More than 100 attend symposium resulting in new vision boldly opening doors to Christ-centered Mennonite education

Over 100 people joined together to consider the future possibilities for Quakertown and Penn View Christian schools and Christopher Dock Mennonite High School on September 16 at Penn View’s Godshall Road campus in Souderton, PA. Out of this day of listening and hearing the steering team for the school’s GPS 2012 strategic plan initiative has adopted a vision statement, “Boldly opening doors to Christ-centered Mennonite education.” The vision emerges from the conversations and input of the symposium participants.

According to Sarah Bergin of Perkasie Mennonite Church, “It’s so great to be a part of a community that cares about our students, not just academically but spiritually. It was wonderful to be together as a group.” Parents, students, alumni, teachers, staff, pastors, conference leaders and community leaders were part of the day-long discernment that led up to the new collaborate vision for the schools. Noel Santiago, Franconia Conference Executive Minister, remarked “There was a lot of energy here with good focus and clarity. We still have the tough part of making it a reality.”

The ongoing work of GPS (Globally Positioned Students) 2012 will focus around four goals derived from the September 15 meeting. These goals include:
• Mission driven, action-oriented collaboration among schools, families, congregations and conferences
• Accessibility to Christ-centered Mennonite education in the tri-school area
• Exemplary Christ-centered teaching and learning within an Anabaptist/Mennonite worldview
• Cultivating a community recognizable by their impact as Christ-centered pilgrim servants building God’s kingdom locally and globally