Educate a Child, Transform the World

 


Loving Our Neighbors: How You Can Protect Public Education and Speak Up for Our Children

Join the Educate a Child roundtable for a timely and important discussion on public education and why you should be involved with local schools and school boards. This online workshop will lift up Presbyterian policy and our Education Covenant for congregations. Hear about what we believe about public education and the salient issues and values surrounding public education during these challenging times. The workshop also will highlight and generate discussion about how to organize around school board issues and support teachers and families in these endeavors. Be with us for this important presentation and discussion as we strive to create greater awareness about our denomination’s commitment to public education.
Date: September 27, 2023
Time: 1:00 pm -2:30 pm
RSVP: https://educatechild.rsvpify.com

educate_a_child_domestic_photoWhat is Educate a Child, Transform the World?
The Educate a Child, Transform the World initiative is a response to the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) which “launched a church wide initiative to improve, equip and connect, and improve the quality of public education for 1,000,000 children in the U.S. and globally.”

What is an Educate a Child congregation?
An Educate a Child (EAC) congregation accepts the call to our common commitment to join in God’s ongoing transformation of the world by working and advocating to ensure equitable, accessible, quality public education .so that all people, created in the image of God, may grow into the fullness of life.

An Educate a Child congregation covenants to live into child advocacy ministries of Direct Service, Consciousness Raising, Systemic Change and Christian Disciplines that continue Christ’s transforming ministry so that all children may grow in the fullness for which God created them.

Can a Matthew 25 church be an Educate a Child congregation?
Yes. A Matthew 25 church is what a church is doing to build congregational vitality, dismantling structural racism and/or eradicating systemic poverty. An Educate a Child congregation is one way of how to be an actively engaged congregation doing the work of being a Matthew 25 congregation.


toolk_kitThe Educate a Child Toolkit
Want to start an education-oriented ministry in your congregation but don’t know where to begin? Already have an education program but want to be more effective? Involved in direct service but looking for a way to participate in local education advocacy? Have great ideas for a ministry but looking for funding sources? Check out the resources in this toolkit!

View the Toolkit Online

Download the Toolkit

Download the Covenant


How to Contribute

Donate to the “Educate a Child, Transform the World” National Fund.

Give to the Pentecost Offering.
Consider using the 40% that stays with your local congregation to start up an educational ministry in your community or to send members to a leadership training event.
Learn more about the Pentecost Offering.


What People Are Saying


Moderator Heath Rada

Heath Rada

Moderator of the 221st General Assembly

“In infant Baptism, the church acknowledges the beloved nature of children from their first days. Presbyterians in mission and ministry have a long tradition of serving all of God’s children with life’s blessings.”


Past President of the Association of Presbyterian Christian Educators (APCE)

“One of my greatest joys in life is to be ‘Gran’ to my three grandsons. I witness firsthand how challenging it is to raise these children in an environment where they have employed parents with insurance, a roof over their heads, food in the refrigerator and where some form of education happens at every possible opportunity. I cannot possibly imagine what it is like for the majority of children in our world today. This is what excites me about “Educate A Child: Transform the World.” Each of us is called to make a difference in education and faith formation for our communities so desperately in need. Together we can face this challenge and be inspired to serve as champion advocates for today’s children. ”

Anne Wilson

Anne Wilson


Raymond Roberts

Rev. Dr. Raymond Roberts

Pastor of River Road Presbyterian Church in Richmond, VA

“I support the ‘Educate a Child’ Initiative. It is exciting to see Presbyterians across the country recommit themselves to the teaching ministry of Jesus, both in support of public education to ensure that every child has access to a quality education and in our congregations as we fulfill Christ’s mandate to make disciples by teaching everything he taught.”


Churchwide Moderator of Presbyterian Women

“The 1000 Days Initiative, adopted by Presbyterian Women and the 221st General Assembly of the PC(USA), promotes nutrition and health for mothers and their children during the crucial first 1000 days of a child’s life (conception to age 2). As the church launches the ‘Educate a Child’ Initiative, it seems like a logical follow-up to the 1000 Days Initiative. Statistics confirm that good nutrition at the beginning of a child’s life leads to better-educated children. Likewise, education for children leads to more productive and healthy adults, which ultimately improves the communities in which they live.”

Carol Winkler

Carol Winkler


Douglas Mitchell

Rev. Douglas Mitchell

Associate Pastor for Faith In Action, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis

“Whether children who are poor live in Malakal, South Sudan, or in under-resourced neighborhoods in Minneapolis, they struggle to meet their basic needs. Education is a key tool to move these children out of poverty so that they can live the abundant life God intends for them. It is also necessary to provide a level of peace in the communities in which they live for children to flourish. Education and peace-building are at the heart of our support both for the World Mission program in South Sudan and for the 21st Century Academy, a middle school after-school enrichment program in the McKinley neighborhood of North Minneapolis.”

Resources

Funding your ministry in time of crisis

Responding to a shortfall in revenue during the Covid-19 pandemic featuring The Rev. Jon Moore Presbyterian Mission Agency Mission Engagement Advisor and The Rev. Princeton Abaraoha, field staff for African… Read more »

2016 Leader Survey Report

The Leader Survey Report is based on an annual survey of new worshiping community leaders. It provides the most in-depth research on demographics of new worshiping communities. This report, part… Read more »
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