The Rev. Frank Sierra, rector at St. Philip’s Episcopal in Joplin, Mo, was recently appointed by Bishop Bruce MacPherson, president of the Province VII Council, to represent Province VII as a member of the national Episcopal Council for Christian Education.
Although Sierra has no formal training as a Christian educator, he has been involved in the Christian Formation Commission in the Diocese of West Missouri where he now resides. Also, he directed the Christian Education Committee when he worked in the Diocese of West Texas.
“I believe that Christian Education is something that’s essential to us—people growing in aspects of their faith,” Sierra said. “It should be central, no matter what the size of the congregation.”
Sierra points out the different ways education can be incorporated into the life of the church—through sermons, bulletins, Bible studies, and youth groups, as well as the traditional Sunday morning Christian ed hour. “Encouraging members of every age to grow in their faith” is his primary goal, he says.
In his work with the Christian Ed Council, Sierra sees himself as a liaison between the national church and Province VII. His responsibilities are to attend meetings and learn more about what’s gong on at the national level. He wants to answer a series of questions: What’s out there in the larger church? What direction is Christian formation going? Can regions connect? Can we share information from workshops? He can then share that information with educators from around the Province.
Click on this link to find out more about the Episcopal Council for Christian Education:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/48931_52769_ENG_HTM.htm
