Student Scholarship

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

This report, examines the implementation of the "Christian Faith and Life" curriculum within the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.. The study was born from a post-war realization that the church faced a "cultural lag," failing to provide young people with a sound intellectual and religious background to withstand the skepticism encountered in higher education. In response, the Presbyterian Church invested over three million dollars to develop a modern, psychologically grounded curriculum designed to "teach or die". 

The curriculum is structured on a three-year cycle focusing on the life of Jesus, the Bible, and the Church. It emphasizes home cooperation through "home reading books" and magazines, moving away from traditional quarterlies to provide high-quality, archaeologically authentic materials. The report analyzes four distinct church types in the Washington, D.C. area to show how this framework is adapted to diverse socio-economic needs:

  • Chevy Chase Presbyterian: A large suburban church with extensive facilities, focusing on personalizing education through district plans and international benevolence, such as its "adoption" of the Darmstadt Church in Germany. 

  • National Presbyterian: A downtown church that addresses the transience of city life through a robust program for young adults, providing social stability and fellowship. 

  • Lewinsville Presbyterian: A suburban church in an "overgrown" community, utilizing a self-sustaining youth budget and creative projects like relief-map making to engage its growing congregation.

  • Westminster Presbyterian: A church in a low-income, "checker-board" (racially mixed) neighborhood, where education focuses on social outreach and providing basic security to children through sewing groups and Bible study. 

Stubbs concludes that while each church faces unique challenges—from teacher shortages to community turnover—the "Christian Faith and Life" curriculum provides a versatile framework for revitalizing religious education.

Publication Date

1-1952

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