Front Page

Eight Bishops Agree to Serve as ‘Episcopal Visitors'

September 20, 2007, NEW ORLEANS – Eight bishops have accepted Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori's invitation to serve as "episcopal visitors" to dioceses that have requested this provision. At her request, the Presiding Bishop's canon, the Rev. Dr. Charles Robertson, advised Episcopal News Service of this measure the evening of September 19. The announcement preceded the opening plenary session of the House of Bishops' September 20-25 meeting in New Orleans. Robertson said Jefferts Schori expected to announce the names of the eight bishops during that session, which is devoted to the bishops' private conversation with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, and is closed to the public and media.

Guns, Peace, War Greet ‘Living Letters' Team in USA Visit

September 20, 2007, WASHINGTON, D.C. – Discussions about gun control and small arms trafficking, violence in the streets and against ethnic groups, as well as the engagement by churches in peacemaking activities consumed the first days of a 10-day visit to the United States by an international ecumenical team representing the World Council of Churches (WCC). Members of the team, who travel to New York, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New Orleans from September 15-23, include a South African church leader once jailed for his anti-apartheid activity, a public health specialist from Lebanon, a Brazilian ecumenical officer and a human rights lawyer from Pakistan.

Church Leaders Say Dramatic Changes Coming
Gray, Kirkpatrick, Valentine Address GAC

September 20, 2007, LOUISVILLE – The three major leaders of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) told the General Assembly Council (GAC) meeting here that dramatic changes are on the horizon for the church. General Assembly Moderator Joan Gray told the Council that she had seen meaningful change taking place when churches and presbyteries "hit the wall" and turned to the resources of the faith to seek fresh, new directions. "It is as if a tsunami of change has hit us," Gray said. "I recently spent time in the Midwest, and these areas are drying up. The people are not there anymore. In Detroit, 3,000 people a day are leaving to emigrate elsewhere. That is just the tip of the iceberg." She said, "Much of our discomfort is really about our coming to grips with the overwhelming change that is coming at us from all sides. The bottom line is that we simply cannot continue doing church the way we have been."

Survey: Churches Say Health Care Priority Ministry
Seventy Percent of Participating Churches Provide Direct Health Services

September 18, 2007, NEW YORK – A groundbreaking survey of more than 6,000 American congregations reveals that churches spend a significant amount of time, energy and money in the ministries of health care. The Congregational Health Ministry Survey, conducted by the National Council of Churches USA (NCC) with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, shows that a majority of churches are ministering to their communities by providing health care ministries. As the number of uninsured Americans reaches 47 million people, congregations are supplying health education and direct health care services. Many are advocating on behalf of public policy issues related to health care. According to the survey, about 70 percent of responding churches provide direct health services, with 65 percent offering health education programs within their community.

Proposed Social Creed Seeks Global Acceptance

September 20, 2007, WASHINGTON – Fresh off its world tour, a "user-friendly" United Methodist Social Creed faces its biggest audience next spring in its bid to become the church's "roadmap to making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." A small task force of six under the leadership of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society has been working on a 2008 Social Creed to replace the revised 1972 version. The original creed was written in 1908 as a denominational statement decrying child labor and supporting the economic rights of workers, better workplace conditions, better wages and worker safety.

NCC President Urges Speedy SCHIP Passage

September 18, 2007, WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) today joined several groups calling for Congress to quickly reauthorize SCHIP – the state children's health insurance program. The Rev. Michael Livingston, president of the NCC and executive director of the International Council of Community Churches, urged Congress to quickly pass a conference bill "that covers as many children as possible" before funding ends for the current program on Sept. 30. "Lack of access to affordable and quality health care has a profoundly negative impact on the quality of life for our children. It puts them at greater risk to have learning challenges, higher absenteeism and more serious illnesses from diseases that are preventable and treatable if caught in early stages," Livingston told a Capitol Hill news conference. Livingston said the SCHIP legislation is not just an economic, social, education or moral issue, but it is also "a spiritual issue."

