Sunday School Class Recommendations and Guidelines for Class Leaders
The vision of the
Therefore the Adult Education Ministry is committed to teaching:
· the content and meaning of the Holy Bible as understood by the United Methodist people
· the content and implications of the beliefs of United Methodist people
· the vision and mission of the United Methodist people, particularly those here at RUMC
· the integration and application of all the above into lifelong, personal service and Christian living
· from the four sources of Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience
· children, youth, and adults using all teaching/learning styles and environments masterfully
· through committed and well-trained church members and pastors
For adults, Christian education is a place where we seek to understand how to live in everyday life. We bring our experiences and commitments; we listen to others, to the Christian traditions, to the Bible, and to God; and we are empowered to incarnate God's grace - to carry God's undeserved kindness and love into the world.
TASKS OF AN ADULT CLASS
Each class should define its own purpose, but every ongoing class at
INVITATION - Classes should intentionally reach out to other adults - both within and outside our congregation - to include them in the Sunday school program.
STUDY - Classes should plan regular opportunities to help class members to hear and interact with the Word of God.
FELLOWSHIP - Classes should intentionally schedule events and functions outside regular class time and allow sharing times within the class period in order to strengthen the fellowship and personal relationships of class members.
SERVICE - Classes should offer opportunities for outreach to encourage all members to take on the servant lifestyle of Jesus and to give regularly to the Lord’s work.
INVOLVEMENT - Class leaders should participate fully in Adult Council meetings and teacher training sessions, and encourage members to join them in congregation-wide activities.
ADULT CLASS OFFICERS
Officers should be elected annually in May or June and take office on the Sunday children are promoted in the fall. The summer can be used as a training and transition period.
Each spring, the class president should form a nominating committee, taking care to represent the diversity of the class on the committee. This group should prayerfully consider the gifts and talents, as well as the commitment of class members, as they work to develop a slate of officers to present to the class. The entire class should vote on the slate of officers at a regular class meeting in May (or, at the latest, early June), and send a list of the newly elected officers to the Adult Discipleship office (wrightj@rumc.com) as soon as possible.
The size of a particular class will dictate how many separate offices are established. Each class will run more smoothly, though, if someone has responsibility for each of the functions listed below. Establish which officers your class would like to have (this can change each year) and then write statements of the duties for which each officer is responsible. Also establish which decisions are to be carried out by the officers and which should be brought before the class membership.
OFFICE
President (or co-presidents):
¨ Oversees administrative functions of the class
¨ Presides at each class meeting (or finds substitute as needed)
¨ Attends Adult Council meetings (or finds substitute)
¨ Heads nominations committee for succeeding year
Program (chairperson preferably works with a small committee)
¨ Plans programs and secures teachers or other learning leadership
¨ Introduces teacher at each class meeting
¨ Attends Adult Council meetings (chairperson or substitute)
¨ Sends thank you note to teachers who have visited the class
Communications
¨ Serves as coordinator of communications for class members
¨ Sends regular announcements, reminders, and prayer requests via email
¨ Creates and sends newsletter on a regular basis – electronic, print, or both
¨ Contacts class members through phone tree when necessary or for urgent or emergency circumstances
Greeter (chairperson preferably works with a committee)
¨ Greets visitors to each class meeting and introduces them to the class
¨ Obtains information on visitors and fills out visitor forms
¨ Has follow-up contact with visitors
New & Prospective Members
¨ Is a contact for the shepherding committee to help assimilate new members of the congregation by inviting them to Sunday school
¨ Arranges for class representatives to attend regular new member gatherings when requested
¨ Integrates new members into the life of the class – sharing class information, inviting new members to social activities, learning gifts and graces of new members
Member Care
¨ Recognizes births, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
¨ Notifies class of member's illnesses, or of deaths touching class members
¨ Organizes help for members in need (i.e. taking dinner during illness)
Social (can be done by a group of people, each responsible for a particular type of function)
¨ Organizes class socials, small group dinners, retreats and outings
[to arrange for use of church for gatherings, contact the Adult Education department. Please give information on time, date, set-up time required, number of guests anticipated, support services needed such as food service, maintenance help, etc.]
