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Under the Gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Continuing Education Committee encourages and promotes the continuous learning and growth
of all professional workers of the Texas District so they may be sufficiently equipped for service to
God's people and Christ's mission in their communities and the world.
The vision of the Continuing Education
Committee is that all professional workers of the Texas District are engaged annually in at least 25
hours of continuous learning activities.
Continuous learning - also known as
continuing education - is intentional, on-going growth through planned experiences designed to enhance
personal and professional competence, skills, knowledge, and functioning.
- It is presupposed that Christian personal and professional growth begins with and operates under
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the professional worker's goal is to grow into full maturity
in Jesus Christ as a person and to serve God's people as a competent professional.
- It is presupposed that professional church workers of the Texas District need to continue to
grow and learn so that they might carry out their respective ministries with joy and effectiveness.
- It is presupposed that the challenges of our respective ministries and the changing culture
in which we live and work call for new learning and new skills in order that we might convey the
Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in a relevant and effective manner.
- It is presupposed that just as the Holy Spirit has prepared and equipped us for effective
ministry through our initial education and training, so our Lord uses the activities of continuous
learning to nurture and guide us in our mission and ministry.
- The purpose of continuous learning is for each person to develop his/her God given gifts for
ministry. Through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives these gifts and strengths are discovered
and developed through academia, professional activity, and life experiences. Continuous learning
hones, sharpens, and empowers those gifts, strengthening professional needs and overcoming weaknesses.
- The purpose of continuous learning is to prepare us to fulfill our mission in the midst of the
chaotic forces that impact our culture and lives.
- The purpose of continuous learning is to expand our field of knowledge and competency, challenge
self-doubt and give one courage to try new ideas.
- The purpose of continuous learning is to open new avenues for thinking, creativity, and functioning.
The Continuing Education Committee has
set a minimum expectation that each professional worker will accomplish 2.5 CEU (Continuing Education
Unit) or twenty-five (25) contact hours (or clock hours) of continuous learning activities each year.
In its 1991 convention the Texas District passed Resolution 8-2-91 which states, "Resolved, that the
Texas District, in Convention, affirm and support continuing education as a priority for and by all
professional church workers of the Texas District so that they might grow in competence and engage
in more effective ministry."
Each worker is to maintain
records of his/her continuous learning activities. This information can then be included in updates
of the PIF or PEIF.
A tool for reaching the goal of a minimum of twenty-five hours of continuous learning is an annual
growth plan. An annual growth plan is an intentional, personally designed strategy that is developed
to 1) improve or enhance one's spiritual, emotional, relational and/or physical life, 2) enrich
ministry skills, attitudes and behaviors, and 3) is reviewed and revised annually. It is useful
on two counts.
- First, it helps a worker plan for the coming year by placing continuous learning events on the
calendar with estimated contact time. It helps the worker focus on areas of interest for personal
or professional growth, which would be blessed by continuous learning projects that will address
specific areas of interest or concern in ministry.
- Second an annual growth plan is a tool to assist the worker in sharing his/her learning
objectives with the congregation/school. Those whom one serves have a significant stake in their
worker's continuous learning program. They will benefit from the worker's growth; they may have
suggestions for directions for study; they can also support one's learning efforts. Thus, an annual
growth plan is a tool to aid each worker in meeting personal and congregational/school objectives.
A vast array of activities exists for continuous learning. Here are various types of activities
that may be considered:
- formal credit courses with an educational institution
- CEU accredited courses or seminars
- conferences, seminars, and training experiences which are not accredited for CEU.
- group study with peers in a program with specific duration and objectives (eg. PLI and DLM)
- Clinical Pastoral Education program (CPE)
- writing for recognized journals; publishing books
- teaching for peers or professional students; presentations at professional conferences
- retreats for personal or professional development
- self-directed study or reading programs, preferably as part of an annual growth plan
- meetings with a mentor, counselor, spiritual director, etc.
Activities not considered as continuous learning hours include:
- attendance at circuit meetings
- weekly study for routine teaching and/or preaching activities
- attending camp or Six Flags with youth group
- attending social or sporting events with church group
- other activities which may be of interest, but not related to specific ministry functions,
e.g., sky diving, underwater photography, etc.
The Continuing
Education Unit (CEU) is generally recognized and accepted as a means of "keeping score" for
non-credit work done beyond the academic requirements of a specific profession. This non-credit
work may be done for personal enrichment, to keep up with current developments in one's profession,
or even to remain certified as a member in good standing of a given profession. CEU are awarded
by sponsoring agencies to indicate that the person has completed the work.
While continued professional certification is not necessary to remain on the
roster of the LC-MS, the CEU system is still one way to tract one's continuous learning activities.
Therefore, CEU accreditation for learning activities is not required within the Texas District
guidelines for continuous learning. Nevertheless, when a program offers CEU, this insures that the
program meets specific standards of preparation and presentation.
The Continuing Education Unit is defined as "ten contact hours of participation
in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction,
and qualified instruction" (Council on the Continuing Education Unit, 1101 Connecticut Ave., N.W.,
Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036).
Since one CEU is the equivalent of ten contact hours, it is possible to earn
CEU in decimal fractions of one tenth. For example, an activity that meets for six contact hours
would earn 0.6 CEU. An activity of fourteen hours duration would earn 1.4 CEU. Minimum credit
for an activity is 0.1 CEU. Thus, the CEU system readily interfaces with the Texas District
suggested minimum requirement of 2.5 CEU or 25 contact hours of continuous learning per year.
The Continuing Education Committee can authorize the awarding of CEU for
educational programs sponsored and organized by entities of the Texas District, such as circuits,
regions, boards, or committees. Those desiring to award CEU should contact the chair of the
Continuing Education Committee or the Texas District office for further procedures and
appropriate forms.
The Texas District
Continuing Education Committee
enthusiastically invites you to participate in a lifetime
of increasing competence and professional growth.
Approved by Continuing Education Committee: April 4, 2002
Approved by Texas District Board of Directors: May 21, 2002
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