Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

When the invitation came, I was skeptical. Moral instruction?

Isn’t that my job? Do I really want to enroll my kid in this type of program?

Well, yes. And yes.

Our school district has an unusual partnership with a collective of community churches, including the Episcopal congregation. Every week, second and third graders are invited, with their parents’ permission, to attend “moral instruction.”

Essentially, they leave the school grounds and walk to a nearby church. For an hour or so, the kids learn about some of the key stories of the Bible.

I was hesitant to enroll him for a couple of reasons: 

Would he miss out on academic instruction? No. At this age, teachers still throw in occasional TV or extra recess time. So he’s not missing the introduction to geometry, much less a worksheet on addition and subtraction facts. 

More importantly, would they teach the Bible stories in a way that aligned with an Episcopal understanding? 

Let me be frank: we’re not a hellfire-and-brimstone house, and I didn’t want someone planting those seeds. I want my kids to build a strong relationship with a loving, gracious, and merciful God—especially at age eight. They will come into a time of questions about sin and salvation, repentance, forgiveness, and consequences soon enough. For now, at this tender age, it’s plenty if they establish a deep and abiding love of Jesus. 

The program introduces the kids of some of the key stories of the Bible without a lot of doctrinal overlay. They talk about Noah’s Ark, Daniel and the lion, Abraham and Isaac. They learn about the birth of our Savior, the feeding of the 5,000, and how Jesus used ordinary men and women—and children—to do extraordinary things. 

I still was a little wary the first few weeks, until our son began making connections between everyday life and biblical stories. The bully on the playground: a little like Goliath. The friend who is adopted: that’s kind of like Moses. A teacher who is sick: We should pray to Jesus to heal her. 
Parents and churches cannot abdicate this teaching. We need to offer it in homes and in our churches. But I’m thankful that there’s reinforcement in the community too. 

I wonder: what else can we do to strengthen and form our children?