Missions/Outreach
¨ Initiates, promotes and co-ordinates class outreach project(s)
¨ Suggests appropriate support of mission projects
¨ Serves with the evangelism committee of the church
Records
¨ Checks attendance weekly on roster included with class folder
¨ Updates and prints annual class directory, with supplements when necessary (see sample "Directory Questionnaire" at the end of this handbook)
¨ Provides permanent nametags for all class members (Call the Adult Education office to obtain a supply of permanent nametag holders.)
Treasurer
¨ Collects weekly offering
¨ Fills and returns weekly offering envelopes; takes responsibility for class percentage of offering
¨ Keeps records of all monies
¨ Makes deposits and writes checks for class expenses (working with president on expenditures)
¨ Gives a financial report at designated meetings or when requested
Prayer Coordinator
¨ Maintains a prayer chain of class members who agree to spend time praying for the expressed needs of class members and other identified needs.
¨ Acts as liaison with prayer ministry of RUMC
¨ Arranges for someone to lead prayer in weekly class
Other responsibilities to consider assigning:
¨ Making coffee/maintaining coffee supplies
¨ Rotating responsibility for snacks
¨ Update and maintenance of
¨ Music coordinator
SPECIAL NOTE: The adult class officers are important leaders in the ministry of our church. Their responsibilities are interrelated with other areas of the church family. Without their dedication, the educational process for all ages within the church would suffer. For this reason it is recommended that adult class officers indicate their commitment by being or becoming members of the church.
SOME HELP WITH CLASS ROUTINE AND PROCEDURE
ADULT COUNCIL
The Adult Council is made up of the president and program chairman from each class, the Sunday School Council Chairperson, and representatives of the church adult education staff. If either of the official class representatives cannot attend an Adult Council meeting, they should find a substitute to attend in their place.
The Adult Council is a forum for assessing the needs of adults in Sunday school and developing programs to meet those needs. It is a place to train leaders of adult classes, share concerns and needs of the individual classes, and give leaders a chance to shape the adult education program of our church. The Adult Council is not a policy making group, but hears proposals impacting Adult Sunday School, makes recommendations to the Adult Education Committee and also acts on the recommendations of that group.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & ATTENDANCE: An attendance roster will be included in the folder to be picked up every Sunday. These are located in mail slots near Sacristy in Bldg. A, near the southwest stairwell in Bldg. B, and on the receptionist’s counter in the Dod. Please record members' attendance, return roster to folder, and return folder to mail slot or counter each week. Announcements from the church, sign-up sheets for various activities, and mail addressed to your class are all included with the folder, but should remain in the classroom unless return communication is requested by the Adult Discipleship office.
AUDIO-VISUALS: Most classrooms are equipped with a TV/VCR. The church also has DVD players, screens and an LCD projector for PowerPoint presentations, overhead projectors, and certain sound equipment available. Contact the Adult Discipleship office to schedule use of A/V equipment as soon as you know the need (no later than Monday prior to the date needed is required).
CANCELED CLASSES: If for some reason (e.g. a class retreat) your class will not meet, notify the Adult Discipleship office and make arrangements for those who are in attendance that Sunday to meet with another class. Post a notice on the door to inform members and visitors of special arrangements. CANCELLING ANY REGULARLY SCHEDULED CLASS IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED!
CLASS SCHEDULE: Sunday morning classes run for a full hour, either
All
Any extended class business can be handled outside the regular meeting hour, with information given to the members in printed form or via the internet.
Try to allow your teacher/leader at least 30-40 minutes. If you have a speaker who is not a regular class member, give him or her explicit information as to when your lesson time normally begins and ends. It is difficult to plan for a certain amount of time and suddenly discover that you must rearrange your presentation to fit a shorter period.
COFFEE: Coffee and paper supplies can be provided by the church food service and billed to your class, or the class can purchase their own supplies. If you need supplies, please contact the Director of Hospitality (jfindley@rumc.com or 770.261.1713) by Wednesday prior to the Sunday needed. You may leave a message on the voice mail. If at all possible, make arrangements for someone to stop by the office during the week to pick up supplies or ask if supplies can be delivered to your classroom. Hours are: Monday-Thursday
COPIES: If there is a need on Sunday mornings for the use of a copy machine, the one available to adult education is located in building B (room 351) outside of the Adult Education office. You must enter a code to use the copier – ask the Minister of Adult Discipleship (wrightj@rumc.com) for the copier code for your area.