American Baptists Stand up for the Jena 6

September 17, 2007, VALLEY FORGE, PA – In Jena, La., a rural community of some 3,000 people, there is an African American population of about 350. A tree at the high school, known as the "white tree," was symbolically labeled "for white students only." By tradition and practice, only white students sat in the shade of this tree with its branches lifted high into the sky and its roots digging deep into the earth. One day an African American student, new to the area, asked permission from school administrators to sit under the "white tree." Permission was granted, and the next day three nooses, in the school's colors, were hanging from the tree. For African American students, those nooses brought back images their grandparents lived with on a daily basis, images sung about by Billie Holiday that reflected the prevalent Southern practice, at the time the song was written, of lynching and burning African Americans.

General News

Commentary: Can United Methodists Follow Their Call?

September 17, 2007 – Young adults, especially young clergy, are the "in" demographic in church circles. Bishops, seminary professors, church growth gurus and even The New York Times are asking the perplexing question: Why aren't young people going into local parish ministry? The answers are numerous, ranging from the arduous candidacy process, to the content of seminary education, to the grueling and often isolating work in the local parish. While it's trendy to talk about young adult leaders, or the lack thereof, oftentimes the voice of young adults seems curiously lost in the discussion. The church therefore should pay close attention to the Generation X/Y Conference, a gathering of about 50 young adults that was generated, organized and led by a group of motivated young church leaders. If ever there was an event "of the people," this was certainly it. It was in this place – an environment of youthful collegiality with two non-United Methodist presenters and hardly a conference or denominational hierarch on site – that the voice of the "young adult" emerged.

Anglican Centre in Rome – Post Open for Applications

September 18, 2007 – Applications are invited for the post of Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See and Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Governors of the Anglican Centre in Rome wish to appoint a new Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See and Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome to succeed the Rt Revd John Flack who is retiring on 28 February 2008 after nearly five years in the post. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams paid tribute to Bishop John: "Bishop John has held this office during a crucial period of change and challenge both for Roman Catholics and for Anglicans. Throughout his time, serving with enormous energy, distinction and warmth, both as pastor and diplomat, he has built up the work of the Anglican Centre in Rome as well as developing our relationships with the Vatican. His successor will be able to build on his achievements and take forward this vital work."

Centennial Celebration to Promote United Methodist Men

September 18, 2007, NASHVILLE, Tenn. – United Methodist Men will mark 100 years of men's ministry in 2008 in a year-long celebration that also aims to grow the organization as it works to move more men into discipleship. Directors of the Commission on United Methodist Men, which met Sept. 15-16, have proposed 12 months of activities for local churches to celebrate the anniversary. Approximately 239,000 people are part of United Methodist Men in the United States in a denomination with about 8 million U.S. members.

Bridges to Life Gives Prisoners New Perspectives

September 19, 2007, BRYAN, Texas – Prison inmates seldom talk about their crimes and why they committed them. But getting prisoners to tell their stories – and bringing them face-to-face with crime victims – are part of the philosophy of Bridges to Life, a program taught by volunteers at 22 Texas prisons. "We look at confession, accountability, responsibility," says Margie Blazier, regional coordinator for Bridges to Life. "And we discuss those topics with the offenders."

Agency Helps Church Connect Digitally Worldwide

September 18, 2007, NASHVILLE, Tenn. – From communication centers in Africa to training programs in the Philippines, United Methodists are making strides in becoming more digitally connected around the world. Much of that progress has occurred in the last four years, as The United Methodist Church's communications agency has focused on leading the denomination into the digital age. Members of the church's Commission on Communication, meeting Sept. 12-14, celebrated that progress and shared excitement for what the future holds. They also reflected on a busy four-year period that included the commission's first ever meeting outside the United States – in Zimbabwe – and a stronger global emphasis by United Methodist Communications, the agency they oversee.

