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A Message from Our President, Diane McGeoch
UPS AND DOWNS AND IN BETWEENS
I am an avid cross-country skier. Sadly, my skiing season this year didn’t happen due to tendinitis in my foot which had surgery in 2022. And we had a low snow year, so there wasn’t a lot of natural snow even in the mountain areas a few hours drive away. One year I was cross-country skiing in very icy conditions. I went forward on.
Being stuck in the middle of a hill is no fun. the trail, only to slip backwards a few times. Then forward again, then backwards great Do I try to keep going uphill? Or should I turn around and go back down, in some. Sometimes on the hilly trails I stride up the hill, then slide back a bit if the conditions aren’t cases, sliding down if I can’t maintain my snowplow? Every time I’ve been in this situation I’ve had to make a difficult choice, depending on the terrain, the conditions, how tired I am, how confident I feel and other factors. Once my brother, who is an expert skier, called out “Come on you can make it,” and I got to the top of a large hill with his encouragement.
Our ministries as faith formation leaders benefit from continual encouragement, someone cheering us on when we are stuck in difficult places. We need to identify the steps and strategies that move us forward, while also recognizing that there are times we may be going backwards. We need to plan, but we need to look back and reflect on how we got to a specific time and place in our ministries and programs.
The Christian Education Network has been able to live out its mission because of a lot of support and encouragement. As we continue our transition into new ways of being, we benefit from planning ahead but also looking back on all that we’ve accomplished. Our Board made the decision to explore a merger/partnership with the Association of Partners in Christian Education last October. Since that decision, a Covenant Task Force has been at work, and members will vote on this in the coming weeks.
Experiencing the ups and downs and in between gives us perspective and wisdom. We learn new things about our gifts and living out our call to build faith in all its forms. We as a Network are learning new things as we receive encouragement, affirmation, and support from our friends at APCE. Our history is being honored and received while we create something new together. We may slip backwards as we are going forwards, but we are moving together in faith.
Moving forward through Easter and beyond with you as we journey in faith,
Deacon Diane McGeoch cenpresident@faithfulteaching.org
Christian Education Network of the ELCA
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