CURRICULUM: The Adult Discipleship department will order and pay for the resource material/curriculum for the teacher of an adult class, and will gladly order materials for class members’ purchase and use. Go to www.cokesbury.com or to www.upperroom.org to browse through recommended materials.
KITCHEN USE: Kitchen is restricted to the kitchen staff only. Any questions should be directed to the Director of Hospitality (jscott@rumc.com or 770.261.1713).
NAMETAGS: Please encourage members to wear their nametags each week, so that visitors and guest teachers will be more at ease in your classroom. The Adult Discipleship department will supply plastic nametag holders upon request. Some classes choose to purchase engraved permanent nametags.
NEW MEMBERS: One of your class’ main tasks is to reach out to adults not in a class. Here are some suggested ways and places to do that –
¨ Always contact any prospects forwarded to the attention of your class
¨ Plan to send a representative to new member gatherings as needed
¨ Ask for permission to share about your class at the parent’s confirmation class
¨ Always greet people when they join the church – and perhaps have class business cards to give them so they will have your vital information in written form
¨ Share your excitement about your class with those you meet – in Bible study classes, in your neighborhood, with those you sit next to in worship
Sunday school membership is open to all at
OFFERING: Determine percentage of class offering to go to general church offering (a percentage is recommended rather than a set amount because of fluctuating attendance) and how to handle special collections. Offering envelopes can be provided in the folders at the request of the class. After receiving the class offering, deposit the portion to be given to the church in the envelope then drop the envelope in one of the designated boxes in the following locations:
¨ Room A254,
¨ Receptionist’s office (across from parlor), Building B
Adult classes are encouraged to retain a percentage of their weekly offering in their treasury in order to purchase class supplies, fund outreach projects, or subsidize fellowship gatherings. Most classes establish a bank account to handle monies.
The offering sent to the church goes into the general fund. Among many other things, a portion of the general fund is used for the purchase of Sunday school curricula for children, youth, and adult teachers.
ROOM ASSIGNMENTS: No class in RUMC “owns” their room. Room assignments for all classes are flexible, depending on the size of the class and its needs, and the needs of other groups in the church. Room assignments are generally determined in the spring, with moves taking place prior to Promotion Sunday in the fall.
ROOM MAINTENANCE: Each class is encouraged to make their classroom a welcoming place. Remember that most of our rooms have multiple functions during any given week, including visits by those who are not a part of our congregation. Keep all displays up-to-date; dispose of outdated literature; return extra coffee condiments to the kitchen. If your class would like to paint or otherwise freshen up your classroom, please make arrangements with the Director of Buildings and Grounds. Treat your classroom as you would your home – while keeping in mind that your class may be asked to move at some time in the future.
Please use
The trustees have requested that we not use lighted candles in our classrooms because of a history of fires in the building.
DO NOT have any beverages that are Kool-Aid based in any room in any building on the RUMC campus, since stains they cause are nearly impossible to remove.
Please see that cabinets are kept clean and neat. Clean out coffeepots after each use. All supplies of coffee, creamer, sugar, etc. should be kept in containers with tightly sealed lids and marked with the class name. Please discard empty containers, old grubby supplies, and anything else you are not inclined to use. Return used curriculum materials to the Adult Discipleship office or discard or recycle them.
We realize that sometimes there is a problem with temperature adjustment, but we ask that you please see that your windows are closed and locked and lights are out when you leave the room.
ROOM SET-UP: At the beginning of each Sunday school ‘year’, submit a request/diagram for your classroom set-up to the Minister of Adult Discipleship if a change is needed. Rooms will be set to meet Sunday school class needs, using the furniture available in a particular room. If your class experiences some dramatic changes during the year and needs a different set-up, please request that in the same way.
TEACHERS: Work within the class and with the Minister of Adult Discipleship to establish a teaching schedule. See Recommended Resources below as a starting point for arranging weekly lessons. Arrangements must be made with the education department before an invitation to teach is extended to anyone who is not a member of RUMC or a representative of a United Methodist agency.
VISITORS: Have a supply of temporary nametags available for visitors to your class (and continually remind members to wear their permanent nametags so that visitors do not feel singled out!) Have a designated person learn some basic information about each visitor (some classes invite visitors to fill out a brief information card) so that person can introduce the visitor to the class. Make sure that a designated person follows up with visitors to the class with a note, a call, or an email.
