Godly Play
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Godly Play
Godly Play is a Montessori method for Christian education. The method has been utilized in churches around the world. Founding The method was developed by Jerome Berryman, an Episcopal priest. Berryman had studied the Montessori method in Italy, and had been trained in The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Berryman sought to develop something similar, suitable for a Protestant audience, incorporating existentialist theological concerns. Berryman and his colleague Sonja Stewart, a professor of Christian education at Western Theological Seminary, co-developed a series of lessons plans, the first of which were published in the book ''Young Children and Worship''. Berryman then further developed these ideas into the Godly Play method. The lesson plans were published as a series of books. Teachers are expected to be trained—and, ideally, certified—in the Godly Play method, in order to teach Godly Play. Some of the first Godly Play trainings were held on the campus of Virgi ...
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Montessori
The Montessori method of education is a type of educational method that involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing real-world skills. It emphasizes independence and it views children as naturally eager for knowledge and capable of initiating learning in a sufficiently supportive and well-prepared learning environment. It also discourages some conventional methods of measuring achievement, such as grades and tests. The method was started in the early 20th century by Italian physician Maria Montessori, who developed her theories through scientific experimentation with her students. The method has since been used in many parts of the world, in public and private schools. A range of practices exists under the name "Montessori", which is not trademarked. Popular elements include mixed-age classrooms, student freedom (including their choice of activity ...
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Catechesis
Catechesis (; from Greek: , "instruction by word of mouth", generally "instruction") is basic Christian religious education of children and adults, often from a catechism book. It started as education of converts to Christianity, but as the religion became institutionalized, catechesis was used for education of members who had been baptized as infants. As defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 5 (quoting Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Exhortation '' Catechesi tradendae'', §18): ''Catechesis'' is an education in the faith of children, young people and adults which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life. Nomenclature In the Catholic Church, catechist is a term used of anyone engaged in religious formation and education, from the bishop to lay ecclesial ministers and clergy to volunteers at the local le ...
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Episcopalianism
Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of the largest branches of Christianity, with around 110 million adherents worldwide . Most are members of national or regional ecclesiastical provinces of the international Anglican Communion, one of the largest Christian bodies in the world, and the world's third-largest Christian communion. When united churches in the Anglican Communion and the breakaway Continuing Anglican movement were not counted, there were an estimated 97.4 million Anglicans worldwide in 2020. Adherents of Anglicanism are called ''Anglicans''; they are also called ''Episcopalians'' in some countries. The provinces within the Anglican Communion are in full communion with the See of Canterbury and thus with the archbishop of Ca ...
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The Catechesis Of The Good Shepherd
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori method for Christian education in the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. The method is offered in churches and schools across 37 countries. Founding The method was developed by Sofia Cavaletti, a scholar of Hebrew and of the Bible, and Gianna Gobbi, a Montessori teacher. Cavaletti has been characterized as "arguably the most effective catechetical theorist and practitioner of her era". The development of the method began in 1954, following a discussion with children regarding a Bible passage; Cavaletti and Giobbi sought to discover what teaching message would best suit these children. Cavaletti and Giobbi identified Bible passages which resonated with the children, chief among them the parable of the Good Shepherd, then developed hands-on materials and lesson plans through which the children could engage in contemplation upon these Bible passages. In the United States, the method was pioneered by Sr. Evelyn Boyle, a si ...
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Protestant
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divine grace, the priesthood of all believers, and the Bible as the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice. The five solae, five ''solae'' summarize the basic theological beliefs of mainstream Protestantism. Protestants follow the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began in the 16th century with the goal of reforming the Catholic Church from perceived Criticism of the Catholic Church, errors, abuses, and discrepancies. The Reformation began in the Holy Roman Empire in 1517, when Martin Luther published his ''Ninety-five Theses'' as a reaction against abuses in the sale of indulgences by the Catholic Church, which purported to offer the remission of the Purgatory, temporal ...
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Existentialism
Existentialism is a family of philosophical views and inquiry that explore the human individual's struggle to lead an authentic life despite the apparent absurdity or incomprehensibility of existence. In examining meaning, purpose, and value, existentialist thought often includes concepts such as existential crises, angst, courage, and freedom. Existentialism is associated with several 19th- and 20th-century European philosophers who shared an emphasis on the human subject, despite often profound differences in thought. Among the 19th-century figures now associated with existentialism are philosophers Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, as well as novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky, all of whom critiqued rationalism and concerned themselves with the problem of meaning. The word ''existentialism'', however, was not coined until the mid 20th century, during which it became most associated with contemporaneous philosophers Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, Simone de Beau ...
