PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE Purpose The purpose of the Christian Education committee is as follows: • To ensure that engagement of young children (ages infant through the end of elementary school) is addressed as a vital part of the life of the church. • To support initiatives proposed by individuals and ad hoc groups that offer resources and opportunities for families in our extended community. Membership Membership will consist of • A director of Christian education • A chairperson • Three to five volunteers The Director of Christian Education and the number of hours determined in the GCC budget will be voted upon each year at the Annual Meeting. The chairperson shall be nominated each year for a one-year term by the Resource Stewardship committee and approved by the congregation at the Annual Meeting. Staff and/or volunteers shall be asked to participate in Sunday School throughout the year, except during a ten-week summer break. Volunteers will be invited to become members by the director and chairperson. Paid staff shall be hired by the director with input from the pastor and chairperson. Activities and Responsibilities One of the most critical components of the Christian Education committee’s responsibilities is to determine staffing. In any given year, depending on anticipated attendance, staffing could mean a paid director as well as two Sunday School staff, or it could mean a mostly volunteer staff for Sunday School. Thus, the following descriptions of activities and duties must be considered a fluid, “living” document. Any person working directly with children will undergo a background check. Director of Christian Education: • Shall communicate with the chairperson and staff and/or volunteers on a weekly basis to convey specific curriculum ideas, stories, and class materials that may be implemented the following Sunday as such ideas relate to the pastor’s theme for the day. • Shall communicate periodically with families to share upcoming schedules and to offer enrichment ideas and resources. Chairperson: • Shall be a bridge between the director and either paid or volunteer staff on a weekly basis • Shall be responsible for the scheduling of weekly Sunday school staffing • Shall be responsible for finding substitutes when necessary • Shall communicate with church Council and newsletters about current happenings in Sunday School • Shall announce and facilitate monthly meetings of the committee which will include recorded committee minutes • Shall remain in communication with volunteers who offer activities and special events to families from GCC and beyond Paid Staff/Volunteers: • Any person working or volunteering for Sunday School shall be required to have a background check facilitated by the church administrator. o Background checks will remain confidential and filed in the church office. • All staff and volunteers will receive training that addresses abuse and harassment issues as outlined in the Safe Church Policy. Organizing and implementing this yearly training will be done by the director of Christian Education and the committee chairperson. • Staff/volunteers will learn about the general format for the Sunday School program, with the understanding that creative individual endeavors are encouraged. • Staff/volunteers will be responsible for keeping the group of children engaged during the remainder of the service after the children’s story. • Staff/volunteers will be responsible for all clean-up after Sunday School. Activities: • Activities during Sunday School will include: o A “formal” ritual that the group has agreed upon during an initial committee meeting; o The introduction of an activity that has been suggested by the director based on themes being introduced in the service; OR o An activity that the staff/volunteer has suggested to the chair and director that is deemed appropriate. • If there is a large age mix, and if one or two children are preschool age, the staff/volunteer can suggest bringing over a few toys from the preschool area after the group activity. • It is understood that children will remain in the Sunday School space until picked up by their parent/grandparent/guardian, unless the children have gone outside after the activity, in which case adults are asked to pick up children outside. • The committee may be asked to participate in the planning of special church events such as the Christmas Pageant, events during Easter, etc.