Responsibilities of the Program Committee
1. Main responsibility: Schedule lesson topics for each class meeting, Promotion Sunday 2010 through December 2011 if at all possible to help provide transition for the incoming Program Committee. Keep in mind the needs of class members and the purpose of education in our church to teach the stories and truths of the Bible. You do not need to schedule the entire year at one time, but schedule far enough ahead so that members can be kept informed about what is coming, and so that you are able to publicize some of your programs through the church information resources. Please remember to confirm with teachers one month in advance;
2. Pool of potential teachers: Secure teachers for each class meeting either from members of your class, people listed on the Teachers and Resources page, or other RUMC members or staff. You may also invite representatives of United Methodist agencies (such as the Children’s Home, Wesley Woods, Housing and Homeless Council, a campus Wesley Foundation), or agencies supported by RUMC (such as Habitat for Humanity, Homestretch, Atlanta Urban Ministries) to speak in your class. Please do not invite anyone else to teach in your class without first checking with the Adult Discipleship department.
3. Helping teachers prepare:
§ Some of the teachers listed in this book are only available for one week at a time; others are able to lead your class in a series of lessons. Some plan to teach only the lessons they have listed here; others will gladly develop alternative or additional lessons for you. You can determine that when you approach anyone about teaching.
§ It is important to tell your teacher about the people in your class so the material and teaching style may be adapted to your particular needs and preferences.
§ About one month prior to any new program, contact the teacher to confirm the teaching commitment; this reduces double-booking by both the class and the teacher. Confirm the time and location of your class.
§ Ask if your teacher has any special needs such as A/V equipment, special seating arrangements, etc.
§ Let each new teacher know how much of your class time is dedicated to the lesson (30-45 minutes suggested).
§ If you would like for the teacher to lead your opening or closing prayer, please give ample warning!
§ Tell the teacher how many people usually attend in case there are handouts to copy.
(It is a good idea to confirm everything with your teacher even if that person is a member of your class.)
4. Materials: Obtain curricula if your class chooses to use it. The Adult Discipleship office has a wide range of materials available and will order whatever resources your class needs. You can see some of the available resources at www.cokesbury.com or www.upperroom.org. The Adult Discipleship department will provide materials for your teachers and can order curriculum for class members through its account, allowing the class to reimburse the department at a later date.
5. Classroom responsibilities: Introduce the teacher to your class when he/she comes to teach – even if he/she is a class member. Remember that visitors do not know those teachers who “everybody knows”. You might share information like this about each teacher: Name; how long at RUMC; family info; career and/or education info; hometown and/or places lived; special interests/hobbies or ‘little known fact’.
6. After class: Send each teacher a thank you note after they have taught in your class.
Planning Your Program
Calendar
To help with your planning, on another page on the website is the calendar of Sundays for 2010-11. Please note special emphases for particular Sundays; when Sunday school will not meet or when classes will meet as one large group; and when particular lessons are recommended for special days.
Remember, you might not want to schedule the entire year at once (things do change!), but try to schedule at least a few months in advance so that you will have information for your class newsletters and church-wide publications.
Programming Helps
Think through other things that are important to the life of your class: will you have a retreat when most of the class is gone… what will be planned for those still in town?; are there holidays when your class traditionally has high or low attendance… how will you deal with that?; will you have several parents out for confirmation class… how will you integrate them back into your class?; do you have members vitally involved in outreach such as missions… how can you provide them the opportunity to share their passion with your class?; do members of your class know our clergy well… how will you give them a chance to know the clergy staff better?
Recruiting Teachers
It is healthy for your class to have class members lead lessons – members are in a position to guide a discussion of how class members can help one another live more faithfully as Christians. There is a great deal of resource material available through the Adult Discipleship office – be sure to review and take advantage of that. If you don’t feel that you have members who are gifted in teaching, think about the ones whose opinions everyone wants to hear, those who when they talk, everybody listens – these are probably your teachers even if they have not recognized it themselves.
One thing to keep in mind if your class chooses to do a lot of shared teaching within the class: the Minister of Adult Discipleship is always glad to hold teaching workshops for your individual group. You might want to plan a workshop before you embark on a new series in order to hone the skills your teachers already have.
You may occasionally want to invite to teach those at RUMC who are not your class members – the ones listed in this booklet have indicated their willingness to share with you. Remember, do not invite to teach those who are not members of RUMC or representatives of United Methodist agencies unless you have the approval of the Adult Discipleship office.