Examines church-housed child care programs in terms of their recent history, present status, and issues shaping their future. Issues include the relation of child care to the overall church ministry; the controversy surrounding state regulation of church-run programs; demographic and social pressures; and caregiver salaries and benefits. (BB)

Creating a catalog for the synagogue or church library is a vital ministry, one that leads workers and parishioners to available resources for information and inspiration. Pointing out that cataloging is not too difficult or complicated for untrained professionals and volunteer librarians, this guide sets forth basic procedures for: (1) aiming…

Reports on a follow-up study of secondary migration among Indochinese refugees resettled by Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Suggests that cultural misunderstanding, rigid sponsorship approaches, and an insensitivity to the special mental risks of refugee populations have contributed to the incidence of secondary…

This annotated bibliography cites books, manuals, games, and periodicals useful in family enrichment programs. Some of the cited materials have a Christian focus. (SJL)

Argues that program coordinators should think of their volunteers as unpaid staff, and should manage their volunteers accordingly. Presents tips for a successful volunteer program: believing in volunteers, ensuring administrative support, appointing a volunteer coordinator, developing job descriptions, targeting recruitment, screening volunteers,…

Describes Open Communication Teens or Parents Understanding Sexuality (OCTOPUS), rural teenage pregnancy prevention program. Program presented in religious setting to improve sexual attitudes and parent-child communication. Finds that participants generally gained in knowledge and self-assessment, but teenagers showed no improvement in attitude…

Analyzes and contrasts a number of Roman Catholic documents, published in the United States and foreign countries, emphasizing theological themes which are presented as central to adult religious education. Focuses on the tension between church authority and adult education principles. Concludes that the optimism of the documents is diminished by…

Contends that the use of commercial published curricula, particularly textbooks and teacher's guides, is widespread in U.S. church-sponsored programs of religious education. Reports on case studies of five church-school teachers on their curriculum development and lesson-planning procedures. (CFR)

Discusses the case study of the educational projects of two church-based community programs in Harrisburg (Pennsylvania), examining the understanding five women workers in these projects have about community and analyzing the relationships of these programs with the public schools. Of particular interest are the churches' after-school tutoring and…

Discusses how local churches may be able to work with local agencies to help integrate adults with developmental disabilities into the community. The benefits of church participation and recommendations for accessing the possibility of church involvement are provided. Research needs in this area are also emphasized. (CR)

Examines the religious educator's role as catalyst in transforming local church culture. Proposes model of congregational education aiming to change the corporate life of a religious community through members' work to reshape concrete behaviors, structures, and roles in carrying out the church's mission. Notes the range of skills required of…

Examines three forms of religious involvement in relation to ego strengths, ideological and ethnic forms of identity, general self esteem, and school self esteem for African American (n=62) and European American (n=63) students in 11th grade. Ego strengths of hope, will, purpose, fidelity, love, and care were associated with various forms of…

Narrates the NCEA Seminary Department's 100-year history. States that during the last quarter of this century, seminaries have become increasingly attuned to the roles of women and lay deacons in study and ministry, the needs of Hispanics and other minority groups, and a variety of psychosexual considerations. (VWC)

This guide is intended to help church congregations develop and/or strengthen plans for children's ministries and child advocacy. Specifically the work aims to affirm children's growth, discoveries, and experiences and to provide strategies to congregations for helping children whose physical, emotional, social, economic, and educational…

This paper traces the history of two mission projects and associated schools in rural Kentucky and examines how the missionaries' social constructions of reality with regard to Appalachia determined their actions. The two mission projects studied were Red Bird Missionary Conference of the United Methodist Church and Hazel Green Academy of the…