And so, as I sit before my computer, I imagine you, faithful teacher, sitting at your desk or at your kitchen table or even curled up in an afghan on your sofa, cradling your first cup of morning coffee, Bible and other papers spread before you, preparing for the class which you will teach. I am not acquainted personally with each of you, but if you are both an Outlook reader AND a teacher of adults, then I believe that I can make some assumptions about you:
• that you are compelled toward the vocation of teaching by a love for Jesus Christ;
• that prayer fuels your passion for sharing the good news of the gospel and your particular subject;
• that you carve out adequate time for preparation prior to stepping into your classroom or the other settings where you teach;
• that you view your curriculum, your Bible, your books as starting points for the creative work which the Spirit will accomplish in you and in your class, and not immutable blueprints to be followed slavishly;
• that in your teaching you strive to nourish both the minds and the hearts of those whom you teach.
If these assumptions are correct, then my first words to you are simply, “Thank you.” Thank you for following the way of Jesus as you share in his ministry of teaching, equip the saints, build up the church, and contribute to the healing of the world’s brokenness.
What follows are simply some modest and practical suggestions which, in my experience, can enhance the efforts of already excellent teachers.
Be hospitable. Try this exercise when you have a free hour. Enter the room where you teach, and imagine that you are an adult learner entering the space for the first time. What do you see? More importantly, does the room convey a feeling that you are welcome here? Cast an eye about and look for clutter — papers from last week’s class scattered on tabletops, a notice on the bulletin board about an AIDS walk that took place two months ago, a bookcase which appears not to have been dusted and the volumes on its shelves read since the 1950’s. Sweep the clutter into the recycling bin, and replace it with sharpened pencils, fresh paper for note-taking, nametags (very important in churches of every size!), and handouts which have been laid out neatly. Appoint someone who possesses the spiritual gift of hospitality to be the “greeter.” Instruct the person to arrive 10 minutes early and to resist the impulse to chat with long-time friends or to buttonhole arriving learners about volunteering for the church picnic. Few things are worse than entering a church whose Web site trumpets, “All are welcome,” and feeling as if you have entered a middle-school cafeteria of cliques.
Breathe together. Most teachers are good with words, but silence also provides a palette for experiences of God, and in church, we generally don’t get enough of it. Rather than offering a spoken prayer at the beginning of the class, consider beginning with the lighting of a candle, the sounding of a chime, a moment or two of silent centering. Many of those present will have dashed to class, breathless from responsibilities and distractions. They will welcome some time simply to breathe, quietly and consciously, individually and corporately, as God’s Holy Wind-Breath-Spirit creates a learning community in that very moment.
Spread your wings pedagogically. We teachers possess particular gifts; we hone those gifts in preferred methods of teaching. Some of us love to lecture; others of us are adept at facilitating discussion; for still others, creating an artistic and original Powerpoint presentation is what gets our juices going. I am no different, but every now and then, I find it helpful to consult 7 Ways of Teaching the Bible to Adults: Using our Mulitiple Intelligences to Build Faith by Barbara A. Bruce (Nashville: Abingdon, 2000). Bruce’s book is chock full of suggestions which beckon me out of my comfort zone of teaching. It’s fun to try something different as a teacher — it means that we are learning too — and also immensely gratifying when learners respond by saying, “Wow! The class really spoke to me today!”
Connect with the community. Much is made of the declining membership in mainline churches, but my experience tells me that adults in every community are yearning to uncover spiritual connections in their everyday lives. Many of them may never step over a church threshold to attend worship but may well be stirred to attend classes on topics such as those being offered this spring by the SoL Center at University Church in San Antonio (www.upcsa.org): “End of Life Conversations: What, When, and How to Talk with Family and Others About Death,” “Shakespeare’s Soliloquies,” and “Fresh, Quick, Local, and Delicious: A Friday Night Cooking School.” Offer classes at times other than the traditional Sunday School hour and at sites other than your church facility — a museum, an art gallery, a public park or historic site. Don’t restrict your publicity of educational opportunities to your own congregation exclusively. Befriend local journalists who might cover a class on an intriguing topic. Utilize your Web site, Facebook, and free community calendar listings.
Elizabeth McGregor Simmons is pastor, Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Davidson, N.C.
