Archives

WIC 101: Women In the Church in the PCA

September 10, 2009 by admin

WIC Core Curriculum

Q. What is it?
A. The WIC Core Curriculum is written for the specific purpose of teaching a biblical philosophy of womanhood and some of the corporate implications of that philosophy. These corporate implications give definition and focus to a women’s ministry in a local church. One implication is that woman’s helper design equips us to cultivate community and to be channels of compassion in our homes and churches. There are five components to the curriculum, and each book has a Leader’s Guide.

Leadership For Women In The Church
The objective of this book is to help women explore the benefits of a WIC ministry, to design a WIC ministry on the foundation of the philosophy of ministry on page 3, and to train a leadership team for WIC.

Spiritual Mothering, The Titus 2 Mandate for Women Mentoring
Women. This study is designed to teach women the biblical model for women nurturing women to live for God’s glory and to help build covenant relationships between women, thus building community among women in the church.

By Design, God’s Distinctive Calling For Women
Spiritual mothering relationships should be the launching pad to equip women for ministries of mercy. This study teaches women about our creation design and equips us to cultivate community and to be channels of compassion.

Treasures of Encouragement.
The purpose of this book is to reinforce the previous studies, to teach women the biblical ministry of encouragement, and to show them how to be encouragers. This study is a catalyst for women to have such a ministry of encouragement that our churches will be known by the “faith we have in Christ Jesus and the love we have for one another.”

The True Woman
This study reinforces the entire curriculum by refocusing on redemption, our call to reflect our redemption in all of life, and the necessity of sound theology to be and do what we have been called to be and do.

Q. Why did WIC develop a core curriculum?
A. First, our denomination is committed to the biblical concept of connectionalism. This connectionalism runs deeper than commonality of location, personal interests, or personal preferences. We are bound to one another by a commitment to a theological standard that extends to what we believe and how we behave. God’s Word is our rule for faith and practice, so we must have a biblical apologetic for all activities and programs. Therefore, in our WIC ministry we are not event/
program-driven, but theology-driven. This commitment to theological integrity in crafting a women’s ministry compelled us to develop a philosophy and then to begin an educational process among women.
Second, as we looked over existing materials on women’s ministries, we found nothing from a distinctly Reformed perspective. We had to prioritize. We can’t do everything, but we felt the most urgent need was to produce materials that teach women the whys and hows of a women’s ministry within the context of our doctrinal standards.

Q. So you see this as part of a program of Christian education?
A. Absolutely. The WIC ministry is part of the ministry of Christian Education. If we are going to have a WIC ministry, we must know why we do what we do, that reason must be rooted in Scripture, and it must be taught to women. This is part of the Christian education of God’s covenant family. It is because of our commitment to Christian education that we developed extensive leaders’ guides for each study. The leaders’ guides are actually teacher training tools that are designed to help women become more effective teachers.

Q. Is it working?
A. There are strong indicators that our quest to understand our female design and calling has helped to unify PCA women and to propel us into greater service in the church. We receive thrilling letters about how women are growing in their capacity and passion to cultivate community and to be channels of compassion in their homes, churches, and communities. But the true measure of our obedience in developing WIC ministries that are faithful to God’s Word will be seen in the lives of our daughters and granddaughters. Will they be lured into the world’s view of womanhood, or will we tradition biblical womanhood in such a compelling fashion that they will be attracted to the Savior we love and be equipped to serve Him as virtuous women?

Q. What about other WIC studies? Are they not part of the core curriculum?
A. A new WIC study is produced each year, but all of these are not part of the core curriculum. The core curriculum is specifically designed to help teach a biblical philosophy of womanhood based on a covenantal perspective of Scripture, and to help craft substantive WIC ministries based on the corporate implications of our understanding of biblical womanhood.

