Do you have a Resource Center near you? In the past, when that question was asked, many could name the Resource Center that was supported by their Presbytery. But like many ministries of our presbyteries, resource centers are being cut from budgets and closed. Our Resource Center in the Charlotte Presbytery is a joint effort with Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte. It is a wonderful model that would be hard for other resource centers and presbyteries to copy. We can work with all our students, especially those working on the MACE program and all the congregations near our Presbytery. With the changes in our presbyteries, we need to find ways to maximize the Resource Centers that are still active.
Do you have a resource center near you? If you have a Resource Center in your Presbytery or nearby, can you send us the name, location and possibly contact information. It may be helpful for us to share the information with our readers. It can be done simply by using the fill-in form here: https://forms.gle/iLdZ4ZEFizycoPaT8
Another idea for helping smaller churches in your area is to contact the larger churches in your area who may have resources to share. I remember serving a larger church, using materials and then storing them for a while – and they could easily have been shared with others in the Presbytery. Maybe there is a Ministry Team or Staff Member that could help curate a list of resources churches would be willing to share. With churches cutting Christian Educator positions, and with the loss of Resource Centers, we need to be creative with ways to help churches seeking to be faithful in providing resources for churches.
At the Charlotte Resource Center, we have worked hard to get our list of resources online. Currently, we are working on the next step of an electronic check-out, and getting more resources that can be used online. This will be a major project, but one that will support the work of more congregations. You may see how we are currently set up on the site: https://www.librarything.com/catalog/CharlotteCRC .
. We will be working with the Center for Excellence in Christian Education to find new ways to meet the needs of those in churches working with Christian Education/Faith Formation.
We can help churches find good curricula and resources through conversations and looking at our website together. Though we may not always be able to loan to all areas, we still can share the information, answer questions about the publishers and best places to secure. How can you help others who need help with curriculum and other study materials.
Most Requested this Quarter for Adults:
The ones being checked-out the most this quarter have been Adam Hamilton’s Half Truths and Amy-Jill Levine’s The Difficult Words of Jesus. Both have generated good discussion and study with the groups that have used them. There are accompanying resources for both studies.
The ones being checked-out the most this quarter have been Adam Hamilton’s Half Truths and Amy-Jill Levine’s The Difficult Words of Jesus. Both have generated good discussion and study with the groups that have used them. There are accompanying resources for both studies.
Renda Brinson is a Certified Christian Education who has served in the Presbytery of Charlotte for over 30 years. She currently serves in a joint position as the Director of Christian Education Resource Center for the Presbytery of Charlotte and Union Presbyterian Seminary. She has been served as the President of the Association of Partners in Christian Education. (APCE) (2022).