Churches

We are deeply grateful to see local churches investing in CEIS

Churches across Canberra see the immense value in working together in a a community-based, Gospel-driven ministry for children’s Christian education. For many churches, this is a wonderful opportunity to develop long-lasting relationships with the local school and families. Local churches building positive relationships with local schools is valuable for all – individuals and community.

What does partnering look like?

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Churches can partner with CEIS in one of the following ways

• Partner with CEIS:  Formally partnering with the CEIS ministry is a public acknowledgement of the importance of CEIS’s vision and objectives and the church’s willingness to work with SUA and the CEIS sub-committee in pursuit of that vision, including the endorsement of their church members providing Christian Religious Education (CRE) through CEIS as a ‘provider’.  Find out more here. Let us know you’d like to partner by completing this form.  Partner churches typically work toward taking responsibility for the delivery of CEIS sessions in one or more schools; and/or contributing to the oversight of the CEIS ministry through nominating a representative for involvement in the CEIS Sub-Committee. See more in the FAQs below. 
• Prayer: As a church, pray for the schools in your local area: for connections, for opportunities for Christian education and more. To receive prayer points either termly or fortnightly, click here.
• Volunteers: Consider whether your church might like to form a volunteer team to go into a school near you. 
• Financial Support: Would you consider us one of your mission partners and contribute financially to the ministry? 
• Promotion. Let your church know about how Christian Religious works in Canberra schools. Contact CEIS today about providing your members with a brief presentation. You will be amazed at all God is doing through CEIS and the options available to support His work.

FAQs FROM CHURCHES

How can our church connect with a local school?

CEIS sessions and SU school groups are both great ways to connect with your local school. Encourage parents to submit a parent requsest for Christian Education, or consider commiting to supporting the ministry already happening in a local school through regular prayer and/or volunteering. This allows relationships with students and staff to consolidate and student
exploration to be well supported. Contact the CEIS Coordinator who will help your church to
facilitate this process.

What’s the difference between official partnership and supporting CEIS?

Churches can support the CEIS ministry in a variety of ways – prayer, financial support, provision of volunteers, internal promotion – all of which are important and greatly valued.

Becoming a formal partner of SU in the CEIS ministry is a public acknowledgement of the importance of CEIS’s ministry objectives and the church’s willingness to work with the sub-committee towards those.

A partner church can take responsibility for the CEIS ministry within their local school(s). The partnership with SU reflects a trust between the two parties (church and SUA) that the ministry within that school will be supported sustainably and delivered in a manner consistent with SUA’s values and beliefs.  

A partner can claim the delivery of CEIS programs in their local school as their own but recognise that they represent SUA in delivering that ministry, and commit to operating within the SUA framework.  This releases SU to focus on supporting the delivery of other CEIS sessions and expanding the CEIS Ministry.

SU exists to work with churches to deliver local ministry, so partnership with churches in taking the gospel into local schools is a core goal of the CEIS Sub-Committee.

To find out more about the vision and mission of SUA and CEIS, here.  To apply to become a formal partner, please complete this form. 

Is official church partnership required to take responsibility for a local school?

Yes.

We seek to ensure consistency, transparency and high standards across all of our program delivery. One way of doing this is forming an official partnership with a church before taking responsibility for a local school. Such a partnership would demonstrate a commitment to the Aims, Beliefs and Working Principles of SU at all times whilst engaged in SU ministry. Partner Churches are expected to agree with and to promote the core beliefs shared with SU as representatives of the ministry in schools. 

We deeply trust the abilities and hearts of our Partner Churches to support the CEIS Vision and contribute to reaching students in Canberra schools in a way that is consistent with the SU Ethos. 

Is a partner church required to appoint a representative for the CEIS Sub-Committee?

No.

A partner church has the right to nominate a representative from their church to become a member of the ACT CEIS Sub-Committee but they may choose not to do so.

What is expected of Sub-Committee members?

Sub-committee members are a key channel of communication between churches, and SU and vice versa. 

They use their various skills and gifts (including administration, communications, event planning, secretarial, finance management, fundraising skills, prayer, and networking) to shape and facilitate SU’s ministry in ACT schools. 

Sub-committee members are expected to attend monthly, 2-hour meetings at the SU office (6/92 Hoskins St, Mitchell) to coordinate their efforts, assess, and support the CEIS team’s needs to meet CEIS’s mission.

What is Schools Ministry Sunday (SMS)?

Now called ‘Let’s Go Sunday’, CEIS designates the Sunday at the end of week 1 of the new school year as a moment for
churches to unite in prayer and celebration for all school ministry. Some churches choose an alternative date later in the year. Information and resources are provided for SMS and CEIS staff are available to make a presentation.

What fundraisers could our church provide or promote?

CEIS hosts some specific fundraisers through the year. Please contact the CEIS Coordinator for further information.

Additionally, CEIS encourages and welcomes ANY fundraising by ANY church, group or individual at ANY time!
CEIS’s relies on donations to facilitate children being able to seek, question and explore God, Jesus and the Bible in Canberra’s primary and secondary government schools.