We asked the CEPA Fellows to tell us in 50 words or less what they believe Christian education to be. As you will see their passion and insight will continue to be of great benefit to CEPA and our members:
YVONNE BRADLEY
"The Bible sets out the key themes of God’s creative work and his gift of Jesus Christ for the hope of the world. Christian education is a humble attempt, albeit by flawed human beings, to understand the mind of Christ and to apply that understanding to every aspect of life."
TONY DEENICK
"Christian education is an education which recognises the centrality of Christ in all its aspects. Thus scripture, which reveals Christ, must be the basis for all that is done in a Christian school, how it conducts itself, what priorities are set, what is taught and how it is taught."
GEORGE GLANVILLE
"Christian education enables learners to see that 'The world is charged with the grandeur of God'; that in the Lord Jesus Christ are to be found 'all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge'. It will bump up against the idols or our time and will, by God's grace, see students who are exuberant, life-embracing participants and misfits in our society, living their lives with gospel-centred integrity."
BARBARA WASHINGTON
"Christian education for students;
- prepares them for Bible-guided citizenship in a rapidly changing God-given world
- enables learning of life skills; literacy, numeracy, thinking, info-technology
- provides a safe learning environment where Jesus is personified in respect, love, grace and forgiveness
- allows wonder and excitement at diversity in creation; people, places, culture and ideas
- encourages learning partnerships between students, parents/caregivers, staff and church..."
PETER VAN DER SCHOOR
"I have been inspired as a Christian educator by Isaiah 54:13: “All your sons shall be taught of the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace”. I believe that music and maths, arts and literacy, history and science, geography and technology are to be taught in harmony with that call from God. Christian education is living, teaching and learning in God’s world, using talents, skills and interests to his honour, directed by his Word. The simple motto of Channel Christian School puts it well; 'LOVE TO LEARN, AND LEARN TO LOVE'."
CAROLYN KELSHAW
"Christian education recognises that creation displays glory, yet groans. Aligning with God in unfolding his already-here-but-not-yet-fully-realised purposes in response, it engages Scripture’s own essential categories in pursuing coherent, rigorous educational practice. It remains open to all truth as God’s truth. It educates for the whole of life, discerning submerged worldviews, affirming Jesus as hope for today and eternity."
JACK MECHIELSEN
"People of vastly differing educational, emotional, economic and ethnic origins are called to one educational community. In this world torn by differences and tensions, such people could not be expected to work harmoniously together. Yet who can resist the power of the Lord, who, in calling people together for an educational task, uses precisely these differences to enrich and invigorate school communities." (No Icing on the Cake, 1980)
STEWART MILLER
"Christian education is the work of teachers, in partnership with families, directed towards leading young people to self-knowledge within the context of the creative redemptive work of God revealed in the Bible including the recognition and fulfilment of their purposes in life to the honour of God."
SUE BARTER
"Christian education is the human attempt by faithful Christians to assist parents, in obedience to God, to train and nurture their children in all of life to be disciples of Christ. Moreover, since God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, everything to be learned and discerned comes from Him."
STUART FOWLER
"Since the central issue of life is religious, education is authentically Christian only as Christian religious principles direct the educational enterprise aiming to cater for the diversity of students' gifts. It cannot be achieved by adding Christian values to a secular education but must be Christian through and through. In the learning process this means making clear in words of faith the Christian foundations in every area of learning; the outcome is shown in the practice of students equipped to go into the world to serve in every area of human life with love for all."