Youthworks estimates that some 500 new Scripture teachers are needed to step into the gaps in schools around the diocese, as well as replace retiring teachers who have been serving long term.

Jon Thorpe, the Executive Director of the Ministry Support Team responsible for SRE accreditation, says this number works out to roughly two extra teachers per parish in Sydney.

“It is a large number when you look at it in isolation, but if you think about it in terms of 280 or so churches, it becomes manageable,” says Mr Thorpe. “This push is
about us supporting and equipping churches to feel confident in recruiting teachers.”

Mr Thorpe says that the reason this push is needed is because of a generation of teachers reaching retirement age, and the need to act sooner rather than later while a transition can be made.

“A huge concern 3 years ago was that we had an aging SRE teacher population, and we weren’t really sure about whether a next generation would step into the breach.,” he says. “There’s now a significant proportion of mums with younger children who have a bit of flexibility, we’re seeing more men as well, and uni students being encouraged to step into the hole.”

The Rev Graeme Howells, senior minister at Rouse Hill Anglican Church, is currently pushing for more SRE in his parish area. His church services two primary schools and one high school. He says that it can often be difficult to find the personnel and resources midweek to fill the need.

“Equipping teachers is always a challenge,” he says. “Volunteers are always stretched for time because they give so much in so many areas of church life, and whilst the accreditation training of SRE teachers is a great thing, the training is often geographically hard to get to, or on at times that the volunteers are unavailable. Two of our staff have undertaken to be trained as local SRE trainers, so we can equip teachers in house.”

This year, Scripture teachers from Rouse Hill have been able to teach fortnightly Year 10 SRE classes in the local high school, instead of only teaching a fortnightly seminar.

“We’ve been putting before the congregation the great opportunity that SRE is, and recruiting new teachers and trainee teachers for our Primary school classes,” he says.

Mr Thorpe says he also wants to encourage SRE coordinators to try and foster relational connections with their teachers and perspectives teachers in church congregations, as well as working as administrators, and often teachers themselves.

“I think it’s more the relational connection, then simply running a program or an advertising campaign,” he says. “The local churches know their people, and its in the context of that relationship that you get your best teachers.”