The Future of Faith Formation

The Future of Faith FormationJohn Roberto

LifelongFaith Associates

www.lifelongfaith.com

jroberto@lifelongfaith.com

jrlifelong@gmail.com

Topics1. Driving Forces Affecting Faith

Formation Today2. Envisioning Faith Formation through

Four Scenarios3. Developing a Lifelong Faith

Formation Network4. The Emerging Role of the Faith

Formation Curator

Focus How can churches provide

vibrant faith formation that addresses the spiritual and religious needs of all ages and generations now and into the future?

How can parishes envision the future of faith formation and design initiatives to respond proactively to the challenges and opportunities in the second decade of the 21st century?

www.LifelongFaith.comjroberto@lifelongfaith.com

www.faithformation2020.net

www.FaithFormationLearningExchange.net

Driving Forces

Faith Formati

on

No Religious Affiliation

Spiritual, not

Religious

Declining Church

Participation

Increasing

Diversity &

PluralismChanging Marriage & Family

Life

Declining Religious Socializati

on

Retiring Baby

Boomers

The Rise of Digital Media &

the Internet

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)

Four Scenarios

4 Scenarios

Scenarios are built around critical uncertainties about the external environment. That is, the stories are based on different outcomes of a few key uncertainties that are both most important to the future of faith formation in Christian churches and most uncertain in terms of future outcome.

4 Scenarios

1. Will trends in U.S. culture lead people to become more receptive to organized religion, and in particular Christianity or will trends lead people to become more resistant to organized religion and Christianity?

2. Will people’s hunger for and openness to God and the spiritual life increase over the next decade or will people’s hunger for and openness to God and the spiritual life decrease.

Two Critical Uncertainties

Faith Formation 2020 MatrixDominant Cultural Attitude toward Organized

ReligionReceptive

Low High People’s Hunger for God and the Spiritual Life

Resistant

4 Scenarios for the Future

Scenario 4

Uncommitted &

Participating

Scenario 1 Vibrant Faith & Active

Engagement

Scenario 3

Unaffiliated &

Uninterested

Scenario 2

Spiritual but Not

Religious

Strategies

1. Faith Formation through the Life of the Whole Church

2. Faith Formation with Digital Media and Web Technologies

3. Family Faith Formation4. Intergenerational Faith Formation5. Generational Faith Formation: ▪ iGeneration (2000 - )▪ Millennials (1980-1999)▪ Gen X (1964-1979)▪ Boomers (1946-1964)▪ Builders (1945 and earlier)

Strategies

6. Milestones Faith Formation7. Faith Formation in Christian

Practice8. Transforming the World9. Spiritual Formation 10.Multi-Ethnic Faith Formation11.Faith Formation for Spiritual

Seekers

Strategies

12.Apprenticeships in Discipleship

13.Pathways to Vibrant Faith and Active Engagement

14.Faith Formation in Third Place Settings

15.Empowering the Community to Share their Faith

16.Interfaith Education and Dialogue

Scenario #4+ FF before and after

Marriage+ FF before and after

Baptism+ Family faith formation+ Milestones faith

formation+ Pathways to deepen

faith & engagement

Scenario #1+ FF for Millennial

Generation+ FF before and after

Marriage+ FF before and after

Baptism+ FF for Baby Boomers+ Empowering people to

share their faithScenario #3

+ Third Place settings+ Family life center+ Events (movie nights,

art and drama, concerts, festivals)

+ Community-based ministry (service, recovery ministry)

Scenario #2+ Third Place settings+ Targeting 20-30 year

olds+ Small group

experiences+ Spiritual formation+ Pathways to deepen

faith & engagement

ExampleThe Wesley PlayhouseFamily Life Center

Example: Spiritual Seekers

Introduction Dinner: Is there more to life than this? Week 1: Who is Jesus? Week 2: Why did Jesus die? Week 3: How can we have faith? Week 4: Why and how do I pray? Week 5: Why and how should I read the Bible? Week 6: How does God guide us? Week 7: How can I resist evil? Week 8: Why & how should we tell others? Week 9: Does God heal today? Week 10: What about the Church? Weekend: Who is the Holy Spirit? What does the

Holy Spirit do? How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? How can I make the most of the rest of my life?

Example: Spiritual Seekers

Example: PathwaysOur Lady of Soledad Catholic Parish

Mini-Retreat 101: “Catholics Alive!” “What does it mean to be a follower of Christ?”