Q. How do you decide what other studies you will produce or recommend?
A. The CEP procedure regarding WIC studies is:
“At this time CEP usually publishes only one WIC study per year. Therefore it is important to be intentional and focused in what we publish.
“In the local church, the WIC circles/Bible studies are a part of the total Christian education program of the church and not the only educational experience the church offers women. The WIC studies should accomplish a specific function in the total educational plan. It is our belief that Titus 2:3-5 provides this focus.
“Carrying out the Titus mandate will involve training women in biblical truth and providing opportunities for women to develop nurturing relationships. This does not mean that WIC studies are limited to this, but it does mean that these issues are dealt with on a regular basis.
“Since CEP is limited in the number of studies we can publish, we feel that at this time our primary responsibility is to offer studies and leaders’ guides that will help churches accomplish the following:
1. Teach the Bible from a covenant perspective with emphasis on biblical womanhood.
2. Provide interactive study opportunities that help women to develop covenant relationships with one another.
3. Suggest ministry ideas that will help women to fulfill their individual and corporate mission.
“We do not know of materials that are addressing these issues from a Reformed perspective. Our commitment is to prayerfully pursue such materials.”

Q. Why does CEP only produce one WIC study per year?
A. Easy answer-money and time. Producing a study is costly and it requires an enormous amount of staff time. Presently, we simply do not have the resources to do more.

Q. Do we really need to study anything but the Bible? Why don’t you just produce Bible studies?
A. This question assumes that the only way to study the Bible is a verse by verse or book by book type study. The books in the core curriculum are Bible studies that focus on a specific topic. A comprehensive understanding of the Bible demands that at times we study a particular portion verse by verse, and at other times we step back and get an overview of what the Bible says about a specific topic such as God’s sovereignty, or redemption, or the covenant, or parenting, or marriage, or biblical womanhood. We have made the decision to produce some topical studies on the specific issue of womanhood because we know that women are taught God’s Word in an expository fashion from the pulpits of our PCA churches. Our WIC studies are designed to complement the pulpit ministry. We also feel the urgency to deal with biblical womanhood because of the influence of feminism in our culture.

Q. Do we have to use the studies produced by CEP?
A. No. We make no assumptions that women will only study the core curriculum or the other yearly studies produced by CEP. These are resources we provide for you. Whether you use them is a decision for the local church. We do advise local WICs to be sure they submit all materials to the elders for approval. Usually this is done by submitting it to the Christian Education Committee which has oversight of all materials used in all programs of the church. This protects doctrinal consistency and it gives coordination to the entire Christian education plan of the church.

Q. Why should PCA women use the WIC Core Curriculum?
A. I will answer that by sharing two letters from women who have used it.

I wanted to share how much I have enjoyed and grown from all the resources the WIC staff has made available to us in the last few years. I began my “women’s ministries” pilgrimage when you came to Covenant Seminary. Even then in my “youngness” I thought, “here is something I truly believe in – biblical principles that will make a difference in women’s lives.” I continued my journey at the National Conference in 1992 and I truly appreciated the risk in exposing the great needs which I knew existed, yet were hidden on our church pews.

I began reading and studying and I have thoroughly appreciated all the books and tapes. I have read all of the “core curriculum” books and listened to tapes. During the reading and studying, the Lord has allowed me the school of experience as well. Both of my parents have died, we had a new baby, made a move and as I look back I realize all the lessons I did learn as He walked with me and as He held me up with the strength I did not have. This school of experience taught personal pain, real depression, grief, compassion…all the things that you addressed in Spiritual Mothering at some level or another.

I must confess that the first time I read Spiritual Mothering I thought, “This is great!” But the second time I read it I thought, “This helps me where I hurt.” Somehow I was spiritually mothered through Spiritual Mothering. The third time I read it I was also teaching it as a Sunday School class -and now I’m finally learning to practice it!

