• Creates a moral imperative for faith-based social justice groups to make dismantling racism an explicit part of their mission through childhood education
• Answers General Convention's call for conversation on Children, Poverty & Public Education
The church understands community as unity in diversity: Paul's vision of the Body of Christ as a physical body, with all parts welcomed and honored as parts of the whole, is an image of community as revolutionary in our day as it was in first century Rome. And the church's call to act in the world, to be Christ's hands and heart for healing and reconciliation, hope and justice, gives it a unique role in the national movement to combat education inequity, a movement grounded in education research, community organizing, and community-based organizations.
All Our Children offers a variety of stories witnessing to the power of real partnerships between faith communities and public schools that create, nurture, and grow relationships, while transforming lives and communities, churches and schools, for healing, liberating action, and resurrection. The book highlights ways that judicatories and congregations are already providing direct service (after-school programs, tutoring, food backpacks), participating in community coalitions of care (with non-profit, higher education, and public service programs and staff), and joining state and regional advocacy campaigns for improved funding, policy, and accountability.
Audience: Ordained and lay leadership of mainline denominations, public education advocates, education justice researchers, educators and Christian formation leaders, seminarians
Create conversations and dig deeper into the systemic issues impacting public schools in the free study guide.
Foreword Gay Clark Jennings
Introduction Lallie B. Lloyd
Part One Discoveries of Disparity
A Social Movement for Education Justic Lallie B. Lloyd
Why We’re Here Diane Carson
Finding Jesus in Unexpected Places Jackie Whitfield
Part Two A Theology of Relationship
Public Relationships and Public Institutions Liz Steinhauser
Partners for the Kingdom Benjamin P. Campbell
Part Three Education as Justice
6. In the Beginning Catherine Roskam
7. Turnaround Audrey Henderson
8. An Ecumenical Public Education Initiative W. Andrew Waldo
Part Four The Reality of Socioeconomics
9. Gaps and Crosses A. Robert Hirschfeld
10. They Were Reading on the Bus R. William Franklin
Part Five Partnerships of Church and School
11. Giving Up Outreach Projects Hal Ley Hayek and Amy Slaughter Myers
12. Transforming Mission Alexizendria Link
13. The Journey Ruth Wong
Epilogue Lallie B. Lloyd
Appendix
A. Types of Partnerships
B. Ten Steps to Successful Church-School Partnerships
C. Partnership Prayers
Selected Bibliography
"Lallie B. Lloyd has brought together a collection of strong voices proclaiming the value of courageous individuals from a diverse group of faith communities pushing themselves beyond their comfort levels to engage the educational needs of children. In this era where 'savage inequalities' continue to rage in our schools, it is crucial to hear such voices as all of us who are compassionate seek to find the best ways to ensure that all of our children receive the best education possible."
––Dr. Catherine Meeks, editor of Living Into God's Dream: Dismantling Racism in America and Chair of the Beloved Community: Commission for Dismantling Racism in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
"Here is a passionate and clear-eyed argument for why we should add 'educating our children' to the commands by Jesus for us to give drink to the thirsty, feed the hungry, care for the sick and those in prison, clothe the naked, and welcome the stranger."
––The Very Rev. Will H. Mebane, Jr., Interim Dean of St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in Buffalo, New York
"I am so inspired by the work of All Our Children!"
––Giovanna M. Romero, Director of Programs and Youth Leadership Development, Children's Defense Fund-NY
