The Doctrine of Humankind
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 63, No. 2 – Spring 2021
Editor: David S. Dockery
Edited by Jonathan J. Kim and Charles A. Tidwell. Second Edition. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2020, 316pp., $34.99
In the preface to the second edition of The Educational Ministry of a Church: A Comprehensive Model for Students and Ministers, co-editor Jonathan Kim admits that in recent years the ministry of education in the local church has become “diversified” but the “basic facts associated with the nomenclature remain the same” (p. xvi). Kim, associate dean of the School of Christian Faith at Dallas Baptist University, explains “the project was not meant to be a simple update in bibliography… but a revision of the [1996 book] and introduce the next generation of church leaders to alternative ways of educational administration” (p. xvi). Included in the front matter is the preface from the 1996 revision, authored by Charles A. Tidwell, retired professor of administration at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, who indicated that the ministry of education was experiencing change even twenty years ago. Tidwell identified an “every increasing pace of change. And there seems to be no end to it. There must not be an end to it as long as most of the changes represent genuine progress” (p. xv).
The second edition is a collection of essays concerning the administration and organization of educational ministries in the local church, with a particular emphasis on Southern Baptist churches. Unlike the first edition, written exclusively by Tidwell, the essays in the new version were written by Southern Baptist Christian educators in the academy and ministry practitioners in the local church. One of the immediate strengths of the second edition is the diversity of experiences and perspectives offered by the authors, most of whom have decades of ministry experience in the local church and some who are now training men and women in seminaries and Christian colleges for a lifetime of service in educational ministry. The target audience for this book looks much like its authors: both the local church practitioner who needs guidance and wisdom in the day-to-day process of organizing and leading educational ministry as well as the minister-in-training who is studying for a future of fruitful ministry leadership.
Organized in four parts with seventeen chapters, The Educational Ministry of a Church provides a foundational and comprehensive approach to educational administration. Part One, “Necessity,” offers the epistemological framework for Christian education in the church including a biblical, theological, and historical rationale, the understanding of human development, the ecclesiological mandate, and awareness of cultural trends. Kim reminds the reader of the importance of “increased understanding of the necessity of the educational ministry of the church” (p. 3) by building a reliable foundation for such an endeavor.
Part Two, “Basic Components,” describes the building blocks of ministry laid on the necessary foundation. The five essays in this section delineate the essential ministry activities comprising educational ministry: Bible teaching, discipleship, missions education, music ministry, and ministries for enrichment and support for families, age groups, stewardship, evangelism, recreation, and media. The wide swath of responsibilities in the educational ministry of a church indicates that “education touches all that a church attempts to do as it moves toward fulfilling its mission” (p. 97). In one of the standout chapters from this section—“Ministry of Bible Teaching and Learning”—Josh Rose, director of the Doctor of Education program at Southwestern Seminary, offers his expertise in training leaders for off-campus small groups as well as for an on-campus Sunday School ministry. This focus on contemporary, as well as traditional practices reveals the need for educational leaders to be adaptable in an era of shifting paradigms in ministry.
Part Three, “Leadership Personnel,” emphasizes the role of staff and lay leaders in the ongoing effectiveness of educational ministry; these serve as the “builders” of the ministry structure. Three chapters in this section build on one another in creating leadership philosophy and practice for ministry. The pastor and church staff provide ministry vision, guidance, and training (Chapter 11, “Pastoral Role in Education”). Members of the body “provide a workforce absolutely necessary for the church to carry out the Great Commission” (Chapter 12, “Volunteer Leaders in Education”). Ministry leadership teams—composed of staff and members who are gifted and trained for service—provide an array of “gifts, passions, and specific skill sets to develop a comprehensive educational ministry in the local church” (Chapter 13, “Organizational Leadership Teams in Education”).
The final section, “How Leaders Lead,” resembles a module for ministry leadership training. Topics include basic leadership skills such as the role of the leader in planning and organizing, developing a leadership pipeline, resourcing workers, and evaluating ministry effectiveness. These are “make-or-break” competencies for an educational leader’s success on the field. Cheri Wyman’s essay, “Discovering, Recruiting, and Training Workers” represents the quality of authors in part four, as she takes a deep look at one of the most important tasks of an educational leader: finding, equipping, and maintaining gifted and skilled leaders for ministry needs. Wyman pulls from a deep bench of sources and offers specific and detailed suggestions for tending to human ministry resources.
Even though The Educational Ministry of a Church is a revision of a book originally published in 1982, the authors have accomplished their goal: to pass along a heritage of wisdom about Christian education administration and honor the unchangeable mission of this important disciple-making ministry. The chapter titles and topics mirror the first edition, but the content has been updated for a new generation. Considering any content gaps that may need to be filled in future editions, two come to mind. First is the role of technology in educational leadership including website development and social media. Virtual or remote teaching will also play a significant role in the future of Christian education. The second gap is the changing leadership structures in evangelical churches. Most Christian educators recognize the diminishing role of the traditional minister of education as well as the disappearance of Christian education as a ministry priority in the church. In the future, those who oversee the education or disciple-making ministry of the church will need to not only understand the mechanics of their ministry, but will also be called on to motivate and inspire congregations to grow deeply in their walk with Christ.
Tidwell can rest assured that his legacy book has a new life in the twenty-first century. Church educators and students alike will profit from the wisdom of the expert contributors. The redeployment of this text in this era will likely raise the awareness of educational ministry in our churches and on our campuses; and perhaps, a new generation of trained leaders will contribute to a resurgence of education and growth in the church.
