21 st century faith formation
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21 st Century Faith Formation. The Challenge of Adaptive Change. “The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.” Albert Einstein. Technical Problems. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
21st Century Faith Formation
The Challenge of Adaptive Change
“The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we
were at when we created them.”
Albert Einstein
Technical Problems Technical problems (even though they
may be complex) can be solved with knowledge and procedures already in hand.
Leadership would be an easy and safe undertaking if organizations and communities only faced problems for which they already knew the solutions. Everyday, people have problems for which they do, in fact, have the necessary know-how and procedures—technical problems.
Adaptive Challenges Adaptive challenges require experiments, new
discoveries, and adjustments from numerous places in the organization.
Without learning new ways—changing attitudes, values, and deep-seated behaviors—people cannot make the adaptive leap necessary to thrive in the new environment. Adaptive challenges call for changes of heart and mind—the transformation of long-standing habits and deeply held assumptions and values.
Leadership is “the activity of mobilizing people to tackle the toughest problems and do the adaptive work
necessary to achieve progress.” (Ronald Heifetz and Martin Linsky)
21st Century Faith Formation
What could a 21st century approach to faith formation look
like? How would we address the diversity
of people’s religious and spiritual needs today?
How would we engage people? How would we reach people?
What technologies would we use? What resources would we access?
New Technologies Emerge
New Technologies Emerge
June 2000
April 2001
March 2002
March 2003
April 2004
March 2005
March 2006
March 2007
April 2008
April 2009
May 2010
May 2011
August 2011
Jan 2012
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%
INCREASE IN HOME BROADBAND
Home broadband
Adoption of New Technologies
66%
Increase in Internet users – 80%
Increase in Social networking – 52%
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
9%
49%
67%
76%
86%83%
85%
7%8%
25%
48%
61%70% 71%
6% 4%11%
25%
47% 51%52%
1%7%
13%
26%33%
35%
18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
% of internet users
Increase in Smartphones – 46%
67 million iPads sold since 2010 when it was introduced.
Prediction: 665 million tablets by 2016
2012: 120 million tablets – a 100% increase over 2011.
Increase in Tablets
New Digital Resources
New Resources The rise in accessible
information – increasing exponentially.
People are adding information to Wikipedia faster than we can read it. Every day hundreds of millions of people post billions of distinct pieces of content online.
Fascinating Convergence
21st Century
Faith Formati
on
Growing Diversity
New Technolo
giesNew
Resources
It’s not a message problem!It’s not a people problem!
It’s not a technology problem!It’s not a resource problem!
It’s a delivery system problem –
the models we are using were created in a different era!
How do we provide 21st century faith formation?
Faith Formation in the Age of Networks
Grades 1-5 Grade 6-8 High School Confirmation ???
We are moving from the limitations of faith formation in a schooling, linear, textbook model with children and teens. . .
The 20th Century: Age of “Linear” Curriculum
A Network Model of Lifelong & Lifewide
Instead of being the center of faith formation experiences, programs, classes, and books now become nodes on a much
broader faith formation network that is lifelong and lifewide. The shift to networks will be
transformative in how we imagine and organize faith
formation for all ages and generations.
Learn the
Bible
BIBLE STUDY @ CHURCH
ONLINE COURSE
ONLINE RESOURCE
CENTER
ONLINE COMMUNIT
Y- experts- learners
EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAM- course
- conference
BOOKSAUDIOVIDEO
YouVersion Bible App Study Bibles
Online Bible Center
iTunes U
Online Courses
A Network Approach
Faith Formati
on Networ
k
Church Progra
msSmall
Groups &
Support
Groups
Mentors
Community
Programs
Online Course
s & Activiti
esOnline Resourc
es: Print, Audio, Video
Video Confere
nce
Apps
Blogs
Social Media for Connecti
on
User-Generat
ed Content
A Lifelong Faith
Formation Network is a
way to provide faith formation for
everyone, anytime,
anywhere, 24x7x365.
Network Model of Faith Formation
We are moving from. . . One Size Fits All Curriculum &
Programmingto
A Network of Personalized & Customized Faith Formation Activities
& Resourcesfocusing on addressing people’s
spiritual and religious diversity by offering a wide variety of religious
content and experiencesProviding Differentiated Faith
Formation
Network Model of Faith FormationWe now have the models, resources, and technologies to. . . Expand faith formation to address the diversity
of people today – life tasks and issues, religious and spiritual needs
Deliver religious content and experiences to people wherever they are, 24 x 7 x 365
Engage people in a wide variety of experiences tailored to their needs, interests, spiritual journey, and busy lives
Connect people to each other – in physical places and virtual spaces
Faith Formation Models
Face-to-Face
& Virtual
On Your Own Mentor
ed
@Home
Small Group
Large Group
Church Commun
ity
Community & World
Examples of Networks in Practice
Building Networks Around Sunday worship Around service and mission projects Around programming: children’s
faith formation, youth ministry, Vacation Bible School
Around age groups/generations: young adults, midlife adults, Baby Boomers, older adults
Around families
Building a Network: Differentiating Faith Formation
Core Content & Experiences
Option 1. Program (current model)
Option 2. Small Group
Program
Option 2. Online Small
Group Program using Skype
Option 3. Mentored
Option 4. Online Program (print &
video) with Regular Check-in
Online Projects
(everyone)
Social Networking Space for a Blog, Project Sharing
Differentiating Faith Formation
Core Content & Experienc
es for Everyone
Content & Activities for
those of Vibrant Faith & Engagement
Content & Activities for Occasionals
Content & Activities for Spiritual but Not Religious
Example: Confirmation
All Youth Sunday Worship Service projects Confirmation blog & online confirmation
projects Celebration of confirmation
Example: Confirmation
Scenario 1 (In-Depth Experience) In-depth faith formation in theology,
Bible, spirituality, and Christian practices offered in different formats, customized to the needs of the young people: small group program, online courses and resources, and mentors
Spiritual formation experience (retreat) on spiritual practices and disciplines
Whole group confirmation-specific content
Example: Confirmation
Scenario 4 (Foundations Experience) Foundational program in Christian life essentials
offered as a whole group experience, integrating confirmation-specific content
Experience of Christian practices and spiritual disciplines
Active participation in the activities of church life and ministries; apprenticeships with ministries and leaders to experience church life as “insiders”
Mentors to guide growth and participation in church life
Whole group confirmation-specific content
Example: Confirmation
Scenarios 2 and 3 (Exploration Experience) Exploration experience to investigate the claims of the
Christian faith in an informal, no pressure, non-judgmental, and friendly environment, offered in small group settings with a meal and including topics such as: Who is God? Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? Who is the Holy Spirit? How can we have faith? Why and how do I pray? Why and how should I read the Bible? How does God guide us? How can I resist evil? What about the Church? How can I make the most of the rest of my life?
