Welcome to the September/October edition of Equip for Ministry. Because of many changes taking place at CE&P this issue is bittersweet. Our Managing Editor, Michelle Estile, has left CE&P to return to graduate school. Michelle has been responsible for 18 issues of Equip for Ministry and dedicated to many additional responsibilities as our Project Coordinator. We wish her God’s best as she begins working on her Masters of Social Work at UGA. I am happy to welcome Jennifer Roman as our new Managing Editor. Jennifer is a recent graduate of Anderson College in Anderson, SC. Jennifer worked with us for a brief intern period in 2004. Her mother, Carolyn Roman, is a Women In the Church regional trainer. We are looking forward to having Jennifer on our team.

Not only are we saying goodbye to Michelle, but also our Advertising Manager William (Bill) Savage will soon be retiring. Bill has faithfully served us for 15 years. Bill and his wife Laura have many plans for their future, including spending more time with their grandchildren. Thankfully Bill has left us in good shape for next year’s advertising as and also left us a with a wealth of resource materials. Bill has played a key role in keeping the best resources from our churches before our readership. We encourage prayer for Bill and Michelle as they begin new chapters and for Jennifer in her new responsibilities.

In this issue we feature the topic of stewardship. Stewardship is a major biblical theme that is often misunderstood - especially in today’s postmodern world. Not many pastors and teachers tackle the topic, and when they do the impression many walk away with is “oh it’s just about money.” Of course it is, but money is only one aspect of stewardship. We have mentioned Robert Wuthnow, sociology professor at Princeton University and his good work in this area. He concludes churches and denominational agencies are struggling financially because the Lordship of Christ in all of life is not taught. Hence, people do not make the connection that their life is not a dualistic sacred and secular divide but a unified whole. Stewardship is not something that only refers to money and giving to the church, but how we use all of our God-given resources as people of the Kingdom.

Our coordinator of Resources at CE&P, Richard Aeschliman, and author of The Grace of Giving published by CE&P wrote the lead article on stewardship. He concurs with Wuthnow’s research, writing, “Statistics tell the church there is a problem with stewardship. The philosophy of postmodernism which is permeating our culture shows there is a problem with the people’s worldview.” We encourage pastors and church officers to read this article and use it as a resource and springboard for discussion and teaching. As an additional resource CE&P, under Aeschliman’s leadership, produces a series of stewardship bulletin inserts available from the CE&P Bookstore.

The “In Case You’re Asked” page focuses on the biblical and theological foundation of covenant children, looking specifically at the Presbyterian Church in America Book Of Church Order. The article specifically targets infant baptism, but we also try to reveal how this doctrine and practice relates to other necessary doctrines. We have taken the time and space to quote extensively from the BOCO because some readers will not have access to the book, though it too is available from the CE&P Bookstore.

You will also see highlights from the 2005 Mercy Ministry Conference, sponsored by CE&P and Mission to North America. Dean Conkel, our Coordinator of Youth Ministries, reports on the two major summer conferences, sponsored by CE&P and Presbyterian Youth of America. These conferences target key high school students with present and future leadership potential. The first conference was held at Covenant College and the second in New Mexico.

We have chosen several books to highlight in the book review section. Three are of particular importance: Truth in All Its Glory is by William Edgar, a PCA teaching elder, professor of Apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and a former missionary to France. The book is among one of the finest produced by Edgar. Bryan Chapell, another PCA teaching elder and president of Covenant Theological Seminary, has given us a challenging and practical book on prayer entitled Praying Backwards. Christians are meant to be praying people and Chapell’s book will challenge and encourage you in that activity. A third book that deserves recognition, entitled A Geerhardus Vos Anthology, is compiled by Danny Olinger, the Executive Secretary of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church’s Christian Education Committee. This book is a tremendous resource for pastors and teachers. Having taught and written faithfully in the early part of the 20th century, Vos has impacted many people within the Reformed family. (All books listed in this issue are available from the CE&P Bookstore.)

Our prayer is that you will find this issue beneficial and that God will use it to solicit your prayers and support for the vital ministry of Christian Education and Publications. Please check our website www.pcacep.org for more information on the ministries, services, and schedules of CE&P.

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