About the Board of Christian Education
The Board of Christian Education is the policy-making and program-building body in the Southern Province of the Moravian Church in America in matters pertaining to Christian Education. The purpose of the Board is to design and initiate programs and experiences and to provide leadership, service and materials to both individuals and congregations so that they may find faith in Jesus Christ, grow in that faith, and develop ways to express that faith actively in the world.
Responsibilities and Organization
The Board itself is composed of eighteen members, twelve elected by the Provincial Synod and six who are appointed. Those appointed include youth and college representatives, the Chairperson of the Laurel Ridge Board, the Executive Director, and a representative from the Florida District.
The Board accomplishes its ministry through the combination of a program staff and various working groups that give particular attention to the areas of ministry under the Board's concern. The current staff is:
- The
Rev. Richard L. Sides
Executive Director - Beth
Hayes
Director of the Resource Center - Mike
Warren
Director of Laurel Ridge Moravian Camp, Conference and Retreat Center - The
Rev. Brad Bennett
Director of Youth and College Ministries - Rev.
Lisa Mullen
Director of Children & Family Ministries - Rev. Judy Knopf
Gemeinschaft Coordinator (part-time) - Heather Stevenson
Office Coordinator
Over one hundred volunteers in the Province give their time, energy and expertise to serve on the commissions, boards and committees under the Board of Christian Education. Currently those groups include:
The Board of Directors of Laurel Ridge Moravian Camp, Conference and Retreat Center
The Educational Equipping and Resourcing Commision
The Church & Society Commission
The Children and Family Life Commission
The Stewardship Commission
The Youth Commission
The Gemeinschaft and Spiritual Formation Committee
The Church Educators Committee
The Lay Seminary Committee
The Board also works jointly with the Northern Province in mutual matters of youth programming, curriculum sales and training, ecumenical church education events, and the service of the Interprovincial Board of Communication that publishes the Moravian Daily Texts and the Moravian Magazine.
The Board's primary emphasis is to serve the educational needs and mission of our congregations in the Province. Along with the staff and programming groups involved in that service, the Board operates two distinct "businesses": Laurel Ridge Camp, Conference and Retreat Center and the curriculum sales operation provided through the Resource Center.
Whether its providing training experiences for Sunday School teachers, advocating for the needs of our growing number of professional Directors of Christian Education in congregations, making plans for an expanded Higgins Lodge at Laurel Ridge, forming new Gemeinschaft groups or meeting with local church stewardship committees, the Board of Christian Education is an active, "hands-on" group. It believes deeply that our Moravian commitment to Christian Education is the key to our strength, growth, and identity as part of the Body of Christ. We are excited and thankful to be sharing in this portion of our Lord's work!
Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:30 am-5:00 pm
Phone: (336) 722-8126
Fax: (336) 725-1893Mailing Address:
Board of Christian Education
500 S. Church St.
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
