FAYETTEVILLE — In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The opening words of Genesis adorn a poster on the classroom wall. They’re the starting point for the biology class taught in that room - and for the math classes down the hall.
Secondary school teacher Pete Golden began teaching the free classes at Covenant Presbyterian Church in July.
He offers similar subject matter to that taught in public high schools, but he is free to add the sense of wonder that imbues his life of faith.
“We believe the gospel applies to every area of your life, every discipline,” said the Rev. Paul Sagan, pastor of the church. “We’re pleased to have the opportunity to (offer) that.”
Golden initiated the educational ministry after 12 years of teaching at Clear Springs School in Eureka Springs. His background is in math and science, but he has also taught history and other classes.
“Our main presupposition is that God made us - God made everything - for his glory. We take that to how he created and designed the universe.”
REV. PAUL SAGAN Church pastor
A number of educated church members are available to help him as the programgrows, he said. He calls on their expertise for the public tutoring hour on Wednesdays.
If people call ahead, he will match their need to a tutor in that subject area, he said.
Community members don’t need to be enrolled in other classes to take part.
Golden also offers special classes by request. These are typically shorter and lighter than the ongoing courses, he said. He taught a two-week chemistry class during the summer in which about 60 people took part.
This academic year, Golden is offering biology and math. There are tests but no grades, he said.
The program is not accredited.
The classes are offered free of charge as a service to the community, he said.
“Churches used to provide education, the same way a lot of churches provide food or counseling now.”
FAST FACTS
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
Vision: Faithful to the Scriptures, true to the Reformed Faith and obedient to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.
History: The church broke from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1972. It holds to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms significant in Presbyterian thought since 1645.
Size: There are more than 1,450 churches and missions in the U.S. and Canada.
Local churches: Covenant Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, Trinity Grace in Rogers, and a satellite of Covenant Church in Siloam Springs.
Information: www.pcanet.org, www.covenantchurchpca.org.
SOURCE: PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
An Observational Approach
The educational ministry is open to all ages, but mainly home schooled students are enrolled. About half are church members, Golden said. He polled the congregation to find what kind of classes theywanted him to offer. Math was the overwhelming response.
About two dozen students participate in three math classes - pre-algebra, Algebra I and II, and higher math (geometry, trigonometry and calculus), Golden said. New students can join at any time.
Each works at whatever level is appropriate for him.
“The numbers are small enough (so that works),” he said. “I’m (mostly) going around getting people unstuck.”
Golden added the biologyclass to the curriculum at the start of September. About 20 students ranging in age from 12 to 16 take part.
The class is taught from a “young earth creationist” viewpoint but uses the observational perspective found in most classrooms, he said. This is a pragmatic approach that focuses on what can be seen and understood with the fi ve senses.
In recent weeks, for example, students have been learning about leaves and trees. Golden has led a fi eld trip to Lake Fayetteville and a walk near church property to identify specimens in nature. On a recent Thursday, students reviewed what they had learned by calling out identifying characteristics of the dried leaves he held up.
Golden called on each student by name, modeling the respect they show him in return. He insisted on a high level of academic learning, but with enough humor and interaction to keep students engaged.
“You remember stuff when he’s teaching it,” said Abigail Wenger, 12.
“He knows everything,” said Adam Hendrix, 14.
“He makes it fun,” said his sister, Abigail, 12.
God In Everything
The creation design viewpoint will come up when students get to genetics, Golden said. He will present “competing models” of gene pools and origin - both the theory of evolution and the creation design theory his church believes is biblical.
AT A GLANCE
EDUCATIONAL MINISTRY
Where: Covenant Presbyterian Church, 4511 W. Wedington Drive in Fayetteville.
When: Classes meet two to four times a week, with a drop-in tutoring hour from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Subjects: Pre-algebra, Algebra I and II, higher math and biology. Other short courses by request.
Information: www.covenantchurchpca.org, 442-5267.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
How is it that one tree has needles and another broad leaves to satisfy its need for nutrition? he asked as an example. The evolutionary model, with its theory of survival of the fittest, sees the trees forced into that “through a non-personal process,” he said.
Creation design sees it as a manifestation of God’s grace. “That’s God’s imagination on display, as far as I’m concerned,” Golden said.
“We all have presuppositions,” said Sagan, the church pastor. “Our main presupposition is that God made us - God made everything - for his glory. We take that to how he created and designed the universe.”
Golden sees the same opportunity for reverence in the math classes he teaches.
“As you work through (higher) math, some funny things start happening,” he said. “Math speaks back to you. If you believe that there’s a God that wrote all the laws that govern the universe, that’s another aspect of God’s wisdom and intelligence.”
Kerri Johnson, a former public school math teacher who home schools her two children, said the approach reinforces what her family believes. Yet it’s important that her children be exposed to the prevailing model of evolution, she said.
“We feel that for a good education, students need to know what’s out there,” she said. “Yes, evolution is what some folks believe. Creationism is what our family, our church, believe.”
Filling A Need
Many home schooling parents put their children into the public school system in high school, Johnson said.
That’s often because students have reached a level of math and science learning parents don’t feelable to teach, she said. There are many homeschool resources available - DVD programs and satellite classes, for example.
They can’t match “having a teacher that’s right there with you,” Johnson said. “The (educational ministry) meets a real need. To have these things available for free is really amazing.”
Cindy McClymonds, another home schooling parent, agreed. As her son gets into the higher maths, she appreciates Golden’s expertise, she said.
“He’s just so much fun with the kids. That makes for a more pleasant schooling experience. ... (And) it’s fun for Andrew as a homeschool kid to be in a classroom setting part of the time.”
Golden has served as part-time youth pastor at the church for a number of years. Church elders hired him full-time to lead the educational ministry for one year. They envision expanding the program if they have enough interest, although there are no immediate plans, Sagan said.
Golden is a popular youth leader with Andrew McClymonds and others, his mother said.
“That’s one thing they never want to miss - youth group. They love Mr. Pete. He makes everything come alive.”
Religion, Pages 10 on 10/01/2011