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Mr. Chairman, distinguished members of the College of Bishops, General Officers, delegates, alternate delegates, members, and friends of the 36th Quadrennial Session and the 37th General Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church; I greet you in the name of the One in whom we are formed and nurtured, Jesus the Christ.  I am honored, thankful, and humbled to have the privilege of making my second quadrennial report of the mission, ministry, and accomplishments of the work of this general secretary and the Department of Christian Education.

Our Almighty God, creator, redeemer and sustainer, has provided the Department of Christian Education the immense opportunity and grave responsibility of designing and disseminating Christian nurture resources, projects, events and viable experiences for use throughout the length and breath of this denomination. Over the past four years, we have sought to be faithful servants and fulfill this mandate by being fruitful in our work.

The primary driving force for our ministry has been centered on our understanding and interpretation of the “Great Commission” of Jesus found in Matthew 28:19-20.  In this commission, Jesus bids his followers, especially His true disciples, to Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (NRSV)  This scripture continues to form the basis for our mission throughout the quadrennium, “Making Disciples through events That Form and Transform.”  

This General Secretary and staff continue to work diligently yet with deliberate speed to help Christian Educators across the Denomination understand more about Christian Formation and Discipleship.  We have sought not just to be purveyors of   information, but about teaching and helping people with formation of their lives into the likeness of Jesus Christ.  Furthermore we have modeled several pedagogical methodologies in an attempt to help Christian Educators not be limited to “in the box” ministry.  We have lifted up as we had opportunity issues of learning and how we as educators can connect with people in various ways.        

Immediately after the 2006 General Conference, the General Secretary and staff continued its work and planning for the 2008 Connectional Youth and Young Adult Conferences (CYYAC).  In line with the Quadrennial theme of “From Good to Great:  The Jesus Challenge,” the General Secretary began to plan its work and curriculum for the church that addressed the strategies outlined in the Episcopal Address. Bishop Williamson lifted up a strategic plan which emphasized four areas, three of which relate directly to Christian education; Discipleship, Leadership, and Male Ministry.  

Additionally the Department emphasized throughout this quadrennium the theme from CYYAC, “Doing a New Thing,” and the formula on which we crafted our work, “Formation + Nurture + Leadership = Mission.”  

The General Secretary began the quadrennium with a staff of five part time employees.  Three of the staff members were enrolled in Seminary and serving as pastors in the First Episcopal District.  The other two were lay persons who had taken early retirement from their jobs and devoted their time to the ministry of Christian education.  The General Secretary is extremely grateful to these dedicated and committed individuals who understand the urgency of Discipleship and the urgency to develop and provide Christian education resources to the Connectional Church.  During 2007, it became necessary to change the staffing due to reduction in resource sales.  Rev. Ross came on board full-time as Executive Assistant to the General Secretary and all other employees had to be laid off.  Although the four former employers are no longer paid employees of the Department, each of them continue to volunteer whenever needed.  I am extremely appreciative of their love and dedication to the Department however I regret deeply that the Department is unable to compensate them for their dedicated service.   

Click here to download the full report.