The new material will replace the current new member class resources package, A Family Matter: An Exploration in Believing and Belonging, which has been in use in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) since 1999.
A 10-member curriculum team met Monday and Tuesday this week to consider basic content areas and formatting options, as well as various media tools and options that could be employed to meet the diverse interests of local congregations.
important part of the process was exploring four basic learning styles that can help shape not only content, but also the manner of presentation, so that the material can be as relevant as possible to that diverse set of learning styles.
“Individuals often teach based on their own learning style preference,” noted Debbie Blue, director of adult ministries with the Department of Christian Formation, a member of the curriculum team who reviewed learning styles with the group on Tuesday in an effort to deepen awareness of the importance of style as well as substance.
One problem with a teacher using only his/her preferred learning style is that only 30 percent of a given group will likely connect with that style, Blue noted, quoting the work of author Marlene D. Lefever in her book, Learning Styles. That means 70 percent of the group may be missed, Lefever argues. Ideally, elements from all learning styles should be included for the most effective presentation, Blue suggested.
That discussion provided context for the group’s exploration and discussion of potential teaching methods, support tools, resources, and presentation models.
A commitment to membership apparently resonates with an increasing number of individuals, says Gary Walter, executive minister of the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism, who noted that aggregate membership in local Covenant churches is on the increase. To hear more about the importance of local church membership and the need for fresh materials, listen to 
Importance of Membership.mp4 by Dick Lucco, superintendent of the Great Lakes Conference, who also is a member of the curriculum team.
In addition to Blue, Lucco and Walter, members of the curriculum team include Rebecca Eklund, associate pastor of Bethlehem Evangelical Covenant Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Scot Gillan, pastor of Grace Community Covenant Church in Tucson, Arizona; Henry Greenidge, pastor of Irvington Covenant Church in Portland, Oregon; Karen Lichlyter-Klein, pastor of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Paxton, Illinois; Lyle Mook, pastor of Christ Church in East Greenwich, Rhode Island; Don Meyer, executive minister of the ECC Department of Communication; and Doreen Olson, executive minister of the ECC Department of Christian Formation.
Editor’s note: the accompanying photo shows Greenidge (left) and Gillan during one of Tuesday’s brainstorming sessions.
