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outline. Simply click on a question and the answer will appear below it.
Resource: CenterQuest.
Published by: The Educational Center.
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Is this Sunday School curriculum affiliated with a particular denomination? Is it nondenominational? Ecumenical? A partnership among several denominations? Or what?
This is a non-denominational curriculum with a Jungian focus. Provision is made in the planning for congregations to insert their own doctrine or denominational instruction. - What are the main goals, aims, objectives, or purposes
of this curriculum resource?
As the name implies Centerquest is concerned with the inner faith journey. Echoing the biblical “Adam where art thou? It addresses the questions “Where am I and where am I going”. This is done through increasing teacher awareness and providing an age appropriate context in which personal growth can occur. Centerquest has three foundational premises: Good religious Education is centered in the lived experience. Truth is revealed though story. Inner growth is individual, yet occurring in the following cycle: (1) Entry, (2) Anxiety, (3) Hope, (4) Despair and (5) Grace. - What is the main content of this Sunday School
curriculum? (for example, Bible
stories, books of the Bible, theological questions, Bible and life issues,
denominational identity, etc.)
Contemporary literature and bible stories provide an avenue for identifying life issues. - How is the curriculum organized?
(for example organized around the common lectionary, the Uniform
Lesson series of Biblical texts, topics, themes, etc.)
The Bible and stories from contemporary literature are presented in 1-hour blocks for a 37-week school year. The amount of time spent on each story varies. For example the session on Noah takes three 1-hour blocks; the Baptism of Jesus takes 1 block. Ira Sleeps over takes three blocks and Fredrick takes two. - What age levels are included in this curriculum, and
how are they grouped? (for
example, grades 1-3 together)
Centerquest is a comprehensive Kindergarten through Adult program grouped as follows: Kindergarten & First Grade Second & Third Grade Fourth, Fifth & Sixth Grade Junior High & Senior High Young Adult & Adult Provision is also made for across-the-board blocks where the entire congregation studies a story simultaneously with age appropriate discussions and activities. - What is the structure of a typical lesson and what
kind of learning activities are generally included? (for example, a lesson might be structured around Opening,
Presentation, Exploration, Response, Closing.
Learning activities might emphasize reading, workbooks, and
discussion)
To aide in lesson planning and presentation, teachers are given a synopsis of the story and suggestions for discussion and activities. Below is a typical lesson format for either a Bible story or storybook. Read part or all of a story Open ended discussion Creative activity - When you purchase this Sunday School curriculum, what
do you get? (for example,
teacher guide, learner books, packet of class resources, etc.)
This curriculum’s original format (which we reviewed) consisted of a series of teacher’s manuals grouped by the age/grade levels listed in number 5. The current curriculum presents the same age groupings, material and program design in user -friendly workbook form. (Storybooks are not included and must be purchased elsewhere). - How much does it cost?
$50.00 per workbook. - What theological tradition, perspective, or
orientation do you note in this material?
This program combines narrative theology with a strong psychological (Jungian) perspective. It emphasizes personal growth and spiritual journey through story in community. There is no specific emphasis on salvation, repentance or personal piety. However, there is space in the program design for Churches to add their own doctrinal and or denominational instruction. - Over all, what is your assessment of the strengths
and weaknesses of this Sunday School curriculum?
This curriculum’s greatest strength is that it is highly relational. It embraces the learner, drawing her/him through story into relationship with self, God, community and the lived experience. It is well written spiritually sound and learner friendly. It is, however, quite different from most Church School material. It is not particularly teacher friendly; the course and individual lessons need in-depth planning. This is a weakness because does require: A substantial commitment by the Director of Christian Education and the teachers, Discerning the program’s compatibility with the educational understanding and needs of the congregation, Thorough and specific teacher training and follow-up. It is important to note that The Educational Center, recognizing a need in relationship to this curriculum, facilitates a Jungian workshop each fall in Richmond VA and teacher training events on request.
