The business of teaching Christians: National education leadership in the Episcopal Church, 1945-1976

Transformations in U.S. culture since World War II have affected religious education programs in churches nationally and locally. In 1946 leaders of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America envisioned an energetic revitalization of its religious education programs. Influenced by concern over denominational literacy and waning religious commitment, members sought nationally generated resources and training to help them provide Christian formation and moral nurture through the Sunday school and the worship activities of their churches. To do so, Episcopal Church leaders devoted 5% of the national budget to fund a 35-member Department of Christian Education and to launch an aggressive curriculum project. In the 1960s, increasing concern for social responsibility and mission led the education staff to modify its curriculum and training programs.;The social and political unrest of the late 1960s stirred up dramatic change in many U.S. institutions. As Episcopal Church leaders sought to define their positions on contentious social issues, they decentralized national leadership infrastructure. The Department of Christian Education, along with all other independent program departments, was disbanded and on-going curriculum revision was halted. By 1971, no member of the national staff was designated to assist congregations with Christian education.;During the 1970s, the church developed a new management structure. One staff member, assisted by a national network of part-time consultants, directed religious education. Since funds were limited, the education officer encouraged local education initiatives and allocated diminishing national resources equitably among constituents.;Within the framework of cultural and social transition, this study focuses on changes in the education leadership infrastructure developed by the Episcopal Church from 1945 to 1976. This study concludes that while significant attention has been devoted to national support for religious education in the Episcopal Church, neither a centralized corporate business model nor a decentralized regulatory agency model has served the educational needs of constituents. This historical study of religious education program in one denomination contributes to our understanding of trends in U.S. educational leadership in the late 20th century.