IAPCHE/CES Consultation Report 2002

Christian Higher Education Serving

Christian Elementary and Secondary Education Throughout the World

Second Annual Consultation, Held in Grand Rapids, MI, on March 2, 2002

A Brief Report

Introduction:

A year ago, on March 9, 2001, a group of people gathered in Grand Rapids, MI, to explore possibilities of cooperation among various agencies involved in Christian education overseas. Since this meeting—called by John Hulst (executive secretary of IAPCHE) and John Van Dyk (director of the Dordt College Center for Educational Services)—was deemed productive, it was agreed that consultations of this kind should continue. As a result, a second meeting was convened. The agenda of this meeting revolved around two questions: (1) What are the various agencies doing to encourage Christian higher education in assisting Christian elementary and secondary education in foreign countries (= countries other than the U.S. and Canada)? And (2) How can the agencies contribute to the proposed IAPCHE/CES conferences scheduled for Budapest in July and in the Philippines in October, 2002?

Participants:

The following people and agencies participated in this second consultation (listed in alphabetical order of agency):

• Dave Wilcox of ACSI

• Gloria Stronks of Calvin College (substituting for Sue Hasseler)

• Mike Bruinooge of the Christian Reformed Church in North America

• Dan Vander Ark of CSI

• John Van Dyk of Dordt College/Center for Educational Services

• John Hulst of IAPCHE

• John Hull of the King’s University College in Edmonton, Canada

• George Monsma of Calvin College, chair of the board of IAPCHE

• Harold Bruxvoort of the Reformed Bible College

• Jim Lont of the Reformed Ecumenical Council on Youth and Christian Nurture

• Dale Dieleman of Worldwide Christian Schools

Dan Vander ark left the meeting at midpoint in order to catch a plane. Harry Fernhout, President of the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto, joined us for the latter part of the meeting.

Invited but unable to attend were Lee Hollaar of the Society of Christian Schools in British Columbia, Jack Fennema of Covenant College, Jim Vreugdenhil of the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools, and John De Jager of CSI.

Proceedings:

Welcome and opening:

John Hulst welcomed the participants, read from Matthew 28, and led in prayer.

Introductions:

The participants introduced themselves and their agencies represented.

Background:

John Hulst provided some background, explaining that these consultations emerged from a IAPCHE/CES collaboration proposal (see agenda material distributed prior to the meeting). When the IAPCHE membership endorsed the proposal at an international membership gathering in August of 2000, it was suggested that IAPCHE/CES seek to involve other agencies in the effort to encourage Christian higher education to assist the development of Christian teaching programs worldwide.

Reports:

The various representatives reported on the ways in which they seek to assist Christian higher education in its efforts to promote Christian elementary and secondary schooling. These reports provided an impressive array of information about what is being done in all corners of the globe. Just hearing about each other’s projects and problems made the consultation an eminently worthwhile event.

Some highlights:

• Dave Wilcox (ACSI) surveys for us the worldwide outreach of ACSI. ACSI helps colleges establish agencies and programs overseas, conducts conferences for teachers (some 25 annually around the world), and provides continuing education and accreditation opportunities. Dave encourages us to check the ACSI website for details.

• Gloria Stronks (Calvin College) distributes a 10-point handout. Calvin serves many international students, offers ESL, helps interested students find teaching positions overseas, and supports Calvin staff traveling to foreign conferences to speak or teach. She suggests we prepare for overseas excursions by becoming knowledgeable about the countries we visit. College faculties can provide special education, perspectival, curricular, and other kinds of expertise.

• Mike Bruinooge (CRCNA) defers to Calvin College, since it is denominationally owned. He makes reference to a special synodical committee mandated to explore how Christian education can be integrated into the mission of the church. Mike patiently endured some ribbing in connection with the CRC’s decision to terminate (due to lack of funds) the Moscow Christian pedagogical institute project.

