Nurture & Christian Education Ministry Team

Second Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

Joe Gettys Room

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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7 (NRSVUE)

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A Welcome Letter from Ginny Cartee, N&CE Chair

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With Jesus as our role model, at Westminster, faith and friendship are at the center of our life together. We enjoy gathering for worship, to study God’s word, to use our individual gifts and talents, to wrestle with hard questions, to play together, and to make a positive impact on our community.  No matter where each of us is from or whoever each of us may be we are all welcome here!

We want this to be one of your “Places” - The leaders of this congregation want this to be a place where each person can find purpose and meaning based on belief in Jesus as Lord of all. 

We hope the Nurture and Education page helps define this “Place” by summarizing what we believe:

At Westminster, we believe…

·      God loves every person.  No exceptions.

·      We are called to love God and our neighbors.

·      Every person everywhere is our neighbor.

·      We are all created in God’s own image and are worthy of respect and unconditional love.

·      We are better together than we would be apart. 

·      God’s sanctuary is our home – one of the “Places” each of us can belong.

 

Our beliefs are reformed beliefs and our governance follows the polity of the Presbyterian Church, USA. 

 

We believe in the Triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—revealed in Holy Scriptures and made known in Jesus Christ. We are part of Presbyterian Church (USA) - a denomination in the Reformed family of churches.

All of this means we know the Church is always changing and we are called to live into those changes guided by our faith in Christ.  With Jesus as the center of our life and worship, we are committed to spend our time, talents and resources in mission and ministry as we reach out to provide comfort and care.

 

The Nurture and Education Team Job Description: 

We hope to help keep this “Place” rooted in the vision and mission that defines who we are by learning, teaching, living and doing what we believe. 

The brief statement that is the focus of this team: to equip every member of Westminster's church family for ministry: 

·   Through educational programs and Special Studies for all ages (Knowing the Word)

·   Through sharing in fellowship and mutual support (Living the Word)

·       Through embracing opportunities for witness and service in the world (Doing the Word)

 

The Nurture and Education Team works with groups within the church to provide opportunities for every person in the congregation to find meaningful engagement of body, mind and soul with the unique call each person feels to live into a life of faith in Jesus.  This call centers on learning how to use the gifts and talents we each have been given.

The team tries to find times and places people can come together either in person or online to study scripture. We have Sunday School classes for children and adults.  Our children come together with a team of adult and youth leaders during June for Vacation Bible Camp.  We have adult classes including Brown Bags and Books that meets on Wednesday evenings to discuss where faith and everyday life intersect as well as Bible 101 starting in August to introduce Bible Basics.    

On the nurture side, we support the efforts of other session committees to provide time for the congregation to really get to know each other.  Some ongoing events to connect the congregation and to reach into the community include monthly Sunday Sustenance lunches, Summer Dinner Church and special events to make our message clear:  We are open for business and everyone is welcome to come learn, worship and enjoy all God has given us.

As our congregation grows we hope to meet the challenges of change by finding creative ways to teach and nurture people of all ages and interests.

 

If we are missing something that could make our N&E programs more meaningful, please reach out with suggestions.  We are a growing congregation with a focus on teaching and learning what we believe and sharing ways to practice our faith in the Way Jesus leads.

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The mission of the Nurture & Education Ministry Team is to provide Christian education for nurturing spiritual growth in the entire church family at every age and stage. Life-long faith formation equips God’s people to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and live according to God’s will.

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The Nurture & Education Ministry Team has a special responsibility to ensure that all of its work conforms to the requirements detailed in the current PC(USA) Book of Order, especially:

• W-5.0203 – Christian Education

• W-3.0403 – Responsibility for Baptism

 

In addition to general administration tasks, responsibilities for this ministry team fall into three areas:

• Christian Education

• Child Care

• Resource Library

 

The Nurture & Education Ministry Team, in consultation with the Building & Grounds Ministry Team, has primary responsibility for managing the use and readiness of the following areas of the facility:

• Classrooms on both floors in both wings, including Joe Gettys room (near the Fellowship Hall) and specially equipped youth rooms

• Church library

• Bulletin boards in the office hallway

• Choir room (with Worship & Music)

 

N&E Special Membership Requirements

The N&E Ministry Team is chaired by a Ruling Elder. The members are at-large volunteers with spiritual gifts and skills aligned with the work of the ministry team. Ideally, the ministry team will include a youth representative and a Presbyterian Women’s representative.

 

General Administration: Duties and Responsibilities

• Planning for and managing the Nurture & Education budget

• Providing periodic ministry team status reports to Session

• Coordinating with external entities that use facility areas for which Nurture & Education is responsible, in accordance with the Facilities Use policy (see page ??) and any long- or short-term agreements, such as leases, with that entity

 

Christian Education: Duties and Responsibilities

• Equipping Westminster members and friends of all ages to study the Word, live in God’s will, and share the Good News of Jesus Christ  

• Ensuring that Westminster offers a variety of opportunities for Christian education, with careful attention to the many differences in developmental and spiritual maturity, background, experience, and interest in our diverse congregation

• Setting the annual calendar for the Sunday school

• Selecting curricula, with guidance from the Pastor, as appropriate to Reformed theology and tradition, the lectionary, and the specific needs of the congregation and community

• Incorporating education on current events and secular topics as appropriate to provide understanding and context for living and sharing our faith in the world

• Purchasing educational materials and resources for study

• Assigning classrooms, when needed

• Recruiting, training, and assigning teachers and study leaders

• Ensuring that appropriate leadership is scheduled and present for each educational activity; e.g., Sunday school (all classes), Bible studies, ad hoc educational events

• Maintaining any and all Sunday school records

• Publicizing educational opportunities to the congregation and the larger community as appropriate, with support from the Mission & Outreach Ministry Team)

• Planning and executing special events related to Christian education programs 

• Planning for the installation of teachers during the Sunday morning worship service 

• Assisting the Pastor in identifying young family members who are sufficiently interested in confirming their baptismal vows or furthering their roles as full members in the church

• Assisting the Pastor in providing a Confirmation Class for those who have been (or will be) baptized and seek full membership in the body of Christ

 

Child Care: Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintaining and implementing a procedures guide relating to care of children, youth, and vulnerable adults

• Educating the entire congregation and all paid staff about the Child, Youth, and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy (see page ??), monitoring compliance with the policy, and reporting all infractions

• Recruiting, hiring, and managing paid child-care workers

• Ensuring child-care staff members are paid correctly and on time

• Conducting periodical performance evaluations of paid child-care workers, in partnership with the Pastor, who is head of staff

• Ensuring that child-care volunteers and paid workers are scheduled and present for worship services and other events as needed

 

Resources: Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintaining the Resource Center

• Ordering materials for the Resource Center, with guidance from the Pastor, as appropriate to Reformed theology and tradition, the lectionary, and the specific needs of the congregation and community

• Seeking and accepting donations of appropriate materials from the congregation

• Promoting use of the Resource Center and publicizing materials that are available

• Identifying and supporting volunteers for the Resource Center to maintain inventory and materials, and manage their circulation