Adult Christian Education Listening Session Minutes

Strategic Planning Committee

Saint Michael and All Angels

Thursday, June 16, 2005 ~ 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

at the home of Joyce and Blake Hull

Approximately 36 persons attended; discussion facilitated by Suzanne Hall-Lewis

I. Opening Collect for Education

Suzanne read the Strategic Plan purpose statement and reviewed the process thus far. She led the discussion by asking questions arranged around these areas.

II. What do you value or appreciate most about Adult Education at Saint Michael?

A. Bible study- the sheer amount and diversity of offerings that have been cultivated

          •         “remember when looking at best practices that our parishioners are intelligent and set high standards”

          •         also remember our parish history; revive past successes

          •         “sermons and classes should be erudite and intellectually meaty” Use lections.

          •         curriculum based studies under the aegis of Shelly Vescovo (25% of those attending tonight’s session were interested in long term studies)

          •         weekday and evening classes (small group studies) are content/topic driven; fellowship develops as a result of the study; important to begin and end with prayer

          •         Short term studies (Sundays and during the week); shift topic every 3-6 weeks

B. Credentials are important for group leaders clergy and lay

          •         great depth of talent and access to Perkins staff; Dr. Power (has left a void), Dr. Heller, others who are more scriptural than systematic theologians

          •         perhaps a scholar in residence

          •         Vice Rector’s Sunday morning class is a large and diverse group

          •         Marjorie Currey on Islam; Monsignor Donald Fischer on Catholicism, want more comparative religion studies (Judaism, Coptic Christianity for example)

C. On a scale of 1-10, this evening’s group rated current Adult Education at 7.5- other “bests”

          •         Music as part of worship and education- a great resource in Jim Diaz          

          •         McConnell lectures

          •         SMF Sunday- The Rev. Dan Matthews

          •         Rev. Michael Harmuth- need to involve him in Adult Ed and preaching in the Church

          •         Rev. Amy Heller- keep teaching at SMAA somehow

          •         Wonderful Wednesdays- offer 3 times/year with 4 week duration-content important always with meal and child care

          •         Parish Life Conferences- great workshops and community building

          •         Going Forward Together

          •         relationship with S.S.J.E. (Society of St. John Evangelist) for retreats, speakers

III. What needs improvement?

A. Communications!•Website is “static and lame”; needs to be easier to navigate with calendar of “what’s happening this week” on the homepage.

          •         Grace Cathedral San Francisco has an excellent web site- is evangelism tool

          •         Attendee Holland Sullivan (new to SMAA) might be able to help

          •         Pew bulletin needs work! Make it service specific; look at other parishes’examples

          •         send parish e-mail on Wednesdays with information on the following Sunday classes

          •         Arch Angel format wastes space and materials, arrives too late to be relevant

          •         need better signage on classrooms and at all entrances; list classes, locations, times

          •         print small map in Sunday News- Bill Cherry’s suggestion

          •         need to have both long term (syllabus style) calendar and weekly reminders whether by postcard, newsletters, e-mail or the web site

B. Sunday mornings

          •         start and end liturgies and classes on time

          •         “make the Sunday school/Education hour sacrosanct”

          •         always wear nametags

          •         “too much commissioning”; another pointed out that it “encourages involvement”

          •         homily at baptismal liturgies and on Feast Days should be short

C. Miscellaneous

          •         offer weekday Bible studies other than at midmorning

          •         improve ministry to college students/Canterbury SMU a good place to start

          •         great hunger for spirituality- offerings on servant leadership, contemplative prayer urban retreats, the Labyrinth, Mary Ann Webster was mentioned in this regard

IV. New ideas, opportunities (Suzanne read a list of questions prepared by the committee)

          •         some interest (about 25%) in small covenant groups

          •         try a pilot program of Adult Ed classes before or after 5:30 service Saturdays, Sundays

                     maybe once/month for a start, child care, dinner would help encourage attendance

          •         what’s happening with Cursillo?

          •         revive concerts as an education/outreach arm of SMAA music: example Bach’s Lunches

          •         an Adult Education trip, pilgrimage?

          •         revive Christianity and the Arts- Sally Magee’s name mentioned

          •         Ethical issues - Dr. Tom Mayo from McGuire Center at SMU

V. Summary “take aways”: Content, Credentials, Communications, Child Care!