by Leif Kehrwald (Vibrant Faith)
Wednesday, May 4, at Hollmen Lutheran Church
see the PowerPoint
Main Points:
that happens when people are open to seek the love, joy, peace, hope and eternity
which God invites and challenges us to receive
as we engage in making disciples who make disciples.
Wednesday, May 4, at Hollmen Lutheran Church
see the PowerPoint
Main Points:
- Creating a vision/plan for adult faith formation
that happens when people are open to seek the love, joy, peace, hope and eternity
which God invites and challenges us to receive
as we engage in making disciples who make disciples.
- Emerging Models
- Approach used in the 20th Century was focused on the institutional church teaching specific age groups, using a packaged curriculum, taught in a classroom, with all students attending and following where, when, how, and what that church taught.
- Today lives are incredibly busy with organized youth activities scheduled on Sunday mornings and individuals increasingly accustomed to finding information digitally on their own.
- Approaches emerging today are moving:
- from focus on the institution to the individual (interactive, variety of learning modes and times, their questions)
- from specific age groups to more cross+generational events and learning,
- from packaged Augsburg curriculum to leaders curating a variety of sources and learning experiences,
- from the classroom to mentoring, socializing, serving, surfing the web,
- from one specific hour at church to several choices and modes at church, online, at home, in community.
- Characteristics of Best Practices:
- Systemic = a faith forming ecosystem
- Holistic Lifelong Faith Growth = 1) relationships, 2) milestones, 3) church year, 4) learning the tradition, 5) Praying, 6) Bible, 7) justice, 8) worshipping
- Network Approach to Faith Formation = include 1) led course, 2) online course, 3) study group, 4) book, 5) video, 6) audio book, 7) mentor, 8) Bible app, 9) way to organize a group, 10) retreat, 11) spiritual practice
- Online & Digitally Enabled
- Four Seasons of Life - each season has unique realities:
- Young Adult - ages 18-30 Best practices - Clay United Methodist, Colonial Church, Thad's Church
- Midlife Adult - ages 30-50 Best practices - Christ Church Cathedral, St. Anthony, Reformation Lutheran
- Mature Adult - ages 50-70 Best practices - Chapelwood Church, St. Patrick, Woodlands Church
- Older Adult - ages 70+ Best practices - Grace Presbyterian, Fullerton Ev Free and services to older population
- Resources
- Books:
- Reimagining Faith Formation for the 21st Century: Engaging all Ages & Generations, by John Roberto, Lifelong Faith Associates, 2015
- The Seasons of Adult Faith Formation, edited by John Roberto, Lifelong Faith Associates, 2015
- Belief with Borders: Inside the Minds of the Spiritual but not Religious, by Linda Mercadante, New Yourk: Oxford University Press, 2014
- Web sites:
- Seasons of Adult Faith by john Roberto: http://www.seasonsofadultfaith.com
- Young Adult: http://www.seasonsofadultfaith.com/young-adult.html
- Midlife Adult: http://www.seasonsofadultfaith.com/midlife-adult.html
- Mature Adult: http://www.seasonsofadultfaith.com/mature-adult.html
- Older Adult: http://www.seasonsofadultfaith.com/older-adult.html
- 21st Century Faith Formation by John Roberto: http://www.21stcenturyfaithformation.com
- Curating Faith Formation by John Roberto: http://www.curatingfaithformation.com
- Holy Trinity Adults - example of adult faith formation online experience by John Roberto: http://holytrinityadults.weebly.com/
- Church Next by Chris Yaw, online Christian learning from expert teachers in Scripture, liturgy, prayer, and more: https://wwww.churchnext.tv/
- Faith Formation Learning Exchange by Vibrant Faith, dedicated pages for adult faith formation: http://www.faithformationlearningexchange.net/adult-fait-formation.html
- N.T. Wright - online classes www.ntwrightonline.org
- Spirituality and Practice, multifaith website on everyday spirtuality and 37 key practices: http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/
- Building Faith - Christian formation inspiration from the Center for Ministry of Teaching at Virginia Theological Seminary: http://www.buildfaith.org/
- Grow Christians - a community of disciples practicing faith at home: http://www.growchristians.org/
- Vibrant Faith at Home - equipping and empowering familities and individuals of all ages: http://vibrantfaithathome.org/
- Seasons of Adult Faith by john Roberto: http://www.seasonsofadultfaith.com
- Books: