IAPCHE/CES Consultation Report 2003

 

 

Christian Higher Education Assisting

Christian Elementary and Secondary Education:

How Can We Work Together?

 

Third Annual Consultation, Held in Grand Rapids, MI, on April 26, 2003

 

I  Introduction

On two previous occasions – on March 9, 2001 and again on March 2, 2002 – IAPCHE convened meetings to explore ways in which international efforts to encourage Christian elementary and secondary schooling can be coordinated. Invited to these consultations were representatives from various educational organizations and agencies engaged in the promotion of Christian schools. On April 26, 2003, IAPCHE (along with its partner, the Dordt College Center for Educational Services) conducted a third consultation. Like the first two, the meeting was held in the Hoffmann House on 28th Street, a convenient venue in Grand Rapids. Nick Lantinga, executive director of IAPCHE, chaired the meeting, while John Van Dyk of the Center for Educational Services served as facilitator. The agenda consisted of two main items: (1) reports to increase mutual understanding of  what the various agencies are now doing to promote Christian schooling, and (2) a strategy session leading to concrete recommendations to be considered by IAPCHE.

 

II  Participants:

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

 

Invited but unable to attend were the following:

 

III  Proceedings:

  1. Welcome and opening:

At 9:10 a.m. Nick Lantinga welcomed the participants, read from Revelation 5, and led in prayer.

 

  1. Introductions:

The participants introduced themselves and the agencies they represent.

 

  1. Reports:

The participants gave summaries of their written reports (submitted to and distributed by the IAPCHE office prior to the consultations).  Some specifics (in order of presentation):

    1. John Van Dyk described the highly successful IAPCHE regional conference held in Budapest last July. Twelve countries were represented at this conference. The conference included, for the first time, a well-attended “track” focused in Christian elementary and secondary schooling.

    2. Nick Lantinga provided a similar report of the equally successful IAPCHE conference in the Philippines last October. Delegations from seven Pacific Rim countries participated. This conference, too, offered a separate track geared to the status and needs of Christian schooling in the region. Both the Philippines and Budapest conferences were structured in large part as a response to needs, which emerged from our ongoing consultations.

    3. Sue Hasseler explained the various services offered by Calvin College. These include undergraduate and graduate programs and faculty involvement in various international educational conferences and projects. She called attention to the new Masters of Educational Leadership offered by Calvin College. This may be offered on-line.

    4. John Van Dyk reviewed the place and task of the Dordt College Center for Educational Services. The Center stands alongside Dordt’s undergraduate and graduate education programs, and has the mandate to assist Christian schools nationally and internationally through workshops, inservice, and teacher training. John explained that the international work is done in partnership with other Christian educational organizations. Ongoing concerns included: theological hairsplitting, duplication of efforts, and turf protection (to a lesser extent).

    5. Kuk Won Shin reported on the efforts of Chongshin University (located in Seoul) to encourage Christian schooling in Korea. Chongshin provides teacher training in its graduate programs. In addition, the Korean Christian Studies Institute, originating at Chongshin, seeks to counteract dualistic tendencies in Korean evangelicalism. Particularly noteworthy is the active role played by the Christian Educators Association, the Biannual Christian Teachers’ Conference, and the Association for Christian Schools, Alternative Schools and Home Schools.

    6. John De Jager brought us up to speed regarding the international work of CSI. Their focus is on the development of Christian schooling among indigenous peoples (in contrast with traditional mission schools). CSI supports and works with Christian schools in Russia, East Africa, Central America and the Philippines, and plays a consulting role elsewhere  in the world. CSI is also interested in projects designed to connect Christian schools in North America with overseas schools, in order to enhance the experience of God’s global family.

    7. Jim Vanden Bosch summarized the recent history and role of EEMC. This agency, consisting of various CRC agencies, focuses on work in Central and Eastern Europe. Jim pointed to the alarming proliferation of programs and organizations operating in the region, often with no communication or coordination. Jim also alerted us to the significant problem of “disaster tourism,” the tendency of individual North Americans to visit needy Third-World areas in order to satisfy a need to be seen (and adored) as a “savior.” There continues to be a great need for institution building within a local context.

    8. Nick Lantinga reflected on the latest developments of IAPCHE. Membership is steadily increasing. Nick is encouraged by signs that  a  vision of the Lordship of Christ over every area of life is increasingly noted among a diversity of Christian orientations.

    9. Doug Blomberg reported on his role at ICS. His report focused on the international outreach effected by the ICS distant education programs. We were reminded that two of these distant education projects are in collaboration with IAPCHE: The Faith and Learning Network and the Christian Academic Studies Certificate.

    10. Jim Vreugdenhil expanded on the written report he submitted on behalf of OACS. He explained that while the work of OACS has been highly effective, it has up to now been largely internally focused. OACS is now looking for stronger connections between their work and institutions of Christian higher education. They are also forging more international ties.

    11. Jim Lont reviewed the work of the REC. He drew attention to the Youth and Christian Nurture Ministry component of REC. A particularly significant focus of this ministry is the “Bright Future” program conducted in East Africa. This program promotes Christian schooling in the region. Jim reminded us that cooperative efforts to support Christian schooling should be holistic and realistic.

