The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators supports the overall ministry of the whole church of Jesus Christ through its distinctive mission to connect, enrich, empower and sustain persons serving in educational ministry in the Reformed family of churches. As of November 6, 2006, our membership currently includes 1771 pastors and educators serving churches and agencies in North America from the following denominations: Presbyterian Church (USA), the Reformed Church in America, the Christian Reformed Church, and the Presbyterian Church in Canada. An effort to encourage people to renew at the beginning of the fiscal year (September 1) was moderately successful this fall; at the time of the fall cabinet meeting, more people were members than at the same time other year.

In keeping with our recent practice of holding meetings at Presbyterian seminaries, we gathered at McCormick Seminary in Chicago in October. Our goal at being present at seminaries is to be in dialogue with the president and faculty about what is being done in the field of Christian education to prepare church leaders for their ministry. At McCormick we were greeted by Dr Cynthia Campbell, who discussed her teaching role with us. We had an extended session with Dr Lib Caldwell, Dr Ted Heibert (teaching colleague in Old Testament from the Mennonite tradition), and four senior students whom Dr Caldwell invited. The students expressed how McCormick has broadened their vision of the world, helped them focus on their future work, and encouraged creativity in ministry. The professors shared their goals of creating a community of active learners and gave examples of some of their work. The cabinet was impressed by the diversity of the learning and worshipping community at McCormick and the warm welcome we received there.

The new APCE web site was unveiled. The site has a new, clearer, look and is much easier to navigate. Multiple avenues of getting information about the work of APCE are included. A description of the purpose and process of educator certification is complete and easily available. A direct link to the Presbyterian Church (USA) web site listing all upcoming certification courses is one feature. A certification course scholarship form is also downloadable. We thank our webmaster, Paul Jamieson, for this excellent work.

The theme of the 2007 Annual Event is Sankofa, a concept from West Africa that means "in order to move into the future one must go back and learn from the past." The keynote speaker will be Dr. Frances Taylor Gench, professor of New Testament at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education, author of several books and articles, and a member of the PCUSA General Assembly's Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church. Dr Gench will be focusing on new developments in the field of biblical studies that bear significant implications for the teaching ministry. The Event will be held January 31-February 3, 2207 in Philadelphia, with several off-site excursions included in this year's 119 workshop offerings. The Educator of the Year is Sylvia Washer, Executive Presbyter of Mission Presbytery, church educator and elder. An new conversation group on the ordination of educators in the PCUSA has been added.

At the PCUSA General Assembly meeting in June, the Rev. John Johnson, APCE President, addressed the committee that was deliberating the two overtures concerning ordination of church educators. The overtures were eventually referred to the Office of Theology and Worship. APCE will continue to support this effort, contributing to the conversation as it develops. At the fall cabinet meeting, a motion passed to form a task force to create a position statement on the ordination of Christian educators. The group will be charged with creating an official position paper on the issue, and exploring creative, bold ways to promote the APCE position within the PCUSA. The members of the task force have been announced this week: Susan Penrod (Convener), Forrest Palmer, Elaine Barnett, Tim Hoyt Duncan, and Joyce MacKichan Walker.

The next Reformer T-shirt has been announced: John Witherspoon. This is appropriate considering Witherspoon's connection with Philadelphia. Using the logo on the shirt suggested to the cabinet that we copyright the APCE logo. The committee is also offering for sale license plate holders which read "For the Love of Christ, I'm a Christian Educator." Product sales generate funds for scholarships. Of the ten certification scholarships available for this year's Annual Event, eight have been awarded as of this date.

In an effort to continue to improve the APCE journal, the Advocate, 4 additional pages will be added, beginning with the Summer '07 issue. The Advocate committee is working to develop a cadre of professionals whom we can approach to suggest writers for the journal.

Election of new officers was held, following an open nomination process. The officers for 2007-08 will be: President, Susan Penrod; President-Elect, Diane Wright (former African-American Representative); Sue Moore, Secretary (former South Atlantic/Puerto Rico Representative); and Krista Lovell continuing as Treasurer, Ann Broom continuing as Historian.