Introduction

Here you'll find some supplementary materials for use during new member classes. This site does not, however, replace the face to face conversations in our new member classes. These short articles are designed to push a little beyond what active members would be expected to master. This is also where I suggest further reading for folks who might be interested in following up on a specific topic.

The review questions were originally organized for a six-week study. The last week also included information about our local presbytery's and congregation's histories and government. I encourage you to organize this material in any way that suits your curriculum.

I'm using a method of teaching that you may not be used to. Don't think of the quiz as an event marking the end of your learning. Study the material and take the quiz and then go back and repeat the study and quiz pattern over and over until YOU feel you've learned what YOU wanted to learn. Don't feel intimidated about taking a quiz many times over. No one else needs to know your score. These quizzes are to help you learn, not to put some meaningless grade in your "permanent record."

For Religious Educators

These pages were initially started back in 2005 for use in a small PCUSA congregation here in Chicago. This site was originally just a place to store and share my notes for new member training. They are freely offered to anyone who finds them useful. If you have the time, I'd love to hear what you've been able to use of this material and how you integrated it into your curriculum. Additionally, if you find errors in the coding or in the text, please let me know at stu@stusmith54.com.

You're welcome to link to these pages, or, if you're technologically inclined, you're welcome to cut and paste this code into your own website. All I ask is that you link back here and that you respect my desire to keep these supplementary materials available without charge to everyone.

Stu Smith
Chicago, Illinois
June 2013