Does anyone have any suggestions for a curriculum for a Communicant's Class?

Anything you have done before, etc.?

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Andrew Barnes
Husband of Dena
Tchula Presbyterian Church (PCA)

At one church, for many years the practice has been to have about 8 weeks of instruction, during which (or preparatory to) the class memorizes about 1/2 of the shorter catechism, 40-odd questions. The instruction is geared around the doctrine in those questions.

The SC doctrine is, in essence, the FAITH they will be confessing when they are examined and acknowledged as full-communing members of the church. So they really ought to prove they can at least recite something from out of their head. When they are examined by session, the pastor asks them to recite some of the questions--they know for sure they will get certain ones, and others at random. They are also asked to "put in your own words" certain doctrine. IOW, examination is not all recitation. They are asked to express what they believe, and how the faith they confess makes a difference for them individually.

The booklet "Confessing Christ", while geared to new-member classes (adults) is still a BASIC course in Reformed church membership, and incorporates catechetical doctrine and principles. You might benefit from using it, at least as a guide if not as an instruction booklet.

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Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


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I'll put this twist on it: the class will be made up of kids (mostly black and below middle class, and poverty levels), who have no reformed background whatsoever and don't even necessarily have parents in the church. Most of them are the only Christians in their family, if they are Christians at all.

I hope you have fun answering my question now.

1) Memorization is a basic form of instruction. I think we should not assume that such persons as described cannot understand and retain the information. They may need additional help, additional time, etc. But don't sell them short. What they need is motivation. Have that, and they will learn.

2) Start out with the "Child's Catechism." I personally love that thing. So basic. So simple. Use that, then graduate.

Yeah, what they need is to be shown that it is worthwhile. Also, I forgot, they are 13-18, so we were thinking we would go with the modern shorter catechism. I don't really like the modern, but I think it is appropriate in this case. Thanks for your words of wisdom.

My book, The Good Confession: An Exploration of the Christian Faith (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2007) is a communicant's/new members workbook that goes through the loci of doctrines in the Reformed Confessions (Three Forms and Westminster Confession).

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Rev. Daniel R. Hyde
Pastor, Oceanside United Reformed Church
www.oceansideurc.org
Carlsbad/Oceanside, California