    12. Luka Ariko Ekitala represents the Reformed Institute for Theological Training in Christian Education in Western Kenya. While the primary focus of this Institute is the preparation of ministers of the Word for works of ministry, concern has grown as to what role the church can play in shaping Christian values in the life of the general population, especially in view of increasing discipline problems in schools, declining academic results, and the upsurge of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In collaboration with Worldwide Christian Schools, CSI, and REC the Institute has organized “Bright Future” conferences and is poised to introduce inservice training for teachers. Hopefully this program will lead to a teacher training college of the Institute and a distinctive Christian school.

    13. Steve Timmermans, newly appointed president of Trinity Christian College, offered four comments to underline themes in his written report. First, he pointed to the emerging theme of collaboration at Trinity Christian College (and elsewhere). Next, the College is actively promoting cross-cultural activity, both domestically and internationally. Third, the interim program at Trinity offers possibilities for cooperation with other agencies. And finally, Steve pointed to the adult degree completion program at Trinity, which offers an opportunity to stretch the curriculum well beyond the traditional on-campus delivery model.

    14.  Gloria Stronks, chair of Worldwide Christian Schools, referred to the extensive submitted report written by Dale Dieleman, which we received in preparation for the consultation. Gloria pointed to the recent partnership with COCREF in the Dominican Republic. She also drew our attention to the Supplement to the WWCS report, describing the task force working on placing appropriate educational literature in 21 centers around the world, as well as a manuscript of articles for people who go overseas to present inservice seminars and workshops.

In addition to these oral reports, the participants were reminded of the report submitted by ACSI. Though unable to attend our consultation, Dave Wilcox, ACSI Director of International School Services, suggests we check the ACSI website (www.acsi.org) for an overview of the organization’s international activities. Dave’s report encourages us to contact him if we feel ACSI involvement and support would be valued in a future international endeavor. “The job,” Dave writes, “is too big for us to not coordinate our efforts to maximize our impact for Christ and His Kingdom.”

 

  1. Proposed Nagykörös Educational Center in Hungary

John Van Dyk reported on the status of the proposed Educational Center in Nagykörös, Hungary. The proposal emerged as a recommendation from the IAPCHE Budapest conference last July. An exploratory resolutions committee, composed of Sarolta Fodor-Nagy of Nagykörös (who actually proposed the recommendation at the conference), Alexei Bodrov of Moscow, Peter Blokhuis of the Netherlands, and John Van Dyk (chair of the committee) prepared the following proposal:

 

“To support a project designed to establish and maintain a regional Christian educational center in Nagykörös, Hungary.” Already in existence at Nagykörös is a flourishing K-12 school, a flourishing teacher education program, and facilities recently reclaimed from communist confiscation. The proposed center would serve as a clearing house for a network of European educators at all levels, develop educational resources and materials, offer teacher training, and serve as a venue for conferences. This proposal was adopted by the IAPCHE executive board in December. John reports that at the time of his recent participation in ACSI teachers’ conferences in Lvov, Ukraine, and Vladimir, Russia, he had occasion to consult with various Eastern European educators and agencies to explore ways of linking Nagykörös Center with projects in Russia and Ukraine. Meanwhile, a local Hungarian planning committee is now in place. John hopes to meet with this committee later this year.

 

  1. Strategy Session:

Buoyed by the reports (as well as by a hearty lunch, courtesy of IAPCHE), we spent the afternoon “brainstorming.” John Van Dyk opened the session with some introductory remarks. He pointed to the desire for collaboration and coordination, a theme voiced in every one of the reports we read and heard. John suggested that our brainstorming activity address this key question: How can we enhance cooperation among all agencies? Some of the needs and problems that play a role, John said, are the following:

The discussion that followed was wide-ranging and productive. A variety of issues were addressed and examined. Doug Blomberg served as our white-board scribe. Emerging from the strategy session were the following suggestions and recommendations:

    1. Construct a website to serve as clearing house. The website should include a listing of available personnel (including those with expertise in the culture of the communities with which we work), locations where educational activity is taking place, needs to be met, and descriptions of local contexts (including political and theological allegiances). Perhaps the location of the website can be shared between IAPCHE, CSI, Worldwide Christian Schools, and other organizations.

    2. Identify IAPCHE members (and member institutions) engaged in teacher education programs, and arrange for a network and opportunities for consultation among them.

    3. Arrange for key leaders to visit North America, along with developing opportunities for faculty and student exchange at all levels.

    4. Remain alert to form new partnerships.

    5. Continue efforts to re-educate our local supporting communities, in view of what appears to be a decline of vision for Christian schooling in North America.

    6. Plan to participate, as an educational forum, in the 2005 convention of REC (currently scheduled to be held in Amsterdam).

IAPCHE will take these recommendations under advisement.

 

  1. Adjournment:

1.      Jim Lont, on behalf of the participants, expressed thanks to IAPCHE for hosting this consultation.

    1. Participants suggested that at a next consultation we seek to invite additional participants from outside North America.

    2. George Monsma, chair of the IAPCHE Board, offered concluding remarks and closed in prayer.

    3. We adjourned at 2:15 p.m.

 

Prepared by John Van Dyk