For the past three years, IAPCHE has hosted a meeting to explore the potential of the joint Collaboration Project of IAPCHE and CES. This project’s goal is to discover, support, and coordinate ways in which Christian Higher Education can assist Christian elementary and secondary schooling, and how other agencies, especially those concerned with such schooling at an international level, can be involved and participate in this effort. Examples of such assistance include teacher training, research, and the development of educational leadership. The agencies invited to the consultation were asked to prepare a brief written report to be distributed in advance of the meeting.

The following 16 participants, representing 14 institutions, organizations, or agencies attended the consultation:

Susan Hasseler, Calvin College
John Van Dyk, Center for Educational Services, Dordt College
Joshua Ibyeenegh, Covenant Model School, Nigeria
James Vanden Bosch, Eastern Europe Ministries Council

Don Oppewal, Friends of Hilltop

Lee Hollaar, Leadership Consultations
Anne Maatman & George Monsma, IAPCHE
Doug Blomberg, Institute for Christian Studies

John Hull, The King's University College

David Smith, Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning
Johanna Kuyvenhoven, Redeemer University College

Jim Lont, Reformed Ecumenical Council
Henry Contant, Society for Christian Schools in British Columbia 
Dale Dieleman & Scott Vander Kooy, Worldwide Christian Schools

In addition, the following agencies were unable to be present but submitted written reports:

Association of Christian Schools International

Christian Schools International

Free University Amsterdam (the Netherlands)

North-West University (South Africa)

Saint Petersburg School of Religion and Philosophy (Russia)

Trinity Christian College

Jim Vreugdenhil, independent consultant

A. Welcome and Introduction

After breakfast – courtesy of IAPCHE – John Van Dyk, director of CES, convenes the meeting at 8:15 a.m. and welcomes the participants. The participants introduce themselves.

B. Devotions

George Monsma, chair of the IAPCHE Board, reads from Proverbs and James and leads in prayer.

C. Reports

Anne Maatman, IAPCHE Office Manager, leads us through the reports received and invites additional commentary. Full reports are attached. The additional comments can be summarized as follows:

1. ACSI: Report received for information. We note with gratitude the extensive global support of Christian schooling provided by ACSI.

2. Calvin College: Sue Hasseler reviews the increasingly international character of Calvin College’s graduate program.

3. CES: John Van Dyk reviews the role CES plays in assisting overseas institutions of Christian higher education in developing and encouraging teacher education.

4. Covenant Model School, Nigeria: Joshua Ibyeenegh, president of Covenant Model School in Benue State, Nigeria, describes the changes in educational practice recently enacted in Nigeria. A key problem is that the government now manages formerly Christian schools, established by missionaries. The great need is to recover and establish authentically Christian education. Covenant Model School represents an attempt to do so. The schools are indeed a "work of faith" in the midst of different circumstances.

5. CSI: Report received for information. We note that the CSI Board has decided to focus its work internationally primarily on promoting global partnerships, i.e., one-to-one relationships between schools.

6. EEMC: Jim Vanden Bosch represents this council, created by CRCNA in the mid-nineties as the "Russian Council." It supports teacher education in central and Eastern Europe, but has no budget and does not have the power to begin or implement programs.

7. Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: report received for information.

8. Friends of Hilltop: Don Oppewal explains the recent changes at Hilltop University in Nigeria. Hilltop University is now Mkar University. Its program was reduced to two years. The new motto is "Knowledge for service." The new provost, Dr. James Avanger, is renewing contacts with Friend of Hilltop. The hope is that the university can be restored to full accreditation and be enabled to offer teacher education programs.

9. Lee Hollaar, formerly of SCSBC but now retired and serving as independent consultant, reports on his recent work in Eastern Europe and Africa. He encourages us to consider issues of stewardship.

10. ICS: Doug Blomberg reports on ICS plans to develop an M.Ed program.

11. Kuyers Institue for Christian Teaching and Learning. David Smith, director of this recently established and endowed institute at Calvin College reviews the institute’s intended focus on dissemination of K-College research in pedagogy.

12. North West University (Potchefstroom, South Africa): Report received for information.

13. St. Petersburg School of Religion and Philosophy (Russia): Report received for information.

14. SCSBC: Henry Constant describes SCSBC’s work on developing international partnerships. The influx of international students into BC schools has created a positive impact.