In the middle of the Spiritual Mothering Sunday School class we went to a Regional Conference. This was perfect timing as we are getting ready to organize a women’s ministry program in our small church. The fifteen women who attended now understand the “language” of WIC; and they caught the vision of what women’s ministries can be in the local church as well as connecting on the larger level. We will start Loving Leadership in a few weeks and hope to have a small women’s ministries program that matches us in place by fall.

I have said all of the above to say this-it does work. You have communicated well. And those of us who have listened and read have profited from what the Lord is doing through WIC. It’s like ripples on water that keep going out from the center.

Another sister writes:

. . . My life and relationship to my husband will never be the same. Thinking I had settled many of the “design” issues long ago, the Lord showed me that I still ran my home and expected my husband to “help me” with the day-to-day events. With respect for our God-given elders, we have submitted our women’s ministries to our session. The fruit has been a session that offers clear, strong leadership and a women’s program that has run so smoothly. The entire atmosphere at church has changed as we humbly submitted ourselves to our leadership. What leaders they have become! The Lord is good!
We would never be so presumptous as to say this is the only way to do a women’s ministry. What we are saying is that as your denominational Christian education resource, we feel it is our responsibility to provide you with tools to help facilitate a WIC ministry, and our prayer is that the WIC Core Curriculum does that.

A final word:
The WIC Core Curriculum is not a study to be completed and left behind. It is a way of life. It is a process. The materials should be repeated over and over to incorporate new women as they come into the church and keep the concepts ever before all the women.

A Case Statement for PCA Christian Eduation and Publications

September 1, 2009 by admin

Why Should it Matter that Christians Have a Reformed World View?

A Case Statement for the ministry of Christian education.

It matters because Christ has called us to engage the world, not run from it.

To a Reformed Christian, the “world” is more than just a source of temptation. It’s a responsibility. So instead of condemning culture, Reformed Christians contribute to it. Instead of fearing the intellect, Reformed Christians develop it. Instead of wagging their fingers, Reformed Christians reach for the stars.

Because they know that God’s sovereignty extends beyond the sanctuary to every city, state and country on earth. And that the church’s purpose is not to passively await Christ’s coming, but to prepare the way.

Yet vital as it is, Reformed world view comes not from simply attending a Reformed church, but from a lifetime of careful discipling. It comes from using the unique tools developed by the Christian Education and Publications ministry of the PCA.

For it is through CEP that tens of thousands of Christians have their best opportunity to develop not just a heart for God, but a mind as well. And it’s making all the difference in the world.

It matters because the Bible’s principles apply not just to the church, but to the whole world.

Theoretically, today’s evangelical could spend his or her entire life avoiding the secular world. Thanks to Christian cable networks, magazines and music. Not to mention T-shirts, refrigerator magnets and work-out tapes.

But Reformed Christians refuse to live in an evangelical ghetto. They know that God’s Word is not just a refuge for the church–it’s a legal and ethical guidebook for all human society. Without it, any man-made culture is ultimately doomed to fail.

That’s why CEP seminars and materials are always biblically based, and strive to give every Christian an intimate, deeply personal knowledge of God’s Word.

But while other programs may stop there, CEP desires to raise up Christians who are also capable of applying the Scriptures in the outside world–who are articulate champions of biblical truth in the courts and legislatures, in the arts and media and schools.

Because in the end, the Bible is not a plan of escape but a platform for action. In the end, a Christian subculture is no substitute for a truly Christian world.

It matters because the Reformation is not just our heritage, but the world’s hope.

In the PCA, the Reformation is more than just an echo of the past. It is nothing less than the clearest, truest expression of the biblical faith.

That’s why CEP materials focus the Scriptures through the lens of Reformation theology, particularly the Larger and Shorter Catechisms and the Westminster Confession of Faith. This is what gives the PCA its unique identity as a covenant community.

For it is in mastering the rigors of Reformed theology that Christians learn to use their minds, and develop a logical framework for their faith. Asking and answering pre-suppositional, conceptual and integrative questions about all areas of truth.

