- Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from
it. (Proverbs 22:6)
1914 - WRE began in Gary, Indiana
taught in public high schools. Began by local clergy at the request of Gary Public School
Superintendent, William Wirt.1921 - Walter Scott Athearn, Director of School of Religious Education and Social Service, Boston University presented his address on "The Correlation of Church and State" to the Third Annual Conference on Character Education in Indianapolis.
1925 - Virginia survey showed that of 18,434 high school students, only one out of ten could name as many as three Old Testament prophets. Approximately one-half the four gospels, and about one-third could name as many as three of Jesus' twelve disciples. Conclusion that our high school students were biblically illiterate. The Virginia State Department of Education made the first move toward resolving this dilelmma.
1925 - On September 21, 1925, Dr. Harris Hart, State Department Superintendent, wrote to Dr. Minor C. Miller, Executive Secretary of the Virginia Council of Religious Education. Dr. Hart said that in his opinion, the way was open to begin Weekday Religious Education on the basis of released time from public schools. Dr. Minor C. Miller laid the groundwork for WRE classes to be taught throughout Virginia.
1925 - On December 11, 1925, twenty-eight interested persons from Augusta and Rockingham Counties met at the Staunton Y.M.C.A. for an organizational meeting, with Dr. Minor C. Miller presiding. They decided to begin classes in Rockingham County and also in the Arlington - Fairfax area, to initiate one or two pilot projects. The Board of Superintendents enthusiastically voted to release every child in the county for two hours per week for Bible classes in the churches. However, the County School Superintendent preferred to have the religious instruction in the public schools, and included access to all facilities.
1928 - Walter Scott Athearn's" Correlation of Church and State" report was presented.
1929 - * Rockingham Arlington The first councils began the WRE pilot program
1945 - WRE begins in Frederick County Schools and has been a constant presence since that time
- 2008 - WRE Becomes Virginia Weekday Religious Ecucation Association (VWRE), an association of the WRE Councils throughout the state of Virginia. VWRE is no longer associated with the Virginia Council of Churches.
Link to Virginia Weekday Religious Education Site