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Education conference brings moderate voices to state debate

By Melodie Woerman
Editor, The Harvest

Bishop Dean Wolfe of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas was one of three bishops in Kansas to cosponsor a day-long conference on public education April 29 at Grace Cathedral, Topeka.

Bishop Wolfe was joined by United Methodist Bishop Scott Jones and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Bishop Gerald Mansholt. The three said the day was intended to offer the voice of mainstream Christianity into discussions about public education that often include only more strident religious voices.

The day began with a roundtable discussion moderated by former Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Andy Tompkins, in which Wolfe, Jones and Mansholt each addressed the 120 people gathered and then answered questions.

Wolfe said the three bishops shared a deep love for the people of Kansas and know a great deal about the state through their travels to visit congregations. “We know our state’s small towns and big cities,” he said. “We know where to find cheap gas — almost nowhere, and good pie — almost everywhere.”

He said the state’s school children could suffer if moderate voices aren’t heard on issues of education. “One of the most important parts of our community together, public education, is at risk,” he said. “Those who are talking the loudest do not represent the diverse center of the Christian faith. As men and women of the Christian faith, we have a story to tell, and that includes care of our children.”

Noting that 90 percent of the state’s students attend public school, Jones echoed Wolfe’s comments. "We support public education because of community,” he said. “It holds our society together. What else puts kids from diverse backgrounds on the same football team or debate squad? We think as people of faith this voice needs to be heard in our state.”

Hot topics discussed
Two of the conference workshops tackled hot topics in current Kansas politics — the relationship of science and religion, and how the state’s schools should be funded. Kansas has been at the center of the controversy over teaching intelligent design, with a conservative majority of the members of the state Board of Education seeking to put limits on teaching evolution in Kansas classrooms.

Funding for education has been under debate in Kansas for months, after the state Supreme Court ruled the Legislature is not providing adequate funding for K-12 schools. The conference took place just blocks from the state Capitol as lawmakers were debating various funding bills for the coming school year.

All three bishops urged those attending the conference to make their voice heard in support of public education while steering clear of promoting any candidate or position. Responding to questions from reporters Wolfe said, “What we do want people in our denominations to do is to vote, to be involved in the process, to run for election, to be active in school boards and the development of curriculum, to be as involved as possible.”

The conference is the latest in a series of efforts by the three bishops to keep the voice of mainline Christianity in front of Kansas legislators. Earlier in the legislative session they weighed in on a bill to allow Kansas citizens to carry concealed weapons, asking that churches and places of worship be included in the list of places guns could not be brought; that provision was included in the final bill. They also asked lawmakers to keep the needs of the most vulnerable citizens in mind when allocating money to the state’s social service agency.