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New Curriculum to Help Churches Put Resolutions into Action
CHICAGO, IL (June 29, 2005) - The first curriculum ever published to help
churches discuss resolutions of the Evangelical Covenant Church was
presented to delegates at the recent Annual Meeting in Keystone, Colorado.
Liz Mosbo VerHage, who wrote Faith in Action: Reflections on Covenant
Resolutions, says the curriculum is important in helping Covenanters
better connect their faith with social action. Those connections are
vital, because, "faith without works is dead," says VerHage, quoting
James 2:26.
The curriculum includes 10 lessons focusing on past resolutions covering
a variety of topics. Lessons also include how resolutions are written
and passed. Groups can study the lessons sequentially or pick and choose
according to their particular context.
The lessons included are:
- Action and Identity
- Stewards of Economics
- Stewards of the Public Sphere
- Stewards of the Environment
- Sacred Care
- Sacred Worth
- Sacred Life
- Ministry of Reconciliation
- Ministry of Love
- Ministry of Peace
Each one-hour lesson is broken into sections to guide discussions. An
action challenge is included with each lesson, as are references to
further study material. VerHage says the material can be used in small
groups or Sunday school classes.
Resolutions are generally presented by the Covenant's Commission on
Christian Action. Resolutions approved at the Annual Meeting are not
binding but reflect the position of the delegates that year and are
designed to stimulate discussion.
In the introduction to the curriculum, VerHage writes, "Because the
Covenant values unity in diversity, some of the resolutions that a
particular Annual Meeting have passed may or may not completely
accurately reflect your own beliefs on a social issue. While many of
these issues are complex and have the capability of creating emotional
or divisive responses within the church, we as the body of Christ have
been given the Spirit of grace, humility, truth, and understanding to
guide us as we reflect on what the gospel may be calling each of us to
do in response to each of these issues."
The curriculum is dedicated to the memory of F. Burton Nelson, former
Christian Action commission member and long-time professor of ethics at
North Park Theological Seminary. Nelson died last year.
VerHage is a graduate of North Park Theological Seminary and is a
doctoral student at Garrett-Northwestern Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.
For more information or to order this free curriculum, contact the
Covenant Resource Center at 800-338-4332.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
