Motto: To Nurture God’s people for Christian service
Christian Education is an indispensable element in the life of the Church as it not only strengthens its foundations but also edifies her to be an effective agent of transformation. Having deeply and strongly rooted in the Biblical, theological, sociological, philosophical, psychological, and cultural foundations. Christian Education has been a healing and correcting means right from the beginning of the Church.
As the emphasis laid on the teaching and learning experience of the Church in the Holy Scriptures compels us to engage in this ministry very seriously, the Christian Education Department was started in 1990 with the immediate concerns of providing Sunday school curriculum for the various age groups of the people of the Church of South India.
With the initial help received from CWM the first director, Rev.Dr.Arun Gopal did a wonderful service and started the great movement in CSI by formulating qualitative study materials for various age groups of CSI.
Children the Symbols of the Kingdom of God
Even though Jesus presented the children as the models of the Kingdom of God, the Scriptures encourage us to nurture and enable them to find for themselves the right from the wrong. In order to catch them young, the Department has a variety of programmes for the children. Regular rallies are the hallmarks of the Department. Children show much interest when they gather together and learn the Word of God. Group activities promote a sense of unity among children drawn from all the corners of the Church. Teens are invited from all over the Synod to discuss on a Biblical theme as well as on current urging issues. Their response to issues like HIV/AIDS, Natural disasters, global warming, Ecological awareness etc. is very encouraging. Children get opportunities to express their talents and special skills. They are encouraged in activities like painting, drawing, music and arts.
Teachers the guiding posts
Teachers and pastors are the invaluable gifts of God to the Church. Nevertheless, they need to be equipped and enabled to teach the truth in love in an understandable way not only to the Children but also to all age groups. The CED plays a vital role in equipping the teachers and facilitators by providing training in teaching as well as enabling them to get proficiency in the Scriptures with necessary Biblical and theological study help materials.
Sunday school Teachers Licentiate Course
A three to four days training to the Sunday school teachers in each Diocese regularly promotes the ministry and instills confidence in the minds of the teachers. Teachers are enabled to teach the Word of God and handle it relevantly in the light of the current trends and the influence of post modernism. They are also enabled in teaching learning techniques with suitable materials. They are also trained to be sensitive to the psychosomatic socio cultural needs of the children.
Learning made Easy
Having a graded curriculum for the Sunday school (Wings of faith) in 15 volumes in all the regional languages of South India is a great asset of our Department. Proper utilization of the curriculum by the Dioceses will be a great blessing to the Churches as well to the Department. As we are planning for revision and reprinting of the curriculum, we hope to find a suitable mechanism to promote this ministry curriculum in almost all the Dioceses.
The Church with a difference
In order to minister to the children of other faiths, who will, other wise, not be able to come to our Church because of social and cultural barriers, the department has taken initiative to take the Church to the children through this programme. The child labourers who work in the factories and match industries are collected from the work place with the permission of the factory owners for an hour every day and are given training in literacy and developing alternative skills. They get opportunity to learn the Scriptures voluntarily. It is found out that the children from other faiths are more than willing to learn more about the Christian faith.
Special programmes for social victims and Christian Education for Adults are some of the ongoing programmes.
Sunday school Missionary Movement
The Department has appointed two missionary couple in Nandyal and Madurai Dioceses. There is a plan to augment the number of the missionaries and enlarge the boundaries in the future.
Peter Cator Scripture Knowledge Exam
The Department conducts Scripture Exams every year to the IX and XI Std. students of all the regions of the Synod. Thousands of children participate in this programme and enjoy growing in the knowledge of the Lord. It is encouraging that a majority of the students who take up the exam are from other faiths.
Net working with other Agencies
The Department takes keen interest in networking with related agencies in enriching our experience in the ministry of the Lord.
We thank all who support and guide us in this noble cause. May the Lord who cares for His lambs and appoints shepherds to tend them continue to guide us and bless us in all our efforts.
The Director
