The workshop is held Monday, June 10 through Wednesday, June 12, from 9 am to 4 pm.

This special course will provide students with a broad spectrum of the basic knowledge and skills needed to begin an effective ministry of Christian Education in the local church. It will enable new Christian educators with no prior formal learning to achieve a foundational understanding of the Bible, identify resources that will work best in their unique church environment, serve collegially on a professional team of church leaders, and gain a basic working understanding of the major areas of Christian Education programming (Church School, Confirmation, Youth Ministry, Adult and Intergenerational Education). In a three-day seminar format, students will be engaged in a series of lecture, small group and first-hand experiential learning units.

This year, we are again offering a one-day option for those who have had prior theological education. Clergy and others trained theologically may attend only the final-day session, which covers the practical skills needed for effective Christian education.

Participants will receive the Myers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) Report and Guidebook and Speed Leas’ book “Discover Your Conflict Management Style.” 

Chuck Ericson has served as Pastor of the Bolton Congregational Church UCC for more than 25 years. During this time he has become trained as a Conflict Consultant for the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ, served as a Field Education Supervisor for Andover Newton Theological School, led workshops at Connecticut and National UCC Youth Events, and been appointed as an Adjunct Instructor in the "Design for Leadership" program at Defiance College. For the past 15 years, Ericson was the Director of the “Associates in Christian Education” (ACE) program which was co-sponsored by Hartford Seminary and the Connecticut Conference of the UCC. He also expresses his faith through songwriting, and his music has been published and used in many UCC conference and national settings. Ericson has a B.S. in Psychology from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and a Master of Divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School in Newton, MA.