As part of a large research agenda for educational ministries within the Episcopal Church, NAECED members took part in a survey during the first quarter of 2008. The survey questions represented the specific interests of NAECED members as well as exploring the use of various networks and associations. About 80% of the NAECED membership participanted in the survey. Many thanks to Sharon Pearson for spearheading the survey and to Adair Lummis for construction and analysis of the web-based survey. The report on the survey can be found here. Resource areas that members requested are here. Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C.

An excellent Google calendar devoted to training events for Christian Educators is kept by Sharon Pearson, Christian Formation Specialist for Church Publishing.

The Center for Anglican Learning and Leadership (CALL) at Church Divinity School of the Pacific has a number of opportunities for continuing education for lay and clergy.  These programs are offered throughout the year both locally on the CDSP campus and online.

The eMinistry Network creates teleclasses (classes held on the telephone) and web-seminars on ministry topics for the lay people and clergy of the Episcopal Church and other denominations.  eMinistry's goal is to provide practical, hands-on information and support for people in their lives of faith, service and ministry. You register and access class materials online, and then at class time you call in and connect with people from across the Church for an hour of learning and guided conversation with an experienced ministry leader.  eMinistry is low-tech-- classes are conducted over the phone (web-seminars add a visual component.)  It's low-cost—most classes are between $12 and $15 an hour.  It's personal--the class size is limited to 12 people, which allows everyone a chance to speak and ask questions.  And it’s convenient—no travel, no need to get dressed up! 

Episcopal Degree Programs and Certificates in Christian Education:

Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX offers a certificate program in Christian Education and Youth Ministry. The Certificate Programs offers a basic theological education which includes scripture, theology and practical skills of ministry on three levels: Basic, Associate and Advanced. The one-week sessions take place in mid-June and late-January each year. Upon completion of both beginning sessions, students are awarded a Basic Certificate. Building on the Basic coursework, Associate and Advanced sessions are offered in consecutive years and the Basic sessions are repeated each year.

Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA

The goal of the Master of Arts in Christian Education (M.A.C.E.) degree at Virginia Seminary is to support the church’s ministry of Christian education by providing professional formation and education for lay people or clergy who undertake that ministry in parishes and schools, particularly those of the Episcopal Church. The program seeks to provide a foundational understanding of the core theological disciplines of Bible, Theology, Church History, Christian Ethics and Liturgics. Students learn how to practice the ministry of Christian Education with study of theological and theoretical approaches as foundations for their ministry.

The goals of the Master of Arts in Christian Education-Youth Ministry degree are to foster effective leadership in Youth Ministry in the Episcopal Church, by providing professional education and formation for those engaged in this ministry and to raise the profile of youth ministry in the Episcopal Church. This program is based on the rationale that Youth ministers need solid grounding in the theological disciplines and the theories of Christian Education and Youth Ministry. They also need opportunities to work with youth in supervised settings where they can reflect theologically on their experience under the guidance of persons with experience and training in youth ministry and theology.