But while learning theology is important, Christian Education & Publications also empowers Christians to “do” theology.

So that instead of simply memorizing historical creeds, Reformed Christians can make history of their own. Applying theology in ways that will transform their lives, their communities, their world.

It matters because if we aren’t equipped to shape the world, the world will shape us.

If there’s one thing the PCA doesn’t lack, it’s opportunities for being equipped to do the work of ministry.

This year alone, 2,000 church leaders and teachers will attend CEP conferences to sharpen their theology, their spiritual gifts and their practical skills; and receive support and encouragement in ministry.

One hundred churches in the PCA participate in a variety of special workshops covering everything from youth ministry to discipling, conducted by CEP’s regional teams of dedicated “Teacher Trainers.”

Written from a Reformed perspective, CEP’s Great Commission Sunday school curricula help shape the lives of young covenant children, youth and adult disciples.

And through Women in the Church, or WIC, CEP conducts training seminars and other conferences designed to help thousands of women develop their lay ministries and make a contribution to the life of the church.

Together, these ministries are slowly but surely shaping a generation of Christians who are fully equipped to engage their culture. And take on the world.

Christian Education and Publications. Because it matters.

To gauge just how well the Reformed faith meets modern needs, consider this: the PCA is one of the fastest-growing denominations in the world.

And with the rapid expansion of young churches comes an escalating need for CEP services. CEP’s ministry is specifically targeted to help all those new leaders, teachers and officers build on a firm foundation.

Will you support the efforts of CEP with your prayers and your financial gifts?

Although CEP’s services are paid for, to some extent, through purchases and tuition fees, our overall administrative costs often go unaddressed. And our visions for the future–including strategic new services now under development–are entirely dependent on supporters like you.

Here is a rare opportunity for you to point thousands of people in a direction that is not only thoroughly Christian, but truly Reformed. Here is a way for you to do something that matters. Not just for your denomination. But for the whole world.

Today’s Teenagers–the Future of the Church

August 13, 2009 by Danny

Perhaps I am a little biased on this subject, but I have to admit that each time I hear someone referring to high school students as the “future of the church” a part of me cringes, Don’t get me wrong. I agree with the idea that teenagers must be trained and equipped to one day become the leaders of the church. However, it seems to me that we do a disservice to the next generation if we treat youth ministry as a holding pen for students until they are old enough to do the real work of the church.

Just a few years ago, the Baylor University School of Social Work conducted a study where they found the students with the most mature, vibrant faith that carried on from the teen years to adulthood were those who were actively involved in the ministries of a church as teenagers and those who were engaged in meeting the needs of people in their communities. Given the overwhelmingly negative statistics concerning young adults and church involvement, I am willing to go out on a limb here and suggest that engaging teenagers in the life of your congregation is one of the more important things you can do in your student ministry. Stepping a little further out on the limb, let me also suggest that though the application of the Great Commission must be contextualized, the call to make disciples is equally as valid for the teenagers in your congregation as it is for the adults who inhabit your pews.

I was reminded of these truths again this summer as I had the privilege of directing Youth Excelling in Leadership (YXL), CEP’s denominational student leadership conference, and taking part in our sister conference, YXL Glorieta, held in Glorieta, New Mexico. The goal of both conferences is similar: to develop student leaders through the strong preaching of the Word. dynamic worship experiences, interactive leadership initiatives, leadership assessment, and the expansion of their biblical world and life view. One unique aspect of the YXL conferences is that the local church is asked to identify and recommend high school students that are ready for a week of intense Christian leadership training.

