Sunday Schools; catechetical, pastoral, liturgical, social, administrative, and other specialized church courses
Nature of Qualifications
Non-degree ecclesiastical educational credentials: Certificate / Certificate of Completion / Certificate of Competence
Relationship to CHEQF
Uses common principles of quality, learning outcomes, academic integrity, and transparency, but does not form part of the higher education system
For Approval by the Competent Ecclesiastical Authority.
Sections 1–3
General provisions
Section 1Purpose and Scope
This Standard establishes minimum requirements for church educational programmes that do not constitute higher education programmes. It is intended for parishes, dioceses, monasteries, missions, church educational centres, charitable organisations, and educational organisations operating under ecclesiastical responsibility.
Sunday School is understood as systematic parish-based or church-wide religious education for children and adolescents and, where appropriate, adults.
A Specialized Course is understood as a limited-scope programme intended to develop knowledge, skills, or competence in a specific area of church ministry.
Credentials issued under this Standard are not academic degrees and shall not be designated as Bachelor, Master, Doctor, PhD, or their equivalents.
State or professional recognition is possible only where separately recognised under the law of the relevant jurisdiction.
Section 2Core Principles
Principle
Minimum Requirement
Ecclesial Fidelity
The content of religious disciplines shall conform to the approved doctrine, canonical tradition, and liturgical practice of the relevant ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
Age and Pedagogical Appropriateness
Content, language, teaching methods, and assessment shall be appropriate to the age and level of preparation of learners.
Measurable Outcomes
Each programme shall state what the learner is expected to know, understand, and be able to do upon completion.
Safety and Dignity
Work with children and vulnerable persons shall comply with safeguarding requirements, personal data protection, and the prohibition of violence, humiliation, and abuse of authority.
Transparency
Before enrolment, learners or parents shall be informed of the aims, volume, requirements, forms of assessment, and status of the final credential.
Proportionality of Assessment
Assessment shall be proportionate to the level of the programme: a short course does not require university-level procedures, but a Certificate of Competence requires genuine verification of the relevant skill.
Section 3Types of Educational Credentials
Credential
Meaning
Certificate of Participation
Confirms participation. It may be issued without final assessment. It does not certify competence.
Certificate of Completion
Confirms completion of the prescribed programme and fulfilment of minimum attendance and assessment requirements.
Certificate of Competence
Certifies demonstrated practical or professional ecclesiastical competence within the scope of a specific course.
Sunday School Annual Certificate
Confirms completion of a particular academic year or Sunday School level.
Sunday School Graduation Certificate
Confirms completion of the full approved Sunday School cycle. It is not a credential of general or higher education.
Part I
Sunday School Standard
Section 4Purpose of Sunday School
Sunday School provides systematic formation in the Christian faith and the life of the Church, develops the ability to understand Holy Scripture, worship, prayer, moral teaching, and Church history, and encourages conscious participation in the life of the Christian community.
Section 5Age Levels
Code
Level
Indicative Age
Primary Focus
SS-0
Preschool
approximately ages 4–6
Introduction to God, prayer, the church, biblical stories, and church feasts through images, storytelling, play, and participation.
SS-1
Primary
approximately ages 7–10
Basic biblical narratives, prayers, the structure of worship, major feasts, saints, and Christian virtues.
SS-2
Intermediate
approximately ages 11–14
Integrated understanding of the Bible, the Creed, the Sacraments, Church history, moral responsibility, and church life.
SS-3
Senior
approximately ages 15–17
Reflective theological and moral reasoning, work with sources, questions of faith and contemporary life, service, and personal responsibility.
SS-A
Adult Catechetical
18+
Adult catechesis, preparation for church life, and systematic presentation of faith and practice.
The age ranges are indicative. A parish or educational centre may combine levels provided that the required learning outcomes and pedagogical appropriateness are maintained.
Section 6Minimum Duration and Schedule
Recommended academic year: no fewer than 28 instructional sessions.
Typical duration of one session: 45–90 minutes depending on age.
For levels SS-1–SS-3, at least 30 academic hours of organised instruction per year are recommended.
Intensive sessions, camps, pilgrimages, liturgical practice, and project days may form part of the programme if properly documented.
Section 7Required Content Areas
Area
Minimum Content
Holy Scripture
Biblical events, the structure of the Bible, key texts, and the understanding of Scripture within Church tradition.
Doctrine
Core teachings of the Christian faith, the Creed, Christology, and teaching on the Church and salvation at an age-appropriate level.
Worship and Prayer
The liturgical year, the arrangement of the church, principal services, the Sacraments, and personal and communal prayer.
Church History and Saints
Major periods of Church history, local tradition, and the lives of saints as examples of Christian life.
Christian Ethics
Conscience, freedom, responsibility, family, mercy, honesty, respect for the human person, digital conduct, and social responsibility.
Community Life and Service
Parish life, service to one’s neighbour, participation in charitable activity, and age-appropriate church service.
Section 8Learning Outcomes by Level
Level
Minimum Completion Outcomes
SS-0
Recognises major Christian symbols and feasts; can participate in simple prayers; retells key biblical stories.