‘Full-Court Press' on for Successful Finish to MIJHH
High Potential Donors Strong Focus of Final Phase

September 20, 2007, LOUISVILLE – A "full-court press" is on as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s five-year Mission Initiative: Joining Hearts & Hands (MIJHH) fundraising campaign enters its final phase. Joining Hearts & Hands is the denomination's national campaign to raise $40 million for new overseas mission personnel and church growth in this country, particularly racial ethnic and immigrant congregations. MIJHH, which has raised more than $27.5 million so far, is scheduled to bring its final report to next summer's 218th General Assembly in San Jose, CA. The Rev. Tom Gillespie, retired president of Princeton Theological Seminary and honorary chair of the campaign, provided an update on the campaign to the General Assembly Council here Wednesday (Sept. 19).

Response to Grace Should Be Gratitude, Not Pride, Nyomi Says
WARC Leader Addresses GAC, Governing Body Executives

September 19, 2007, LOUISVILLE – God's assurances in 1 Peter that believers are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" are dangerous words if they are misconstrued, World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) General Secretary Setri Nyomi told a gathering of General Assembly Council members and middle governing body executives here Sept. 17. "In the dangerous world in which we find ourselves, claiming these words as proof that we are right and those who disagree with us are wrong can be very dangerous," Nyomi said. "Such a reading has too often led to hatred, violence and war." A fuller reading of 1 Peter "leads us to understand that this not an exclusivistic claim," he added, "but is the mark of a church that is humbled by its origins and so expresses gratitude. "It is by God's grace that we are who we are," Nyomi insisted. "It is a description of grace that leads to humility, not pride."

Christian Reformed Church in North America
150th Anniversary Marked by Call for Unity

September 17, 2007 – Reformed Christians needn't be so much "stuck to tradition" as to each other in their prophetic mission, a leader of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) said in marking the 150th anniversary of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. In a presentation on Reformed Faith and the Global Church on 14 September at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, WARC general secretary Setri Nyomi congratulated the church on marking 150 years of mission and ministry in a humble, reflective manner. "Reformed people understand our calling to be prophetic in advocacy, challenging the forces of evil and death and speaking in places where the victims of oppression, injustice and suffering do not have a voice or presence," Nyomi said. Reformed faith at its core means being critics of structures in church and society which contradict the life-giving message of Jesus Christ, Nyomi told delegates from the United States and Canada attending the Sesquicentennial Conference.

Special Committee Appointed to Oversee Greek Fire Relief Fund

September 18, 2007, NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios today announced the appointment of the members of the Special Committee which will oversee and coordinate the distribution of all monies collected by the Greek Fire Relief Fund of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. This fund was established by the Archdiocese in response to the catastrophic fires which resulted in the loss of 70 lives and devastated large areas of the Peloponnese area of Greece as well as left countless people homeless and without a means of supporting themselves for years to come. "I am most confident that with the help of God the members of this committee will do their utmost to assure the effective distribution of assistance to those who truly need it.

Raise Prophetic Voices Against Poverty, Paul Farmer Tells Bishops
Medical Anthropologist Underscores Importance of Achieving MDGs

September 21, 2007 – Medical anthropologist Paul Farmer told the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops September 21 that the church's prophetic voice must be heard in the global debates about the most effective ways to eradicate extreme poverty and guarantee basic rights to all. "When the churches are united around social justice issues, it's very powerful," he said. "It's hard to shout down a bishop."

Archbishop Rowan Williams' Opening Remarks at September 21 News Conference

September 21, 2007 – The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, offered the following opening remarks at the House of Bishops September 21 news conference in New Orleans. I and the members of the Joint Standing Committee were very glad to accept the invitation of the Presiding Bishop to join the House of Bishops for part of this session. One of the greatest privileges of being here has been the chance to see something of the quite outstanding work being done by the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana in the ongoing work of social reconstruction in a city still deeply scarred by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina two years ago. I was able to visit a project yesterday in the lower Ninth Ward and to see the wonderfully committed and vibrant new church community that has sprung up around the reconstruction work.