This past summer, over 100 students and adults participated in YXL at Covenant College and another 85 took part in YXL Glorieta. In keeping with YXL’s theme of COMMIT, men such as Southern Methodist University RUF Campus Minister Chad Scruggs, Covenant College Chaplain Aaron Messner, and Assistant Pastor of Redemption Fellowship EJ Childs challenged students to explore more fully the commitment that Jesus expects from his disciples. The worship leader, Kirk Ward, Worship Director at New City Fellowship in Saint Louis, added music from around the world to encourage students to think more globally as they worship together. Add to the list a ministry project with Hope for the Inner City (www.hope4.org), paintball, caving in Raccoon Mountain, hiking on Lookout Mountain, and dozens of other leadership activities and YXL 2008 at Covenant College was a life transforming experience for not only the students who attended but for many adults there as well.

At YXL Glorieta, students were encouraged to RISE UP because “the resurrection changes everything.” Under the direction of John Ranheim, Development Director at Covenant Seminary, YXL Glorieta was a huge success. RUF campus pastors Justin Clement and Tom Franklin unpacked from Scripture the resurrection and helped students understand the implications of this event in their lives. Musician Ryan Anderson used his unique music style to draw students into wonderful worship experiences. The natural beauty of Glorieta, New Mexico, coupled with paintball, whitewater rafting, high ropes, and various leadership initiatives help set YXL Glorieta apart as a premier Christian leadership conference for PCA churches in the western United States.

However, it was during the nightly prayer times as I listened to high school students at both conferences crying out, grieving over personal and corporate sin issues, with almost childlike faith asking to be used of God that I realized again that students are more than just the future of the church.

I have been a believer for a little over two decades. For most of that time I have been involved in youth ministry. I am seminary trained and will soon possess the necessary credentials to be a pastor in the PCA, but I don’t know that I can recall many adult prayer meetings where prayers were offered with the sincerity and abandon that I experienced at YXL and YXL Glorieta this summer. let me go as far out on the proverbial limb as I can this time and make one last suggestion. Perhaps the next time your church has a significant prayer need, you should move your teenagers out of the “future of the church” holding pen and into the ministry of your church by asking them to lead the prayer meeting. Based on my YXL experiences this summer, I have a sneaking suspicion that the adults of your church may be encouraged and challenged at the way the Holy Spirit can use young people to further the kingdom of God.

If you would like to know more about the conferences, feel free to check out the websites www.pcacep.org/yxl and www.yxlglorieta.org and mark your calendars for YXL 2009: July 6-11 at Covenant College and YXL Glorieta June 20-27.

What do Youth Ministers Do All Day?

August 13, 2009 by Danny

“I don’t believe I have seen you here before. Is this your first visit?” said the ruling elder to the young man one Sunday morning in the church parking lot. On the one hand, by attempting to greet a visitor he was doing something ruling elders ought to be doing. However, the young man hewas greeting was me; and I had been part of the staff of the church for about ten months as the youth director. To make matters more awkward, he was part of the session that interviewed and hired me. Add to this uncomfortable situation the fact that two of his children were actively involved in the youth program and I found myself at a complete loss for words. Sitting in my car on the way home, I vacillated between embarrassment and anger at having to explain to him that I was not a visitor but actually a staff member of the church. Before I had pulled into my driveway, I had decided that regardless of whether it was his responsibility to know me or not, I needed to be more proactive in communicating to people who I was and what the youth program was doing.

Send a written report to the session whether they ask for it or not.

Have parent’s meetings at least two times a year.

Once a quarter, self-audit your schedule by taking 1-2 work weeks to chart how you spend your time If you have a youth advisory team, communicate the results to them.

Find a ruling elder you can meet with once a month.

Take every opportunity within the church, no matter how small, to communicate the vision and program of the youth ministry.

Find ways for youth to serve the larger church body Nothing builds walls quicker and adds confusion about what you do than when youth are hidden in the basement.

Develop a two page document that includes the youth ministry purpose, program, and how you personally work to accomplish the purpose that can be handed out when asked about what you do.

Regular written or e-mail communication to parents.

Develop a parent’s and church member’s section of your youth website that you can point people to when they want to know about the youth program.