SS-1
Knows the principal events of the Old and New Testaments, major prayers and feasts; understands the basic meaning of the church, worship, and the Sacraments.
SS-2
Can explain the main articles of the Creed, relate biblical texts to Church teaching, describe major periods of Church history, and apply moral principles to real-life situations.
SS-3
Can discuss questions of faith with reasoned argument, work with biblical and ecclesiastical sources, distinguish theological, moral, and canonical aspects of issues, and plan a form of personal or community service.
SS-A
Understands the foundations of doctrine and liturgical life, knows the principal church practices, and is able to participate consciously in community life within his or her ecclesiastical tradition.
Section 9Assessment and Progression between Levels
For SS-0, assessment shall be exclusively observational and developmental.
For SS-1, oral responses, creative assignments, small projects, and simple written checks may be used.
For SS-2 and SS-3, a combination of oral response, written work, a project, or a practical assignment is recommended.
The final decision on completion of a level shall take into account not only tests, but also participation, understanding of the material, and completion of required work.
Religious conviction, frequency of confession, or other elements of a person’s inner spiritual life shall not be graded.
Section 10Sunday School Teachers
Area
Requirement
Basic Requirement
Demonstrated good standing within the Church and knowledge of the subject taught.
Theological Formation
For SS-2 and SS-3, completed theological or catechetical formation, or internal ecclesiastical authorisation, is preferred.
Pedagogical Preparation
Knowledge of age-appropriate pedagogy and methods of working with children.
Safeguarding
Mandatory training in child-protection rules; background screening to the extent required by local law.
Ecclesiastical Authorisation
The teacher shall act with the authorisation of the parish rector, school director, or another competent ecclesiastical authority.
Section 11Safeguarding and Child Protection
Written safeguarding and complaints-response policies are mandatory for organisations working with minors.
Corporal punishment, humiliation, public shaming, threats of religious punishment as a disciplinary method, sexualised conduct, and any form of violence are prohibited.
Rules shall be established for photography and video recording, communication between teachers and children, transportation, overnight activities, and one-to-one meetings.
The organisation shall comply with local requirements concerning parental consent, data protection, first aid, and mandatory reporting of risks of abuse or violence.
Part II
Specialized Courses Standard
Section 12Purpose of Specialized Courses
Specialized Courses are intended for the study of a specific subject or the development of a defined competence without the award of an academic degree. They may be theological, catechetical, pastoral, liturgical, musical, social, administrative, missionary, media-related, artistic, or practical.
Section 13Classification of Courses by Volume
Code
Type
Volume
Purpose
SC-1
Short Course
6–15 academic hours
Introduction to a single topic; Certificate of Participation or Certificate of Completion.
SC-2
Basic Certificate Course
16–40 hours
Development of basic knowledge and/or one defined set of skills.
SC-3
Advanced Certificate Course
41–90 hours
Systematic study in a specialisation with mandatory assessment.
SC-4
Professional Ecclesiastical Course
91–180 hours
Preparation for a specific form of church ministry or applied activity; a Certificate of Competence may be awarded.
SC-5
Extended Specialisation
181–360 hours
Comprehensive non-degree programme; a final project, practicum, or qualifying examination is mandatory.
Section 14Required Specification for Each Course
Course title and internal programme code.
The organisation and ecclesiastical authority that approved the course.
Purpose and target audience.
Admission requirements and required prior knowledge.
Duration: contact hours, independent study, and practical work.
Between 3 and 10 measurable learning outcomes.
Content organised by modules or topics.
Modes of learning: lecture, seminar, practice, supervision, online learning, etc.
Forms of assessment and criteria for successful completion.
Requirements for instructors.
Type of certificate issued and the exact wording of its status.
Programme review cycle and the responsible person or committee.
Section 15Examples of Fields
Field
Examples
Catechesis
Foundations of faith; formation of catechists; work with adults and adolescents.
Liturgical Practice
Altar service; liturgical reading; typikon; church singing; choir direction; formation of singers.
Pastoral Ministry
Foundations of pastoral care; visiting the sick; family support; ethics of pastoral communication.
Social Ministry
Organisation of charitable work; work with vulnerable groups; volunteer coordination.
Administration
Parish administration; nonprofit finance; records management; data protection; project management.
Mission and Media
Missiology; church journalism; social media; public communication.
Arts and Heritage
Iconography; church architecture; conservation culture; history of Christian art.
Section 16Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes shall be expressed through observable actions. Formulations such as “become familiar with”, “attend”, or “gain an overview of” are insufficient on their own.
Weak Formulation
Preferred Formulation
Know the basics of canon law
Explain the principal sources of canon law and apply basic norms to typical parish situations.
Understand the liturgy
Describe the structure of the liturgy, the purpose of its principal parts, and the actions of ministers.
Learn to manage social media
Develop a safe and ethically appropriate content plan for a church social-media page and assess publication risks.
Study church singing
Perform the prescribed repertoire in the designated chant tradition in accordance with musical and liturgical requirements.