Mini-Retreat 201: “Alive and Growing Spiritually!” maturing in the Catholic faith

Mini-Retreat 301: “Alive and Gifted!” discerning how to serve God in ministry

Mini-Retreat 401: “Alive in the World!” living as witnesses for Christ, as contagious Catholic

Christians Mini-Retreat 501: “Alive to Praise God!”

Catholic worship and the sacraments

Developing a Lifelong Faith Formation Network

#1. A Network of Faith Formation

Shifting from. . . “One Size Fits All” Curriculum &

Programmingto

A Network of Personalized & Customized Faith Formation Activities & Resources

focusing on addressing people’s spiritual and religious growth by offering a wide variety of

religious content and experiences“Differentiated Faith Formation”

Key FeaturesA Lifelong Faith Formation Network is a

way to provide faith formation for everyone, anytime, anywhere, 24x7x365.

Address the diverse life tasks and situations, spiritual and religious needs, and interests of all ages and generations in the four scenarios by offering a variety of content, programs, activities, and resources

Key Features Guide individuals and families in

discerning their spiritual and religious needs and creating personal learning pathways—a seasonal or annual plan for faith growth and learning

Key Features Incorporate informal learning, as well

as formal learning in faith formationFORMAL LEARNING

classes & workshopsspeaker seriesonline courses

small group Bible study

self-studyBible study

social networkingfaith-sharing groups

INTENTIONAL UNEXPECTEDreading /watching a DVD

mentoringservice/mission activity

program at the library orlocal bookstore

internet surfingwatching a movie

TV showshopping at a homeimprovement store

INFORMAL LEARNING

Faith Formation Models Utilize a variety of faith formation

models to address the diverse life tasks, religious and spiritual needs, and interests of people: on your own at home in small groups in large groups in the congregation in the community and world

Key Features Blend face-to-face, interactive faith

formation programs and activities with virtual, online faith formation programs, activities, and resources

PHYSICAL SETTINGSInteractiveTransforma

tive Experience

s

Online Communities & Blogs

Courses & Webinars

Small Groups Study

User-Generated

Content

Learning Resources

Audio, Video, Print

iTunes U

YouVersion Bible App

Faith Formation Models

Activity

Activity

Activity

• Face-to-Face• Virtual

1. On Your Own2. At Home3. In Small Group4. In Large Group5. In Church6. In Community

& World

Spiritual & Religious

Needs

Topics or Themes

Key Features Incorporate communities of practice

to connect individuals and groups throughout the congregation

Illustrations of a Network Approach

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

From Individualized to Whole Church Gathering

Whole Church Gatheri

ng

On Your Own

(Online Resources)

Small Group Course

(online & physical settings)

Family @Home (Online

Resources)

Large Group Church

Program

Church Event

Community Program

From Gathered Event 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

Extending & Deepening Whole Church Faith Formation

Core Experien

ce

Youth & Family

Children &

Family

Parents

Young Adults

Adults

Older Adults

@ Hom

e

Prayer

Bible Readi

ng

Faith Conversat

ionRitual

Service

Learning

Project

Baptism

Mentors

4 Keys Activities for

Home

Prayer, Rituals, Bible, Family Conversation,

Service

Parent Faith Formation &

Parenting Skills

Social Media, Workshops,

Online Resources

MilestonesBaptism

Anniversary, First Prayers,

Start of School

Support Groups Mom’s Group, Dad’s Group

Early Childhood Program

Family Gatherings

Quarterly Church

Gatherings

Family Small Group Clusters

Targeting a Group: Young Families

Network Approach

Program

Church Progra

ms Small Groups & Support Groups

Mentors

Community

Programs

Online Courses

& Activitie

sOnline Resources: Print, Audio, Video

Video Confere

nce

Apps

Blogs

Social Media for Connectio

n

User-Generate

d Content

The Emerging Role of the Faith Formation Curator

Faith Formation Curator Shifting from providing religious

content and programming to curating religious content and experiences for all ages

A content curator is someone who continually finds, groups, organizes, and shares the best and most relevant content on a specific subject to match the needs of a specific audience.

Faith Formation CuratorWhat would you curate?

Congregational Programs & ActivitiesCommunity Programs & ActivitiesPeople ResourcesPrint ResourcesAudio & Video ResourcesArt, Drama, and Music ResourcesOnline Content: Websites, Courses,

Blogs Apps & Digital Resources

The Process of Curation Researc

h

Aggregate & Evaluate

Deliver

Communicate &

Connect