CEMP@TrinityLutheranSeminary.edu

CEMP presents a rich variety of programs and support for pastors, associates in ministry, Christian educators, youth directors, and other church professionals. It offers an annual summer institute which includes workshops related to educational ministry, and publishes The CEMP Journal, a periodic publication with articles of interest to people responsible for educational ministry in the parish.

CEMP also cooperates with Continuing Education to provide opportunities in theological education for leadership and laity.

From the director:
Today the church is one of many voices making competing claims on people's lives and commitments. Culture no longer supports what the church confesses. Instead, our members must now define themselves as Christians over against the prevailing culture. Both congregations and individuals are discovering that they have to wrestle with questions of Christian identity to a degree that was not true in the past. Our people are struggling to find a way to articulate what they believe so that it makes sense in relation to the way in which they live their lives. They are asking, "What does my faith have to do with being a banker, or a teacher, or a factory worker, or even a parent? How does it make a difference?" At heart, these are theological questions that challenge what we are doing in educational ministry in our congregations...

The question for educators and pastors is, Is the kind of intentional teaching that helps people integrate faith and life a priority in our ministries?

(CEMP: The Journal of the Center for Educational Ministry in the Parish1:1 [Winter 1994] p.2)