Department of Christian Education. Records

Elementos de identidad

Código de referencia

MP-03-R0230

Nombre y localización del repositorio

Nivel de descripción

Fondo

Título

Department of Christian Education. Records

Fecha(s)

  • 1929-1971 (Creación)

Extensión

1 cu.ft. (1 box)

Nombre del productor

(1919-1968)

Historia administrativa

The Department of Christian Education had its roots in the General Board of Religious Education, which was established canonically in 1910 by the General Convention for the purpose of religious instruction. As part of its efforts, it trained Sunday School teachers, developed religious curricula, organized conferences, and maintained summer schools and campus ministries.

In 1919, the General Board of Religious Education became the Department of Religious Education; instead of reporting to the General Convention, the new department now reported to the Presiding Bishop and National Council. In 1938 its name was changed to the Department of Christian Education. In 1942, the department was brought under the umbrella of the newly formed Home Department, resulting in its brief re-designation as the Division of Christian Education. It was again made a separate department in 1947.

As a result of the Executive Council’s reorganization in 1968, the Department of Christian Education was integrated into the Section I (Service to Dioceses) program group alongside the Home Department, General Division of Research and Field Study, and General Division of Women’s Work with their functions being combined and streamlined to improve organizational flexibility. From 1970 to 1973, there was no staff officer in charge of religious education. The work was briefly carried out thereafter under the direction of a Program Group on Education, followed by an Education Committee headed by an Educational Officer of Executive Council, until the Office of Religious Education was established. Today, educational responsibilities are carried out by different formation ministries within The Episcopal Church.

Área de contenido y estructura

Alcance y contenido

Records in this collection reflect the administrative and programmatic oversight activities of the national Episcopal Church entities responsible for education and lay Christian formation between 1920 and 1971. Though the collection is small, it covers a wide array of topics in Christian Education, including: curriculum development; continuing education; the Christian Nurture series; the Seabury series of Sunday school materials; departmental reorganization; and Christian education in various overseas regions. The materials include correspondence, minutes, reports, articles, audio tapes, and printed matter such as publications, articles, and addresses.

The correspondence includes material from the 1920s (when the unit was known as the Department of Religious Education) directed to the first Executive Secretary, the Rev. John Suter; there is then a gap, with the next group of correspondence beginning in the early 1950s. The 1970-1971 correspondence offers a good overview of issues faced in the period when there was no staff officer in charge of religious education.

A 1957 report titled “Review of Activities, Department of Christian Education, Protestant Episcopal Church” presents a comprehensive look at what the Department had accomplished up to that point and what it sought to accomplish in the future.

Sistema de arreglo

Correspondence, 1920s, 1950-1971
Minutes, 1947-1970
Reports and Memoranda, 1930-1971
Publications, 1940-1962

Condiciones de acceso y uso de los elementos

Condiciones de acceso

Access to Episcopal Church records is governed by the Archives Public Access Policy. Research requests must be submitted in writing.

Acceso técnico

Condiciones

The Archives is able to respond to limited requests for reproductions subject to copyright restrictions, internal policy, and the condition of the source documents.

Idiomas del material

  • inglés

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    Instrumentos de descripción

    Elementos de adquisición y valoración

    Historial de custodia

    Acumulaciones

    Elementos de material relacionado

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    Unidades de descripción relacionadas.

    Records of the General Board of Religious Education

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