Before the followers of Jesus were ever called Christians they were known as followers of the Way. As for every generation of Christ-followers, the way of Jesus continues to open up before us, calling us to follow as we journey along the WAY.

And that is the JOURNEY of a lifetime!

Journey provides churches and ministry professionals the finest theological and educational resources and tools through:

• Lectureships
• Conferences and workshops
• Mentored learning groups
• Strategies for revitalizing the church
• Resources developed for the church's growth in discipleship and mission
• Partnerships for collaborative learning.

THE HISTORY OF JOURNEY

In the summer of 2002, Western set in motion the development of "a center for the continuing education of the church," as it has been called until now. The vision was to expand the seminary's continuing education efforts to include not only ministry professionals but the whole people of God. In the new vision, events like lectureships, conferences and workshops will continue, but to them will be added other ways of cultivating the learning of the church: mentored learning groups, strategies for revitalizing the church, resources developed for the church's growth in discipleship and mission, and partnerships for collaborative learning.

In 2002 George Hunsberger was named Dean of the new center and designated as Professor of Congregational Mission. In addition to working toward new forms of continuing education, he has guided the initiation of a research project through the Gospel and Our Culture Network and established a pilot program of peer groups for focused pastoral learning. Funding for both programs has come from the Lilly Endowment.

The financial grants for these special projects, together with funds contributed to the Campaign for Western and creative partnering with RCA denominational agencies, have enabled the center to fill out a full complement of staff to guide, lead and facilitate a full range of non-formal education. Vicky Menning was added to the staff in the summer of 2003 in a way that has made tangible a partnership between the seminary, the Regional Synod of the Great Lakes, and the General Synod of the RCA. Her work focuses on church revitalization, assisting congregations in self-assessment using Natural Church Development instruments, and helping them refocus their vision of where God is leading them.

In the fall of 2003, Cynthia Holder Rich was called by the seminary to the position of Associate Professor of Continuing Theological Education. In addition to responsibilities in pastoral learning programs, she is fashioning a variety of non-formal learning programs for learners of all kinds in the church. Carol Ann Bailey joined Judy Bos to provide the necessary office support to enable the work of the center to go smoothly.

The fresh energy and imagination of the team shows up in the kinds of spring events highlighted in this issue of the Commons, as well as in the preview of events to come. And it has led to the unveiling of the center's new name, Journey! A search for a two-syllable word to replace the rather long and cumbersome phrase, "a center for the continuing education of the church," led to the image of the journey to which God beckons and calls. Whether it is on the road from Ur that Abraham and Sarah traveled, or the road to Jerusalem that Jesus walked, or the road to Emmaus on which the risen Jesus joined a pair of discouraged disciples, the people of God have always recognized themselves to be journeying to the promises of God, growing in faith, love and hope, knit together as a traveling community on the Way.