.

3.       Encourage and empower members of the congregation to serve in children and you ministry in new capacities.

        4.    Generate a proposal regarding a staff position for children and youth ministry/Christian Formation.

   

 

Statement of Westminster’s Child Protection Policy

Westminster and its members are committed to the safety, welfare and protection of all children and youth participating in the activities and programs of the church. On August 28, 2006, the Session passed the Child Protection and Sexual Misconduct Covenant. It has done so not because it was necessary, but because it is what we should be doing to protect our children. The Covenant is available on this website and in the church office for you to read. We are asking all people of the church who work with our children, or plan to, to read the covenant and sign it.