This book tells the story of how the role of the laity - as essential in the life of the Church - moved to "center stage" during the Council, and how lay people were among those who made it happen.

Congregations are always struggling with what quality Christian education is and how to build and maintain it. In this concise and easy-to-use guide, Karen Tye offers practical help, addressing the vital areas that need attention when planning for and building a Christian education program. Questions and exercises at the end of each chapter help pastors, Christian educators, seminary students, and laity apply the information to their own unique setting, building on the basics to renew and transform Christian education.

Two major real-world problems prompted this study: maintaining the Catholic identity of the Catholic schools, and increasing interest in character education. Traditionally, Catholic schools in the United States were staffed exclusively by priests, sisters, and brothers. Today, they are predominately staffed by laypersons. This change has influenced the essential religious character and culture of Catholic schools. While Religious filter their teachings through their own religious training and emphasize the mission and charisma of Catholic education, lay staff often lack the same intensely religious experiences to bring to the teaching/learning environment. This qualitative interview study explored the influence that a series of spirituality and virtue seminars had on lay teachers’ perceptions of the Catholic school and character education.

Every church has far more work than any one person can do. Even a team of professionals is not enough. The New Testament solution was for every member to be a minister. Though the priesthood of all believers was a key idea in the Reformation, it is little practised today. Following secular models, churches usually organize around the clergy, who are paid by the laity to do the ministry. Paul Stevens argues that, according to Scripture, the primary task of a Christian leader is not to do the work but to equip the saints to do it. Exploring new options for pastors, tentmakers and laypeople, this book provides structures and strategies to best equip all the saints for ministry.

""Wimberly's latest work presents pastors, church lay leaders and scholars with a new lens to think critically and joyously about how Christian education undergirds and supports the worship experience in nurturing faith and hope in black parishioners."" --David L. Wallace, Sr., Dean, Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary The Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia ""This highly recommended work provides a thoughtful yet comprehensive framework of the black Christian worshipping community as the context where faith and hope are nurtured."" --Marsha Snulligan Haney, Associate Professor of Missiology and Religions of the World, The Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia ""This is a must read for all pastors and worship designers who desire to make worship relevant for African American Congregations."" --Cecelia M. Long, former General Secretariat of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women in the United Methodist Church ""Innovative, dynamic, thought provoking, and inspiring. A must read for pastors, church leaders, Christian educators, and anyone interested in revitalizing Christian education in the 21st Century."" --Yolanda Y. Smith, Assistant Professor of Christian Education, Yale University Divinity School, and author of Reclaiming the Spirituals: New Possibilities for African American Christian Education ""Dr. Wimberly has seized upon the, heretofore, unspoken wisdom of the black church . . . Local church laity and clergy will easily access this fine work for local churches."" --Lynne Westfield, Assistant Professor of Christian Education, Drew Theological School, Madison, New Jersey ""Wimberly understands comprehensively the ways education is embodied in congregational life. Indeed, she invites us to nurture faith and hope."" --Jack L. Seymour, Professor of Religious Education and Academic Dean, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston. Illinois Anne E. Streaty Wimberly is Professor of Christian Education at The Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the author of several books including Soul Stories: African American Christian Education (1994).