Archbishop of Canterbury ‘Encouraged' by Bishops' Meetings
Nearly $1 Million Raised for Hurricane Relief Efforts

By Pat McCaughan, September 21, 2007, NEW ORLEANS – After two days of "encouraging" talks with the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams told reporters September 21 that if the Anglican Communion resolves its differences enough to avoid schism "it will have done something for the entire Christian community." Williams, who made pastoral visits to hurricane-damaged areas of New Orleans and preached at a September 20 ecumenical service where dioceses donated $931,000 for disaster relief, said outstanding local recovery efforts helped focus bishops' conversations around "our need for one another." "The need we have for each other is very deep, it came across yesterday in much of the discussion in our first session," Williams told more than 60 international, national and local reporters at a Friday afternoon news conference.

Domestic Missionary Partnership Explores Collaborative Work, Distributes Grants for Ministry Projects

September 18, 2007 – Members of the Domestic Missionary Partnership (DMP) met September 5-9 in Boulder City, Nevada, to share information about new ministry projects, learn about the reorganization of the Episcopal Church Center and distribute grants. DMP was formed in 1997 by several of the member dioceses of the former Coalition 14, which had its roots in the early 1970s when dioceses supported by the Episcopal Church banded together to change the way funds were distributed. DMP's current members are the dioceses of Alaska, Arizona, Eastern Oregon, Eau Claire, Idaho, Mississippi, Navajoland Area Mission, Nevada, North Dakota, Utah, and Western Kansas. Among the grants distributed at this year's meeting, $5,000 was designated to help sponsor an expanded conference to investigate how DMP might collaborate with similar networks, such as the Living Stones Diocesan Partnership, and explore the possibility of holding a joint conference in association with the Episcopal Church's office for small-membership churches.

Ecumenical News

Inter-Christian Symposium Among Catholics and Orthodox

September 17, 2007, VATICAN CITY – The Holy Father has written a Message to Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, for the Tenth Inter-Christian Symposium between Catholics and Orthodox, which is being held from September 16 to 19 on the Greek island of Tinos. The symposium, organized every two years by the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality at Rome's Antonianum Pontifical Athenaeum, and by the faculty of theology at the Aristotle University of Thessalonica, Greece, aims to study Catholics' and Orthodox' shared patrimony of faith and tradition. The current meeting – which has as its theme "St. John Chrysostom, a bridge between East and West" – coincides with the 1,600th anniversary of the death of that saint, considered as a Father of the Church in both East and West.

September 8 – Nativity of Mary
Pakistani Catholics, Muslims Flock by Thousands to Marian Shrine

MARIAMABAD, Pakistan – For 10 years, Zakir Hussain and his wife consulted gynecologists and even visited clairvoyants to see how they could have children. Now the father of two sons, Hussain shared the secret of their success. "Not medicine, but Mary answered our prayers," the 35-year-old Muslim told UCA News at the National Marian Shrine at Mariamabad, where he had beseeched the blessed mother's help. His first boy was born in 2004, followed a year or so later by the second. He vowed to bring his family to pay homage to Mary at the shrine's grotto for 12 consecutive years. Hussain and his young family were among the 900,000 devotees who joined in the 58th annual pilgrimage to the shrine for the Sept. 8 feast of the Nativity of Mary. Groups of Muslims as well as Catholics started pouring into the village 260 kilometers (about 160 miles) south of Islamabad on Sept. 6.

Report: 40 Years of Anglican-Catholic Discussions

September 14, 2007 – The Anglican Communion Office and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity released their definitive report on decades of ecumenical discussions. Report comments on issues such as cooperation and the Eucharist. The Anglican Communion news service reported that on September 14, the Anglican Communion Office and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity's Information Service released a definitive text of the report of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM). The report, entitled "Growing Together in the Unity and Mission," offers a concise summary of 40 years of Anglican-Roman Catholic theological dialogue. It sets out both areas of convergence and agreement, as well as outstanding areas of difficulty and continuing dialogue.

