Saint Basil’s Orthodox Church in Watervliet NY (Archpriest Peter Olsen, Rector) on Saturday, 21 September, hosted “Educating Ourselves and Our Children in Godliness” ~ a pan-Orthodox endeavor for continuing education of the faithful, coordinated by the Orthodox Christian Education Commission [OCEC] Department of Teacher Training. Participants were able to benefit not only from the wealth of knowledge and experience that the trainers had to offer, but from the opportunity to share challenges, successes and ideas with each other.  The day-long event proved to be a valuable and unique experience, sure to contribute to building up our church school programs.

Clergy and laity participated in workshops facilitated by Matushka Myra Kovalak and Khouria Anna Hughes.  Matushka Myra is the Director of the Teacher Training Department of OCEC and Intermediate Curriculum Specialist for the Department of Christian Education of the Orthodox Church in America.  Khouria Anna is a certified teacher trainer for OCEC and New England Regional Coordinator for the Department of Christian Education of the Antiochian Archdiocese of America.

Workshop participants chose from two tracks: Teacher Training 1 provided an overview of Orthodoxy, instructional techniques and tools for classroom planning, as well as curriculum and resources.   Church School Director sessions provided insights into church school ministry, how to build-up students and staff, as well as curriculum and resources.  An interactive session involving attendees from both tracks along with the trainers was provided to showcase the abundance of curriculum resources available across the jurisdictions.

Attending the sessions were clergy, church school teachers and directors from Saint Basil’s in Watervliet, Saint Basil’s in Troy, Christ the Savior in Ballston Lake, Saint George’s in Albany, Saint George’s in South Glens Falls, and Saints Peter and Paul in Herkimer.

The parish Sisterhood provided hospitality throughout the day and served a delicious lunch.

Further information about the work of OCEC and their teacher training programs may be found at:

http://www.orthodoxchristianed.com/