I knew this would happen, U are no longer the church of GOD

Melvin Henry Sr

And in other news, water has been found to be wet. The trajectory and process of old line protestant denominations in both its European and American forms in regard to gay ordination is not news, nor unexpected.

 What is news is how the church seems to be dealing with true theological pluralism and diversity, where all will not be reconciled to the new order. To allow parishes to opt either in or out of the rules or policy is indeed welcome news. But if so, what does that say about denominationalism?

 If it is to be a cafeteria where one is free to pick and choose what works for them, where is that franchise? And why is my menu take it or leave it? Can I order take out?
 
 The ECUSA and its tendency to litigation, and the PUCSA with its tendency to a fee/money based exist strategy to conflict could take a lesson. The whole peace and unity part is indeed a work in progress.

Peter Gregory

Look at the statistics of the PCUSA. A church of 450 members is not "relatively small"; it is relatively large. A youth group of 30 members is not modest, at least, not anymore. Kudos to this youth group!

Stephen Scott

This is really good news. This was done a number of years ago in Spain (Presbyterians, Lutherans and Methodists!) and it has worked out very well. More power to the leaders over there that worked it all out.

Rev, Don Wehmeyer

This is a positive move toward inclusiveness, but will probably result in division and separation from some corners.

Mary A Hansen

Thought provoking article.

After several years serving churches as a professional educator, I'm now "outside the walls" of the particular church. Still a believer, but as the number of educator positions shrinks, we have just as important a calling to "go, tell" but have to get very creative about how to do it.

My present position is in the office at our Presbytery camp - my DCE background is hopefully an asset to helping kids at camp (and their counselors and staff) grow in the faith.

I'd love to hear from others about how to "do" Christian education while not serving a particular church, especially given that presbyteries and other governing boards are also suffering budgetary woes!

Beth Martin

Andrea:

 The best counsel in this matter is one I have given my seminary interns. Do not sit around awaiting the church/organization/system to offer you a job. You are correct the PCUSA, among others, seek entertainment for education, and institutional survival at the expense of all else.

 You must become your own advocate and what I call a religious "entrepreneur" , you must find the need, the place, the ministry and make it happen, create your own task and address what need to be addressed. Then, and only then approach the organization or institution for validation. If forthcoming great, if not, shake the dust off and move along.

 The day and age that the system or institution will employ educated professionals due to the fact they are educated professionals is past, that church is dead and not coming back.

 There are legions of young ,excited, fresh and hopeful graduates sitting around awaiting the phone to ring, waiting for jobs that no longer exist and will never return. Make the future happen for yourself.

Peter Gregory

Thanks, Mark, for this article. It seems to me that a large part of this challenge is the church's unwillingness to leave behind the attractional church model that has been so prevalent for so long. We need to fully embrace the missional church model. Only then will we begin to see a new future for our educational ministries. Unfortunately, the attractional model is comfortable and easy. It's easy to develop and maintain programs; anyone can do that, professional or not, and the denomination will help you with this. It is much more difficult to develop people and make disciples. It requires a different measuring stick and a completely different way of thinking about educational ministry. I am a young professional educator, and I don't know what my future holds. I hope that it will involve being part of a church that wants to use me to bless their community rather than to provide "edutainment" to the church. I hope that it will involve being part of a church that would rather send people out than bring people in. I hope that it will involve being part of a church that values faith formation at home more than it values maintaing Sunday School attendance. Sadly, I see very few PC(USA) churches that are interested in any of these ideas, and I do not see that the denomination has any interest in changing things either. We don't need more curriculum options; we need support for doing ministry in new and innovative ways (or, more accurately, old ways that are new to us). My (admittedly cynical) impression is that Lousiville wants to sell curriculum and maintain the institution. As you said, this will not serve us well. I believe that we need both local and denominational leaders who will risk the institution and its programs for the sake of the gospel. I'll work hard for a church like that. For anything else, my motivation runs dry.

Andrea Hall

It is not that the need or call for professionally educated and trained clergy people (teaching elders) has diminished. Nor has the opportunities for "ministry" gone into smoke. What has changed is the business/economic model which assumed all educated and trained clergy/church educators will have careers in church based work that pays full benefits and a living wage in and or itself. Today many who attend Seminaries will never go into church based work, nor have any desire too. Some are doctors, lawyers, nurses who will take theological education to apply in their own career patterns. That is the future. And it is now.

Peter Gregory

Mark, many thanks for a thoughtful, imaginative and historical piece on the changing nature of church educator roles. The only thing I wanted to add was that I resonated with this changing reality as a pastor. The era of professional pastoral ministry is also fading away in many of our churches. The profession continues to be strong in our bigger churches and that's great. But what's happening in our smaller churches is an opportunity for unleashing the power of the priesthood of the believers for those churches who are able to embrace it.
Thanks again for the article.

Steve Willis

Again, where did Gosnell ply his trade? Not the leafy suburbs but the inner city with a primarily hispanic immigrant population base who paid in cash. The Pa. abortion control act is one of the most restrictive in the nation. What finally got him in trouble was not so much his medical practice, but he was initially caught in medicaid fraud, tax issues, which then lead to the investigation to house of horrors and baby's in trash bags and in sinks.

 All that Row vs Wade ever did was more or calcify public opinion in never ending warring tribes and camps. But what social/religious liberals fail to grasp is that the Gosnell case cannot be spun or messaged by Planned Parenthood and their apologists into more progressive abortion policies. The practice of abortion, be it in the Gosnell house of horrors, a 5 star hospital in the suburbs, or in an outpatient setting is indeed the most barbaric act tolerated in American culture. Animal shelters that euthanize pets are given more oversight than outpatient abortion providers. If the Gosnell case advances that discussion, so much the better.

Peter Gregory

In a day and age where the high water mark of American Protestantism has receded for 6 decades the actual physical location of a denominational HQ, be it NYC, Atlanta, or the craters of Mars has ever increasing irrelevancy. Brick and mortar physical structures will continue to have less relevance in a church which will be marked by a decentralization of power and far less emphasis on connectionism for a variety of reasons.

 The PCUSA may lament the current state of affairs, but the reality is the GA, HQ, Synods and Presbyteries are all in conflict fighting over diminishing financial resources and cash flow streams as it moves along the chain, with each level of the matrix feeling a sense of entitlement to a continued funding stream.

 Louisville is the home for now, that may or may be going forward, and that will be a purely financial decision if made and will have very little to do with vision, theology, gates and castles.

Peter Gregory