Editorial Page

Commentary: ‘Prevalent Evil' of Racism Requires Our Response

September 21, 2007 – Staff members of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race join other United Methodists and people of faith in calling for equal justice and healing from the racial crisis in Jena, La., where six African-American teenagers face charges for allegedly beating a white youth at school. And yet, we know that both justice and healing will be hard to come by. As tens of thousands of protesters marched on Sept. 20 in Jena and elsewhere around the nation, we were encouraged by the outpouring of public response. Many wore black to signify the racial injustices black people too often suffer in communities, courtrooms and correctional institutions across this land. Their protests, some have said, could spark a new, 21st century, media-savvy, civil rights movement to challenge widespread unfairness in the U.S. judicial system.

Spanish News

Responsabilidad De Las Iglesias Ante El Nuevo Mapa Económico Mundial

20 septiembre 2007, QUITO, Ecuador – Antes de 2010 el gobierno del Ecuador pretende bajar al 10% de su valor actual valor de pago la deuda externa e interna del país, carga que representaba 110% en el año 2000 y actualmente está en 40%, reveló el ministro de Economía y Finanzas del país, Fausto Ortiz. El ministro participó de la apertura del seminario sobre Fe, Deuda Externa y la Nueva Configuración Económica Internacional, convocada por el Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias (CLAI), el Grupo Nacional de Deuda del Ecuador, el Jubileo 2000 y Pan para Todos, de Suiza. El seminario se realiza en Quito, del 19 al 21 de septiembre.

Polémica Por Declaraciones De Alan García Sobre Iglesia Católica

21 septiembre 2007, LIMA, Perú – El presidente Alan García sorprendió a la opinión pública peruana con declaraciones altisonantes hacia la Iglesia Católica, el pasado fin de semana, siendo conocida su devoción por esta confesión religiosa. Estas opiniones del Jefe de Estado se produjeron al comentar la negativa de Radio Cutivalú (de la ciudad de Piura) a emitir un aviso del Ministerio de Energía y Minas, en el que se señalaba que la Defensoría del Pueblo habría declarado ilegal la consulta vecinal para aprobar o no la instalación de un proyecto impulsado por la compañía minera Majaz.

National News

GAC Takes Steps to Create a Separate Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Corporation
Go-Slow Approach Will Answer Questions Before Final Action in 2010

September 21, 2007, LOUISVILLE – Acknowledging the need to adapt to new patterns of charitable giving in the U.S., the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s General Assembly Council has voted to separately incorporate Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). A "very limited, related and dependent" PDA corporation will be able to accept employer matching funds for employee gifts, as well as government and foundation grants, many of which are currently not available to church agencies. The incorporation would also give PDA higher visibility, as it would be included on published lists of non-profit charities that exclude church groups. "The way Americans support charities have changed," said the Rev. Eileen Lindner, chair of a task force that has been studying the pros and cons of a separate PDA corporation for the last 18 months. "We need to change to meet those new patterns."

International News

WCC Executive Committee to Meet in Armenia

September 21, 2007 – An exposure visit hosted by the Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Etchmiadzin), which includes a commemoration at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex near the capital city of Yerevan, will precede the 25-28 September meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee taking place in Etchmiadzin, Armenia. The WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia will visit the Etchmiadzin see of the Armenian Apostolic Church from 21-24 September. He will meet the Catholicos of All Armenians, Supreme Patriarch Karekin II, and representatives of partner ecumenical organizations in the country. Visits to St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan, where he will attend the divine liturgy (worship service), as well as to other churches and monasteries, a seminary and a youth centre are also on the schedule. The WCC central committee moderator, Rev. Dr Walter Altmann will join the visit on Saturday, 22 September.

International Lutherans Counsel ELCA in Developing HIV and AIDS Strategy

September 20, 2007, CHICAGO – Discrimination and stigma, poverty and hunger, distribution of medicine and access to health care are critical issues to consider in addressing the HIV and AIDS pandemic, according to Lutherans from Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and the United States. In an effort to inform and advise members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as the church develops an HIV and AIDS strategy, some Lutherans from around the world were invited here Sept. 10 to share with ELCA churchwide staff their experiences in HIV and AIDS work. The center of the church's action is not on the virus but on the person, not on the disease but in the discrimination, said the Rev. Lisandro Orlov, a pastor of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Argentina (Iglesia Evangelica Luterana Unida), Buenos Aires.