Introductory experiences of Christian life through participating in Christian practices, service, worship, and so on.
Building a Network:Diversifying FF Models
Whole
Church
Theme
On Your Own (Print, Audio, Video, Online
Resources & Courses)
Small Group Course
(online & physical settings)
Family @Home (Online
Resources)Adult 4-Week
Lecture Series @ Church
(Videotaped & online)
Age Group Programs: Children &
Youth
GATHERED
EVENT
Small Groups
Online Courses
& Activitie
s
Online Resourc
esPrint, Audio Video@ Home
Activities
Blogs & Social Media
User-Generat
ed Content
Building a NetworkExtending a Gathered Program
Building a NetworkExtending a Gathered Program
Gathered Program
Talk About It: Conversation
Questions Learn More: Watch a Video, Listen to a Talk, Read an Article
Live:Action Project for
the MonthPray
Devotions, Bible Reading, Table
Prayer
Family & Parents Center:
How-to helps (video, audio, print)
Family Faith Practices
Share What Your Learning: Write a Blog Entry, Create & Share
a Video or Project
Building a Network:Extending Worship into Everyday Life
Share ItBlog/ForumAfter Mass
In ProgramsFamily Conversation
Activity
Study ItTaking Faith Home
InsertHomily Video + Study
GuideDaily Readings
Scripture Commentaries
Online Bible StudyLive ItLiving the Message
DailyLiving Christian
PracticesService Ideas for the
Week
Pray ItWeekly Table Prayer
Praying with the SaintsAM & PM Prayer
Sunday Worship
Building a Network:Newly Married Couples
Faith Formation
Before Marriage
Preparation for
and Celebrat
ion of Marriage
Faith Formation
After Celebratio
n of Marriage
Discernment
Faith Formation
S1 Faith Growth
PlanS2 Faith Growth
PlanS3 Faith Growth
Plan
Marriage Preparatio
n
Mentors
Support Groups
Parish Website
Couples before Marriage
Marriage
Mentors
Faith Practices
Prayer, Rituals, Bible Reading, Service, Faith Conversations
Continuing Formation
Theology, Scripture, Spirituality
Married Life Tasks & Issues
Courses, Workshops,
Online Resources
Support Groups
Quarterly Couple
Gatherings
Newly Married Couples
Newly
Married
Couples
MENTORS
MARRIAGE PREP
- Online- Gathered
FAITH GROWTH
- Programs- Online
Courses &Resources
SMALL GROUPS
& Support Groups
MARRIAGE ENRICHME
NT-
Workshops- Online
-Retreats
SOCIAL NETWORK
Discernment
Parent Faith Growth Plans: S1, S2, S3, S4
Family Faith Growth Plans: S1, S2, S3, S4
Mentors
On Your OwnAt Home
Small GroupLarge Group
In ChurchIn Community
Online Resource Center
Families in the First Decade of Life
BAPTISM
MENTORS
FAITH PRACTICES
@ HOME
Prayer, Rituals, Bible, Family Conversation,
Service
PARENT FORMATION &
PARENTING SKILLS
Workshops CoursesOnline
ResourcesSupport Groups
MILESTONESBaptism
Anniversary, First Prayers,
Start of School
FAMILY LEARNING
PROGRAMS
Church Gatherings
Small GroupsWorkshops
ONLINE RESOURCE
CENTER
Families in the First Decade of Life
Faith Formation for
Parents before
Baptism
Parent Discernment
Faith Growth Plans for Parents
Online Faith Formation
Center
Preparation for &
Celebration of Baptism
Mentors (Grandparen
ts)
Face-to-Face & Virtual
Preparation
Connection with Church Community
Faith Formation with Young
Families
Mentors
Faith Practices @Home
Parent Faith Formation &
Parenting Skills
Support Groups
Milestone Celebrations
Family Gatherings
Online Faith Formation
Center
ADULT FAITH
FORMATION
NETWORK
SUNDAY WORSHIP REFLECTI
ONTHEOLOG
Y PROGRA
MSLIFE TASKS
& TRANSITIO
NS PROGRAM
S
ONLINE COURSES
& RESOURC
ES
BOOK OR VIDEO
GROUPSPRAYER,SPIRITUA
L PRACTICE
S, RETREATS
JUSTICE, SERVICE, MISSION
TRIPS
SMALL GROUP STUDIES
EXTENDED
PROGRAMS & TRIPS
SOCIAL NETWOR
KS & BLOGS
DISCOVERING FAITH
PROGRAMS
We Can Now Provide Faith Formation for
All Ages & Generations!