15. Redeemer University College: Johanna Kuyvenhoven report reported that RUC is grateful and challenged for wider service with its recent accreditation with the Ontario College of Teachers and B.Ed. degree granting rights. RUC will be training teachers for service in Christian and Publicly funded schools now, in Ontario and beyond. They are in discussion with the Catholic School Board to form a liaison by which they might support their need for teachers' understanding and implementation of Christian world view in their teaching practices.

16. The King’s University College: John Hull reports. He raises significant questions about the need to address networking and funding.

17. Reformed Ecumenical College: Jim Lont distributes a brief report detailing information about the task and role of REC: Commission on and Ministry for Christian Nurture. He describes the nature and intent of the July 2005, REC Assembly to be held in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Jim invites us to participate in this Assembly and/or submit suggestions for "stories" about a denomination’s experience with Christian Day Schooling.

18. Trinity Christian College: Report received for information.

19. Jim Vreugdenhil – independent consultant: Report received for information.

20. Worldwide Christian Schools: represented by Dale Dieleman and Scott Vander Kooy. Dale reviews: (a) the work of an earlier task force mandated to construct and collect documents to guide international education service, and (b) progress on a proposed website (see last year’s consultation, recommendation #1). Dale further reports on work in progress at UNELA (Costa Rica) and in Kenya (AIDS prevention program). Dale concludes by emphasizing (a) appreciation for local leaders, (b) need for appropriate protocol when working in overseas situation, and (c) our North American and urban populations. Scott reviews the general vision of Worldwide Christian Schools and provides further details about the website.

21. IAPCHE: Anne and George demonstrate recently developed IAPCHE database capabilities. They also review the CASC program, Faith and Learning Network, and forthcoming IAPCHE conferences in Brazil, India and Russia.

D. Strategy Session

John Van Dyk facilitates. In order to focus the discussion, John briefly summarizes key themes and issues.

1. According to John, the reports describe a number of ways in which the various agencies support Christian schooling internationally:

a. Degree-granting programs (e.g. UNELA, ICS, Calvin College)

b. In-service / Short-term training (e.g. ACSI, CES, Lee Hollaar)

c. Partnerships between schools (e.g. SCSBC, CSI)

d. Conferences (e.g. ACSI, SCSBC, IAPCHE)

e. Centers (e.g. Kuyer’s Institute, Nagykoros, etc)

2. John suggests the following issues to be addressed:

a. Coordination/ communication/ networking

b. Resources (websites, available personnel, books, financing, funding)

c. Content of teacher education programs:

i. Perspective

ii. Pedagogy

iii. Curriculum

iv. Leadership

d. Need for locally contextualized research

 

We spend an hour or so discussing a number of topics. Among these the following questions receive significant attention.

1. How do we most effectively disseminate material to overseas locations? We explore the functionality of distance learning. Print-based communication, video presentations, list serves, and the role, potential, and limitations of technology in general. It is affirmed that actual, personal face-to-face teaching situations cannot be completely replaced.

2. While there is growing interest among volunteers of all ages to serve in teaching situations overseas, there is also a growing need for financial support. How should we address funding needs? It is suggested that funding can be obtained when potential donors offered a concrete picture of the situation for which funds are solicited.

3. How do we address the question of Christian perspective? What metaphors govern our understanding of "integration of faith and learning" What really is Christian education? This question is critically important especially in areas where little vision is present, or as in Nigeria, much of a vision has been lost.

4. Returning to the proposal to create a website (see recommendation #1, 2003 Consultation), we discuss possible content and technological requirements. It is suggested that we create a "web ring" rather than a website.

1. We appoint a committee mandated to develop a specific proposal for the construction of a website/web ring to serve as a clearinghouse that lists available personnel with topics, lists locations where educational activity is taking place, and links to other components, such as Faith and Learning bibliography, Kuyers’ Institute pedagogy site, IAPCHE directory, etc. The following agencies agree to serve:

a. Worldwide Christian Schools (Dale and Scott)

b. Kuyers Institute (David)

c. ICS (Doug)

d. IAPCHE (Anne)

2. Jim Lont reissues an invitation to participate in the two-day consultation on Christian day schooling to be held in conjunction with the planned July 2005, Utrecht REC Assembly. We encourage individual consultation participants to consider attending this event.

3. We encourage IAPCHE to continue to identify members (individuals and institutions) who are engaged in teacher education programs and to arrange for networking and consultations among them.

4. We affirm our obligation to address not only the needs of Christian schooling internationally, but also those of urban centers and Native Americans. Therefore we recommend that IAPCHE and CES include this issue in the agenda of next year’s Consultation, perhaps by inviting representatives from non-traditional Christian Schools to attend/send reports.