If I could offer any advice to youth directors from my parking lot faux pas, it would be to make sure that you are constantly communicating to other staff, elders, and parents who you are, what you do, and what is going on in the youth program. I continually hear stories of youth staff who arebeing let go because of a lack of communication. The age old question that makes all youth pastors cringe, what do you do all day? is one that we have to answer or run the risk of further alienating youth ministry from the rest of the church. I have to confess that each time that I am asked that question, my hackles get raised, my fangs begin to jut out, and I want to go into attack mode. Yet, I know that almost nothing hurts a youth program more than a defensive, angry youth director. This is why I believe a little preventative maintenance in this area can go a long way in heading off potential conflict and might keep a few more youth directors employed.PCA.

Here are several recommendations that have come from youth pastors around the PCA

1. Keep youth activities posted in multiple places in the church.

Regardless of which direction you go in as you attempt to enhance communication about who you are, what you do, and what is going on in the youth program, the important thing is to learn to embrace the “what do you do all day” question instead of going to fist-a-cuffs each time it gets asked. I am more convinced than ever that if church leadership. parents, and congregations understood what the youth ministry staff does and why they do it, then Job security for vocational youth workers would not be as precarious as it is today.

PCA Youth Ministry Updates:

Over 150 youth gathered at Ridge Haven conference center, February 13-16, for Youth World Awareness Weekend (YOWAW). This was a great opportunity for students to be challenged about their calling and learn about ministries around the world. David McNeely and Ryan Fisk were the main speakers and did an excellent job helping students understand the purpose and power of missions. As always, Dean Conkle brought his unique brand of humor as the MC. Congratulations to MTW, MNA, Ridge Haven, and CEP in this collaborative effort to help high school students live missionally in the kingdom. Check out the website www.ridgehaven.org/rhyowaw.html for more information and next year’s dates.

in January, fifteen youth pastors from around the country gathered at covenant Seminary to think through issues facing youth ministry in the PCA. Discussions included everything from a theology of youth ministry to the validity of our calling. Of the many potential outcomes from the symposium, perhaps the most exciting is the possibility of a national gathering of youth workers in 2011. Please be praying about the opportunity to bring 200-300 youth workers together for several days of solid teaching, encouragement, worship, and relaxation.

Don’t forget YXL (Youth Excelling in Leadership), July 6-11 at Covenant College. This is the PCA’s high school leadership conference designed to help students further shape their world and life view. The speakers this year are Danny Clark, RUF pastor at College of Charleston, and John Craft, RUF pastor at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and our worship leader is Eric Ashley, pastor of college and career at First Presbyterian Macon. Activities will include whitewater rafting, ministry projects, and leadership activities. We will explore the theme LIVE FREE through the book of Galatians in an attempt to figure out what it means to be set free by Christ as broken people in a broken world. Check out the website https://archive.pcacdm.org/yxlto find out more about this conference led by CEP and to find out about a scholarship offer from Covenant College for YXL students.

Youth Leader Data Form Submission

July 1, 2009 by admin

Women in the Church Trainers

July 1, 2009 by admin

The CEP women’s ministry trainers’ purpose is to encourage and equip PCA women to think biblically and live covenantally. We currently have seven women who have been equipped and trained to serve in this training program. The training sessions are designed for all the women of PCA churches. Specific application is also given to women’s ministry leadership teams. Material presented:

Helps a women’s ministry accomplish the objectives of Biblical Foundations for Womanhood.
Teaches women a Biblical perspective of their relationship with Christ, family, and church.
Challenges women to fulfill their helper design.
Helps women examine the implications of the covenant in their relationships.
Trains women to cultivate community by becoming the Titus 2 women that nurture one another for God’s glory.
Trains women to be channels of compassion.
Equips women for leadership roles in the women’s ministry of the church.

What will a trainer do for our church?
Trainers will help your local women’s ministry leadership team:

Evaluate your existing ministry.
Understand the implications of the covenant in a women