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AGENDAfor

DEACONS in FORMATION

1. Greetings & Opening Prayer2. Self-Introductions3. Introduction of Topic: “21st Century Lifelong Faith

Formation”4. PPT Presentation, Part I: “Who Are We As Church, as

Faith Formators?”5. Comments, Discussion, Questions (Break!)6. Comments, Discussion, Questions7. Part III: “From Here, Where to? How? Where?”8. Closing Remarks9. Closing Prayer

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• “We are living in an historical moment of transformations in religion, technology, generations, education, culture, family & society” (John Roberto, CMD).

• Hmmmmmmmmmm…

• What are the most dramatic changes you have experienced in your lifetime? (Name 3-4 of them...)

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GENERATIONAL

FAMILY LIFE

ROLE OF WOMEN

ETHNIC & CULTURAL

FAMILY PRACTICE & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

RELIGIOUS

TECHNOLOGICAL

RECREATIONAL, etc.

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• iGeneration (2000 -)

• Millennials (1980-99)

• Generation X (1961-79)

• Baby Boomers (1946-60)

• Builders (pre 1946)5

The 1950s Family The 2013 Family

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20% of Americans claim no religious affiliation.

32% of 18-29 year olds claim no religious affiliation.

18% of 18-39 year olds say that they are “spiritual, but not religious.”

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15% of 50-64 year olds claim no religious affiliation. 21% of 30-49 year olds are unaffiliated.

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According to Pew Research, Americans do not generally become more affiliated as

they move through the life cycle from young adulthood through marriage, parenting, middle age, senior years, and

retirement.

With few exceptions, the unaffiliated say they are not looking for a religion that would be right for them. Overwhelmingly, they think that religious institutions are:

• too concerned with $$ and

power, • too focused on rules,• and too involved in politics.

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The number of religiously unaffiliated is growing….

• because Americans who rarely go to church are more willing than in the past to drop their religious attachments altogether.

• Because of generational replacement, (the gradual supplanting of older generations by newer ones).

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Changing Participation Patternsin Church Attendance

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Religious Practicein a Modern Parish

MinimalEngagement

with Faith andthe

Community

Vibrant Faith

& ActiveEngagement

In the Community

Spiritual butNot

Religious

NotReligiousl

yAffiliated

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TECHNOLOGICALREVOLUTIONS

• SOCIAL NETWORK REVOLUTION

• INTERNET REVOLUTION

– MOBILE REVOLUTION

All three “revolutions” are coming together to shift people’s lives away from densely-knit family, neighborhood, parish and group relationships toward more far-flung, less tight, more diverse personal & communal networks.

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