• Dan Vander Ark (CSI) expresses concern about the scattered and disconnected character of Christian educational efforts. He calls for a more comprehensive, integrated and centered model of educational services. Like Mike, he applauds the work of the synodical committee (Dan is the chair) and sees a future for interdenominational coordination (e.g., between the CRC and PCA).

• John Van Dyk (CES/Dordt) points to Gloria’s handout and indicates that many of its points apply to Dordt as well (e.g., international students, distant education, etc.). He explains the essential task of CES: to provide staff development and consulting services, run conferences, and support the work of other agencies (such as ACSI) overseas. He bewails the ecclesiastical splintering everywhere and expresses the hope that greater unity and collaboration can be achieved worldwide in the educational arena.

• George Monsma (chair of IAPCHE) details the nature and purpose of IAPCHE. These can be found in the brochure he distributes. George emphasizes the central task of networking and collaborating with other organizations (e.g., with ICS and CES).

• John Hull (King’s University College) describes the importance his institution plays in the Canadian scene (it’s one of only two Christian institutions accredited to certify teachers). He reports that the King’s University College is committed to a favorable posture towards international affairs (e.g. the college is connected to Daystar in Kenya, and Bob Bruinsma works with ACSI), but adds that resources are limited.

• Harold Bruxvoort (RBC) shares with us his institution’s work on building extended relations with Christian liberal arts colleges. RBC serves many cross-cultural students who want to teach. RBC offers a teacher education program (completed at Cornerstone), correspondence courses and an international social work program. Harold initiates a brief discussion about the problems of having the word “Bible” or “Reformed” in the name of a Christian institution.

• Jim Lont (REC) explains that REC is an ecclesiastical, not an educational organization. Involving 38 denominations, REC counts among its missions a program in youth nurture. Jim expands on the “Bright Future” project in East Africa. This project encourages the churches to promote and support Christian schools. According to Jim, training indigenous teachers and developing local leadership is essential.

• Dale Dieleman (WWCS) explains the nature of his organization (it is not a membership organization or an association). Whereas formerly WWCS was regarded as basically a funding organization for “brick and mortar” programs (constructing school facilities overseas), it has more recently shifted its strategy towards formalizing partnerships with key (self-sustaining) organizations and national, indigenous groups in various parts of the world. The strategy is not to export a vision but to facilitate an indigenous vision by supporting teacher training, curricular and technological development, and administrative leadership. Included in the scope of WWCS is a wider plan for community and economic development, in order to promote local sustainability.

Track # 2 at IAPCHE Budapest and Philippines conferences:

John Van Dyk explains the “Track # 2” proposal: Track # 2 forms a part of the scheduled Budapest and Philippines IAPCHE conferences. The track will consist of exploratory conversations aimed to encourage Christian higher education to support and assist Christian elementary and secondary schooling. Key questions, specifically geared to the local (Central European and Asian) context, will address issues of educational vision, curricular, pedagogical and administrative practice, and the status of parents, teachers, students, and resources. The proposed outline of Track # 2:

1. Opening presentation, to lay out the parameters

2.      A local respondent, to check relevance and propose adjustments and additional issues

3. Conversations, including papers submitted

4. Designing action steps and a time frame

John invites the consultation participants to suggest ways in which they and their organizations can contribute to the goals of these Track # 2 proposals.

Discussion:

1. Various suggestions were made and issues raised. Among these were the following:

·        - be familiar with the local context before we conduct conferences

·        - organize resources on this side of the oceans

·        - focus not only on “needs” but identify the good things already there

·        - encourage local initiative to minimize dependency on foreign resources

·        - focus on developing indigenous leadership

2. Throughout the consultation, a spirit of cooperation was clearly evident. On a number of occasions agencies offered to help, support, provide conduits of dissemination of information and materials, and, in general, to encourage each other’s efforts.

3.  John Van Dyk will be in contact with the various agencies to solicit additional input and suggestions regarding the Track # 2 proposal and related issues.

Closing:

The meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

We agree to meet again in approximately one year from now.

 Harold Bruxvoort led in closing prayer.

Prepared by John Van Dyk