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Western Theological Seminary
Western Theological Seminary (WTS) is a private seminary located in Holland, Michigan. Established in 1866, it is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, a mainline Reformed Protestant denomination in Canada and the United States. The seminary offers professional A professional is a member of a profession or any person who work (human activity), works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the partic ... and graduate degree programs for candidates for ministry, and to those pursuing careers in academia or non-theological fields. It was established to fill a need for theological education on the (then) western frontier of the Reformed Church in America. In its theological identity, Western Theological Seminary is evangelical, ecumenical and Reformed. Western Theological Seminary prepares students for ministry often involving ordination as well as for furth ...
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Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS), formally the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is an Episcopal Church (United States), Episcopal seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. It is the largest and second-oldest such accredited seminary in the United States. Established in 1823, VTS is situated on an suburban campus in Alexandria, and adjacent to the campus of Episcopal High School (Alexandria, Virginia), Episcopal High School. The seminary's List of Virginia Theological Seminary people, notable alumni have taken leadership roles in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, Episcopal Church, other Christian denominations in the United States, and overseas. VTS is a member of the Washington Theological Consortium and since 1938 has been an accredited member institution of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). History Foundation and Civil War years The seminary's foundation in 1823 was the result of the efforts ...
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Church Year
The liturgical year, also called the church year, Christian year, ecclesiastical calendar, or kalendar, consists of the cycle of Christian liturgy, liturgical days and seasons that determines when feast days, including Calendar of saints, celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of scripture are to be read. Distinct liturgical colours may be used in connection with different seasons of the liturgical year. The dates of the festivals vary somewhat among the different churches, although the sequence and logic is largely the same. Liturgical cycle The liturgical cycle divides the year into a series of seasons, each with their own mood, Christian theology, theological emphases, and modes of prayer, which can be signified by different ways of decorating churches, colours of paraments and vestments for clergy, Bible, scriptural readings, themes for preaching and even different traditions and practices often observed personally or in the home. In churches ...
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Saints
In Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and denomination. In Anglican, Oriental Orthodox, and Lutheran doctrine, all of their faithful deceased in Heaven are considered to be saints, but a selected few are considered worthy of greater honor or emulation. Official ecclesiastical recognition, and veneration, is conferred on some denominational saints through the process of canonization in the Catholic Church or glorification in the Eastern Orthodox Church after their approval. In many Protestant denominations, and following from Pauline usage, ''saint'' refers broadly to any holy Christian, without special recognition or selection. While the English word ''saint'' (deriving from the Latin ) originated in Christianity, historians of religion tend to use the appellation "in a more general way to refer to the state of special ...
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Quakers
Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestantism, Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers because the founder of the movement, George Fox, told a judge to "quake before the authority of God". The Friends are generally united by a belief in each human's ability to be guided by the inward light to "make the witness of God" known to everyone. Quakers have traditionally professed a priesthood of all believers inspired by the First Epistle of Peter. They include those with Evangelical Friends Church International, evangelical, Holiness movement, holiness, liberal, and Conservative Friends, traditional Quaker understandings of Christianity, as well as Nontheist Quakers. To differing extents, the Friends avoid creeds and hierarchical structures. In 2017, there were an estimated 377,557 adult Quakers ...
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Unitarian Universalists
Unitarian Universalism (abbreviated UUism or UU) is a Religious liberalism, liberal religious tradition characterized by its commitment to theological diversity, inclusivity, and social justice. Unitarian Universalists do not adhere to a single creed or doctrine. Instead, they are unified by shared covenants across congregations based on foundational values and principles centered on love and pluralistic worship. The beliefs of individual Unitarian Universalists range widely and are often contextual to the congregation. Founded upon Christianity, Christian teachings, modern Unitarian Universalists can draw upon diverse theological and philosophical thought, including from religious humanism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Taoism, neopaganism, atheism, agnosticism, New Age, and teachings of the Baháʼí Faith. Worship can take place in churches, fellowships, congregations, and societies. Unitarian Universalists state that from these traditions comes a deep regard for Freeth ...
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