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Do Not Drop Names Unless ...
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Do
not drop a name from the Sunday School roll unless…
…the
class has lost all reasonable vision and opportunity of reaching or
ministering to that person."
This strong suggestion from Robert Stewart, North
Carolina State Sunday School Director (Retired), emphasizes how the roster or
enrollment list provides a visual and ongoing reminder to class teachers
and leaders about people who have given permission for that class to love
and care about them.
Of course there are
legitimate reasons to drop names from the roll. Drop the name from the
enrollment when:
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The person dies. Even then consider for
several weeks just lightly crossing through the name and keeping the
card in the class record book to be reminded that the class has
follow-up ministry opportunity to the person’s family.
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The person moves to a different community too
far away to attend anymore. Consider sending that person’s
record card to a pastor or church in the new community. If you do not
know where to send the card, contact the state Sunday School
Department. The state Sunday School staff will help you route the
person’s name to a director of missions or pastor in the new
community.
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The person joins another Sunday School or
church. Send to the new church the person’s study course awards
record and/or notes about the types of leadership and ministries in
which the person has served.
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The person is offended by your keeping the
name on the roll. If it is really counter-productive to a
loving, caring relationship, or if the person demands to be dropped
from the roll, there is sadly little other choice. However, drop the
name only after concerted visitation, ministry and sincere prayer.
Once the name gets dropped, the class will lose its primary reminder
of its responsibility/opportunity to reach, teach and minister to this
person.
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Reminder: The Sunday School roll is far
more than a check list or attendance chart of those who attend regularly.
The Sunday School roll, when properly used, is a roster of ministry
responsibilities the church has assigned the class or department. The
Sunday School roll is a list of persons who have given your church their
permission to care about them, to encourage them in Bible Study, to be
concerned when family and personal crises come. Do not drop a name until
every possible effort to reach him/her has been exhausted.
"People who erroneously
say that Sunday School enrollment is not important simply do not know what
they are talking about! They are either poorly informed or have lost their
vision for reaching lost and unchurched people through a vibrant, alive
and effective Sunday School!" says Stewart.
For more information about enrolling
people in life-changing Bible study, contact Phil Stone, Bible
Teaching/Church Administration Team, P. O. Box 1107, Cary, NC 27512-1107. 1-919-467-5100,
x427. Email pstone@bscnc.org. Or,
contact Robert Stewart
rstewart55@nc.rr.com
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