National Council of the Churches of Christ

Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA has been the leading force for ecumenical cooperation among Christians in the United States. The NCC's member faith groups — from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace churches — include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations in communities across the nation.  More information...

The Education and Leadership Ministries Commission traces its roots to the formation of the American Sunday School Association in 1824. The Commission's predecessor became a charter member of the International Council of Religious Education in 1922 and was a founding member of the National Council of Churches in 1950. Throughout its history , the Education and Leadership Ministries Commission has incorporated in its work congregational Christian education, higher education, ministry concerns and biblical translation.  Overall direction for the Education and Leadership Ministries Commission is provided by the Program Commission, representing 27 denominations.

ELMC has 15 program committees working in diverse areas of  educational ministry. They represent the work that the denominations do together to support local congregations in educational ministry. The board's  committees are working groups that generate materials for church education leaders, plan training events, and provide an ecumenical forum for inter-denominational exchange and planning.  Dr. Crutchfield serves on the Governing Board  and several other committees.

The Committee on Curriculum of Uniform Series is also part of this committee.  Probably the oldest ecumenical committee in existence, the Committee on the Uniform Series celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2002. For a century and a quarter, Protestants of many traditions have worked together to create outlines for church school curriculum based on "the uniform principle," meaning that everyone in church school on a given Sunday would study the same passage of Scripture. This ideal has motivated what is surely the most ecumenically and racially diverse group related to the NCC to work together faithfully on producing the most widely used approach to Bible study in the Protestant churches. A fascinating history of the Committee and of the Sunday School Movement in the United States, "Our Heritage in the Uniform Series," may be requested from the committee's administrator.

Twenty-two denominations and their representative staff form the committee which meets annually. They are working on outlines for the years 2004 to 2010 and will build that six-year cycle around several biblically rooted themes. Efforts are underway to adapt the outlines to a more Afri-centric approach for use in African American congregations.

The Ecumenical Youth Ministries Staff Team (EYMST) is an annual gathering of denominational youth ministry staff persons for a time of continuing education, resourcing and networking, and time apart to renew their spirit and energy for working with youth throughout the year in retreats, mission trips, and youth gatherings.  We are one of 13 committees of the Education and Leadership Ministries Commission of The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.

Since its founding in 1950, The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA has been the leading force for ecumenical cooperation among Christians in the United States. The NCC’s member faith groups - from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace churches - include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations in communities across the nation.

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Christian Education AssociationThe Christian Education Association exists to equip those involved in the teaching ministry to adults, youth, or children; and to work effectively through exposure to thoughts, ideas, and practices, both from within and beyond “a capella” churches of Christ. Those involved in CEA include education ministers, children's ministers, involvement ministers, family life ministers, youth ministers, elders and deacons of education, bible class teachers, college professors, and other Christian leaders.  More information...