Haitian Church Leader Killed

September 21, 2007, GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – Odenor St. Cyr, the long-time director of the Haitian Program for Training Diaconal Organizations (PWOFOD), was shot to death in Port au Prince last Tuesday, Sept. 18. Leanne Geisterfer, Latin America team leader for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (www.crwrc.org), reports that the attackers shot St. Cyr several times while he and his wife were driving away from church on Tuesday evening. Geisterfer said she believes the shooting was a random act of violence and likely started as a kidnapping attempt. "This is a hard blow for the Christian community in Port au Prince. We have lost a cherished leader," Geisterfer said.

Web Resources Available for ‘Peace Day'
10 PC(USA)-Sponsored International Peacemakers Visiting U.S.

September 17, 2007, LOUISVILLE – The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program has made worship resources available on its Web site for churches and other groups planning to mark the International Day of Peace (Peace Day) on Friday, Sept. 21. The United Nations General Assembly has set Sept. 21 of each year as the International Day of Peace – a day of global ceasefire and non-violence when all nations and people are encouraged to honor a cessation of hostilities. The World Council of Churches (WCC) is also encouraging congregations worldwide to pray for peace on Sept. 21 or on the following Sunday. "The International Day of Peace calls the people of the world to ponder the possibility of peace," said the Rev. Mark Koenig, coordinator of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. "The day provides an opportunity for Presbyterians to join Christians, interfaith partners and people of goodwill in proclaiming God's vision of peace. Together, through our prayers and our actions, we affirm our intention to live into that vision."

Inter-Religious Academic Experiment Brings Indonesian Muslims, Christians Together

September 17, 2007 – PC(USA) mission worker in Indonesia YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia – Mytha has a ready, shy smile and wears conservative Muslim dress. With a background in literary criticism from Melbourne, she wrote her M.A. thesis on religion, culture and modernity in Islamic poetry. Leo is an Indonesian engineer who left a successful career in computers to study theology in a Presbyterian supported university. He wrote a brilliant M.Th. thesis on the symbolic role of Jews in Islam. He teaches Hebrew to theology students. Ferry is a Muslim Batak from Sumatra with a critical mind and a sharp pen. Expert in Qur'an studies and fluent in Arab, he studied in Egypt and America. Ivana is Serbian Orthodox. She studied art history in India and speaks 9 languages. In light of the tragic conflicts in her country, she's searching for how God is expressed in art.

UMCOR Sponsors Airlift to Republic of Georgia

September 18, 2007, TBILISI, Georgia – An airlift sponsored by the United Methodist Committee on Relief and Project Hope, with millions of dollars in donated medical supplies, has arrived in Tbilisi, the capital city of the Republic of Georgia. The Sept. 14 flight was the 912th conducted by Project Hope and the U.S. State Department since 1992. The shipment means a healthier life for more than 90,000 vulnerable patients in the Caucasus region. The former Soviet republic is a country of great economic need in the mountains separating Europe and Asia. The C-17 cargo plane carried 20 representatives of several international nongovernmental organizations, including the Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, UMCOR's parent organization, and Marc Maxi, executive director of field operations for the relief agency.

Reviews

Two Sides of the Same Coin

September 20, 2007 MINNEAPOLIS – In the newly released Christian Education as Evangelism, Norma Cook Everist and an illustrious group of contributors share insight about education and evangelism and how they have too often been pitted against one another in budgets, time, and energy. Christian Education as Evangelism reasons that if congregations, however, are to be active in their evangelical outreach, solid teaching is necessary. Likewise learning ministries that are well grounded and alive will spring forth into vital sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ. Christian education leads to evangelism and evangelism leads to Christian education. Christian Education as Evangelism describes the broad range of educational ministry and provides skills and tools for evangelical outreach to people with the gospel in a pluralistic world.