Christian education is an essential ministry of the church, shaping discipleship, nurturing faith across the lifespan, and forming communities grounded in God’s justice, love and grace. Too often reduced to Sunday school or Bible study programs, Christian education is in fact a dynamic, multifaceted practice that involves theological reflection, intentional formation and contextual responsiveness. This workshop invites you to broaden your understanding of Christian education by exploring its theological foundations, formative potential and role in shaping both individuals and communities. You’ll be encouraged to reflect on your own identity as educators, engage the wisdom already present in your ministry contexts, and develop practical strategies for designing and leading educational experiences that are culturally relevant, theologically sound and responsive to the needs of diverse learners. Drawing on multiple approaches to Christian education, this workshop fosters a vision of teaching and learning as a collaborative, Spirit-led practice rooted in both tradition and transformation.

In this workshop, you will deepen your understanding of Christian education as a vital ministry that shapes discipleship, nurtures faith across the lifespan, and forms communities rooted in God’s justice, love, and grace. You will explore the theological foundations of Christian education and examine how teaching and learning function as intentional, formative practices within diverse ministry contexts.

You will reflect on your own identity and vocation as an educator, recognizing the wisdom already present in your community and your lived experience. The workshop will help you move beyond narrow programmatic models to understand Christian education as a dynamic, multifaceted practice that is responsive to culture, context, and the needs of learners.

You will also develop practical strategies for designing and leading educational experiences that are theologically grounded, culturally relevant, and inclusive of diverse voices and learning styles. Throughout the workshop, you will engage multiple approaches to Christian education and cultivate a vision of teaching and learning as a collaborative, Spirit-led practice rooted in both tradition and transformation.

Rev. Dr. Jana L. Howson is a pastor, teacher, and self-described geek with a passion for Christian education and meaningful faith formation. She earned her PhD in Christian Education from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Her dissertation, Theses of Fandom: 76 Ways Geeks Show Us How to Teach Faith, explores how people make meaning and understand the world through fandom—from Star Wars to the Super Bowl—and what this reveals about how the church can teach and engage faith more effectively.

Jana’s scholarly and ministry interests include intergenerational learning in faith communities and practical theology as it is lived out in everyday ministry settings. She holds an M.Div. from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, is ordained in the ELCA, and currently serves as a pastor in southwest Chicagoland.

Raised in the United Church of Canada in northern Ontario before moving to the United States, Jana brings a rich ecumenical and pastoral perspective to her work. When she’s not pastoring, parenting, or professing, she leans fully into her geek identity through medieval swordplay, martial arts training, and an ever-growing collection of LEGO, board games, and  books.

M1: Luther and Lutheranism

Module M1: Grounding Yourself in Your Role as Educator

Module Description
This module invites learners to reflect deeply on their identity and calling as Christian educators. Participants will examine the purpose and goals of Christian education through theological and practical lenses while considering how their own experiences, gifts, and ministry contexts shape their approach to teaching and learning. Learners are encouraged to name their unique vocation as educators and consider how Christian education functions within the broader mission of the church.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, learners will be able to:

• Reconsider and articulate their understanding of Christian education and its purposes
• Reflect on their personal identity and calling as an educator in ministry
• Connect Christian education to discipleship, formation, and the mission of the church
• Describe how their ministry context influences their educational role and approach

Module M2: What We Bring, What Our Learners Bring

Module Description
This module centers on the relational and communal nature of Christian education. Learners will reflect on their own formative teaching and learning experiences—both positive and negative—and explore the strengths of a co-learner/co-teacher model. The module emphasizes the wisdom already present within learning communities, particularly across generations. Participants will also engage the idea that “no one can see the back of their own neck,” examining how social location—such as race, class, gender, and lived experience—shapes both teaching and learning environments.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, learners will be able to:

• Reflect on formative teaching and learning experiences and their impact on educational practice
• Explain the value of a co-learner/co-teacher approach in Christian education
• Identify and affirm the wisdom and experience learners bring to educational settings
• Analyze how social location influences learning dynamics and educational outcomes

Module M3: Teaching in Your Context

Module Description
Effective Christian education must be responsive to context. This module focuses on helping learners assess the cultural, denominational, demographic, and congregational realities of their ministry settings. Participants will explore existing educational practices and assumptions within their contexts and learn how intersectionality shapes educational experiences. The module introduces the four basic orientations to religious education and invites learners to engage in intentional observation and analysis of their learning sites to inform more culturally relevant and engaging educational design.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, learners will be able to:

• Assess the cultural, denominational, and demographic features of their learning context
• Evaluate existing Christian education practices within their ministry setting
• Explain the role of intersectionality in shaping culturally relevant education
• Apply the four basic orientations to religious education in context-specific ways
• Design educational approaches that are responsive, inclusive, and engaging

Module M4: Practical Skills for Religious Educators

Module Description
This final module focuses on practical tools and skills essential for Christian educators. Learners will explore how to select, evaluate, adapt, and implement curricula that align with their theological commitments and ministry contexts. The module emphasizes the use of ELCA-grounded resources while also developing learners’ capacity to critically assess educational materials and modify them for contextual relevance. Participants will practice creating learning plans and identifying reliable denominational and theological resources to support sustainable educational ministry.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, learners will be able to:

• Identify and evaluate curricula and educational resources for Christian education
• Adapt existing curricula to fit specific ministry contexts and learner needs
• Develop a contextually appropriate learning plan
• Locate and utilize ELCA-grounded and denominational resources effectively
• Apply practical educational skills to support sustainable and meaningful ministry