Christian Education from an Ecclesial Perspective

Robert J. Suderman's address to the MC Canada Education Consultation in Winnipeg, November 18-19, 2005. Begins with his personal conviction about the importance of Christian education and Christian leadership development in the life of the church. "I have always believed that in order for the church to proclaim with its life a viable alternative to the preferred ways of the world, we will need to take seriously our educational task and shape the educational influences of our people. We cannot afford to be anything less than highly intentional about the educational and pedagogical processes that we employ in order to shape an alternative, Kingdom of God peoplehood..."

He voices five "ecclesial questions" for Christian education:

1.Where does institutional Christian Education belong, organizationally, in our national church?

2. How can our educational institutions be intentional in helping the church to strengthen its identity and implement its purpose?

3. How can our educational institutions be intentional in helping the church to implement its priorities?

4. What is the relationship of the educational institutions to the “vision for education” articulated by the General Board of MC Canada?

5. What is the contemporary missiological significance of this faith tradition?