Library - The Christian vocation of teaching

These suggestions build on clip 1 of the DVD and focus on the vocation of teaching and the associated challenges.

Introductory Reading

Ann Holt - 'How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?' Engaging with Education Today
Comments: Recorded at LICC on 26th October 2008
Bibliographic information:
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Blaylock, Lat - Incarnation and the Role of the Teacher
Comments: A reflection on how Jesus creates a model for the Christian teacher
Bibliographic information: 2006, Unpublished Paper
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Boateng, Paul - The Distinctive Contribution of Faith-based Groups to Public Life
Comments: A leading politician reflects on the contribution that Christians can make to the public life of modern Britain.
Bibliographic information: 2004, address given at Transforming Lives Consultation on 2nd February
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Chalke, Steve - Joined up Thinking: the message of Jesus, education and the role of the church
Comments: Chalke outlines the vision that inspires the Oasis Academies.
Bibliographic information: 2004, address given at Transforming Lives Consultation on 2nd February.
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Cooling, Trevor - Called to Teach?
Comments: A reflection on what it means to have a calling to teach
Bibliographic information: 2006, in ACTNow, Summer
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Cooling, Trevor - Is passionate RE dangerous?
Comments: An argument in favour of having committed people teaching Religious Education.
Bibliographic information: 2006, REToday, Vol.23:3 (summer 2006) reproduced with the permission of Christian Education Publications
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Cooling, Trevor - Is there a Christian vocation to work?
Comments: This is the editorial of a special issue of this Bible Society journal on the theme of work as a Christian vocation. The editorial reflects on what it means for a job to be a vocation with teaching as the case study.
Bibliographic information: 2006, in Transmission, Spring
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Cooling, Trevor - Transforming Faith: Teaching as a vocation in today's culture
Comments: Looking at the fundamentally important role a person's religion can play in transforming their everyday working life.
Bibliographic information: 2007, in Salvationist, 1 September
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EurECA - The Prague Declaration: Christian belief and education
Comments: The Prague Declaration was drawn up at a conference of the European Educators’ Christian Association in 1997. This carefully worded statement reflects the aspirations of a diverse group of Christian educators drawn from many European countries. The statement outlines the relationship between Christian beliefs and the practice of education in the contemporary European context.
Bibliographic information: 1997
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Greene, Mark - Thank God Its Monday
Comments: One of the most popular Christians books looking at the Christian in the workplace.
Bibliographic information: 2001, (3rd Edition), Scripture Union
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Hardy, Lee - The Fabric of this World: inquiries into calling, career choice, and the design of human work
Comments: A helpful survey of different understandings of work, both Christian and others, where the author argues for work being understood as participation in God’s ongoing creative work. Practical and designed for those thinking about their life career.
Bibliographic information: 1990, Eerdmans
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Hickford, Andy - Meltdown in schools - the church's response
Comments: A call to the church to get involved in education.
Bibliographic information: 2001, The Stapleford Centre
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Hume, Basil - Profession and Vocation
Comments: A stimulating reflection from Cardinal Hume on the role of the teacher.
Bibliographic information: 1999, Address to Teacher Training Agency conference on 18th March
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Nichols, Vincent - The Teacher, Chaos and the Spirit of God
Comments: An edited transcript of the inspiring address given by Archbishop Vincent Nichols at this influential consultation.
Bibliographic information: 2004, Address given at the Transforming Lives Consultation on 2nd February
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Palmer, Parker - The Courage to Teach
Comments: A classic of Christian education which captures the heart of the vision for teaching. Although North American, this author speaks to teachers across the globe and is a great favourite amongst British readers.
Bibliographic information: 1998, Jossey Bass Wiley
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Schultze, Quentin - Here I Am: now what on earth should I be doing?
Comments: A balanced and realistic guide to thinking about vocation in life which isn’t simply focussed on career or job.
Bibliographic information: 2005, Baker Books (CSU)
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Transforming Lives - Final Report
Comments:
Bibliographic information: 2004, from the consultation 1-2nd February
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Van Brummelen, Harro - Walking with God in the Classroom
Comments: Another classic, offering practical advice for the classroom for the aspiring Christian teacher.
Bibliographic information: 1998, (2nd edition), Alta Vista College Press
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Advanced Reading

Astley, Jeff - The Christian Vocation of Teaching and Learning
Comments: One of many seminal articles from this researcher on Christian education. In it Astley develops important ideas on the motivation of the Christian teacher.
Bibliographic information: 1998, in Tufton Review, Vol. 2:2
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Astley, Jeff - Vocation, Spirituality and Research
Comments: An inspiring lecture in which Astley reflects on the notion of vocation and applies it to the vocation to learn.
Bibliographic information: 2005, Lecture given at St. Deiniol’s Library on 11th January
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Badley, Ken - Two 'Cop-Outs' in faith learning-integration
Comments: An exploration of different models as to how Christian educationalists integrate their faith and their thinking about education.
Bibliographic information: 1996, in Spectrum, Vol. 28:2
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Chater, Mark - The personal and the political: notes on teachers’ vocations and values
Comments: A report of a research project looking at the importance of personal values in the professional life of the teacher.
Bibliographic information: 2005, in Journal of Beliefs & Values, Vol. 26:3
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Cooling, Trevor - A Christian Vision for State Education
Comments: This discussion of the role of the Christian in Religious Education considers important issues for all Christian teachers working in state funded education systems of increasingly secularised countries like Britain.
Bibliographic information: 1994, SPCK
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Cooling, Trevor - Curiosity: vice or virtue for the Christian teacher
Comments: A comparative discussion of two models of what it means for a Christian teacher to be biblically faithful.
Bibliographic information: 2005, Journal of Education and Christian Belief, Vol. 9:2
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Cooling, Trevor - Living as a Christian in the World of RE
Comments: A reflection on challenges of the Christian vocation of teaching Religious Education.
Bibliographic information: 1993, in Spectrum, Vol. 25:1
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Gregory, Marshall - Pedagogy and the Christian Law of Love
Comments: Develops a rigorous understanding of Christian teaching as an act of love.
Bibliographic information: 2002, Journal of Education and Christian Belief, Vol. 9:2
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Hartnett, Sharon and Kline, Frank - Preventing the Fall from the Call to Teach
Comments: An article reflecting on how Christian students can integrate a sense of calling to teach from God with a realistic assessment of their own skills and capabilities.
Bibliographic information: 2005, in Journal of Education & Christian Belief, Vol. 9:1
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Schuurman, Douglas - Vocation: discerning our callings in life
Comments: An academically serious discussion which seeks to reinstate the concept of the Christian vocation to work in an increasingly secular world in a way that takes seriously the pastoral challenge of decision making about careers.
Bibliographic information: 2004, Eerdmans
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Volf, Miroslav - Work in the Spirit: towards a theology of work
Comments: A classic of the Christian literature on work. A demanding read, but worth the effort for those who want to grapple with the theological issues.
Bibliographic information: 1991, Wipf and Stock Publishers
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Williams, Rowan - Church Schools: a National Vision
Comments: A significant speech including reflections on the place of church schools in a multifaith society and the contribution of the Christian teacher.
Bibliographic information: 2006, Address to the Faith in the Future Conference on 14th March
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