Section 17Assessment and Certificates
Certificate Type
Minimum Basis
Participation
Minimum attendance requirement, without a mandatory examination. The wording shall not imply competence.
Completion
At least the prescribed attendance threshold and successful completion of a final assignment, test, or project.
Competence
Practical demonstration of a skill or a qualifying examination; assessment by at least one competent specialist, and preferably two for SC-4/SC-5.
With Distinction
Permitted only where the criteria have been published in advance and an objective results scale is used.
Section 18Requirements for Course Instructors
Theological and canonical disciplines: the instructor shall hold a recognised ecclesiastical or academic qualification at a level appropriate to the programme taught, or specific ecclesiastical authorisation based on demonstrated competence.
Practical disciplines: a practitioner-instructor with documented experience and recognised professional or ecclesiastical competence may teach.
SC-4 and SC-5 courses shall have an academic or programme director responsible for the coherence of the content and the final assessment.
Conflicts of interest in final assessment shall be minimised; an independent second examiner is recommended for longer programmes.
Section 19Online and Blended Learning
An online course shall provide learner identification procedures proportionate to the status of the certificate issued.
For a Certificate of Competence, practical skills shall be assessed in person, in a live video session, or by another method that allows reliable observation of task performance.
Class recordings, learning materials, and learners’ personal data shall be processed in accordance with applicable law.
Automated tests may form part of assessment but shall not be the sole means of evaluating complex pastoral, theological, or practical competence.
Part III
Quality Assurance and Approval
Section 20Programme Approval
Sunday School programmes shall be approved by the parish, diocese, or another authorised ecclesiastical body in accordance with the internal governance of the Church.
SC-1 and SC-2 courses may be approved by the head of the educational centre or programme.
SC-3–SC-5 courses shall undergo a documented content review by at least one specialist who is not the sole author of the course.
Theological, canonical, and liturgical programmes may require separate ecclesiastical approval of their content.
Section 21Review and Quality Assurance
Programme
Minimum Quality Cycle
Sunday School
Annual internal review of attendance, feedback, safety, and achievement of objectives; substantive programme review at least once every three years.
SC-1 / SC-2
Review upon substantial change of content or at least once every three years.
SC-3
Formal review at least once every three years, including analysis of results and feedback.
SC-4 / SC-5
Annual monitoring and full review at least once every three years; an external reviewer is recommended.
Section 22Academic and Ecclesiastical Integrity
Plagiarism, falsification of results, fictitious attendance records, and issuance of a certificate without fulfilment of the requirements are prohibited.
The use of AI and other assistive tools shall be governed by programme policy; a learner shall not present machine-generated output as evidence of his or her own verified competence.
A financial contribution, donation, church office, or personal relationship may not substitute for fulfilment of programme requirements.
A certificate may be revoked in cases of proven falsification, erroneous issuance, or material breach of the conditions for award.
Section 23Register and Verifiability of Certificates
A centralised or local register is recommended for the Certificate of Completion, Certificate of Competence, and Sunday School Graduation Certificate. The minimum record shall include the certificate number, graduate’s name, programme title, volume of study, date of issue, issuing organisation, and status of the credential. Public verification shall comply with personal data protection requirements.
Section 24Minimum Information on a Certificate
Category
Content
Required
Recipient’s name; exact programme title; certificate type; date; issuing organisation; signature or digital authentication; unique identifier.
For Completion / Competence
Volume of study; where applicable, course level SC-1–SC-5; final result or confirmation that requirements have been fulfilled.
Recommended Disclaimer
This certificate is an ecclesiastical non-degree qualification and does not constitute a state-awarded academic degree or professional licence unless separately recognised.
For Sunday School
Level SS-0–SS-3/SS-A or identification of the completed cycle; academic degrees and titles shall not be used on such a credential.
Section 25Local Law
Appendix A
Sunday School Programme Specification Template
Title
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction / Parish
Responsible Director
SS Levels
Learner Ages
Number of Instructional Weeks
Hours per Year
Core Content Areas
Forms of Assessment
Safeguarding Policy
Form of Final Credential
Date of Approval / Review
Appendix B
Specialized Course Specification Template
Title and Code
Category SC-1–SC-5
Purpose
Target Audience
Admission Requirements
Contact Hours
Independent Study
Practical Work
Learning Outcomes
Topics / Modules
Assessment
Successful Completion Criterion
Instructors
Certificate Type
Responsible Authority
Date of Approval / Review
Appendix C
Recommended Results Scale
Result
Description
Pass
Requirements have been met at the minimum satisfactory level.
Merit
Performance consistently exceeds the minimum standard and demonstrates good command of the material.
Distinction
Performance substantially exceeds programme requirements and demonstrates a high degree of independence or quality of practical execution.
Not Yet Passed
Requirements have not yet been met; reassessment is permitted in accordance with programme rules.
Appendix D
Approval Formula
This Standard is approved by _______________________________ and enters into force on __________________. Organisations operating within the church educational system shall bring new programmes into conformity with this Standard from its effective date; programmes already commenced may be completed under the conditions in force at the time of enrolment unless otherwise determined by the competent authority.