Last Sabbath Melissa Morris, principal and grades 7-9 teacher at the Hillcrest School in St. Louis, received the Commissioned Ministry of Teaching Credential during the Education Day church service held at the St. Louis Central Church.

The Commissioned Ministry of Teaching Credential is the highest recognition given to a church school teacher by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It gives public recognition to a teacher who has had a commitment to and at least six years of experience in the Seventh-day Adventist education system, with demonstrated proficiency in assigned responsibilities.

Such teachers will also exhibit a keen sense of Christian responsibility for nurturing and leading souls to Christ, for consistently upholding Christ as the focal point of all curriculum and instruction, and for demonstrating positive interpersonal relationships, thus providing an environment of social, spiritual and emotional stability.

The ministry of teaching in the church is a gift as Paul points out in 1 Cor. 12 and Eph. 4. In the body of Christ this gift is shared among many whom God appoints to instruct us all in faith, knowledge, and holiness. Those who teach are also called to be learners–learners who, having received light, knowledge and discernment from our Lord, prepare themselves to share their inspiration and understanding with their students.