Criticizing curriculum

Re. Evaluating curriculum as reported in September. The article says, “Gather Round by the Brethren Press (was) also deemed unacceptable.” Was a careful examination of the materials made? The article gave no reasons for the conclusion. I could only speculate that it might have to do with the view on infant baptism and the emphasis on peace.
Whether by oversight or by tactful design, the curriculum Gather Round was not exclusively prepared by the Brethren Press (an American denomination). It was a cooperative effort that also included the Mennonite churches of Canada and the United States. We also use a common hymnal. I would not consider the Brethren Church to be far to the right on the theological scale.
In early September, my home Mennonite congregation launched the new Sunday School year. The emphasis was on the Gather Round curriculum. I do not teach in the children's department but I know that those who do would not use something that is unacceptable to Mennonite theology. Neither would our churches work with a denomination that presented a theological view radically different from our own. I would say some further explanation is needed.

About Kenneth Cressman
New Hamburg, Ont.