A Faith Formation Vision for the 21 st Century

Challenges of Congregational Faith Formation “average” attendance is now once a month, not weekly

They aren’t coming back to have babies baptized like they used to Young parents haven’t lost faith in God - 79% of 20-30’s say they believe in God. They have faith, they just don’t see faith, church and religion as necessary parts of the same fabric. 60% of 20’s say they do not see church as the best place to pursue their faith. Churches are seeing it –nationally % attending worship has eroded from half of all Americans to less than a third By the end of 2019, 40% of all current church attending Christians will be worshipping God, serving others, and studying the Bible outside of any congregation

Source: Annual Congregational Reports, ELCA, Prepared by Research and Evaluation, ELCA 2013

Why?

The 1950’s Family The 2010’s Family Family Diversity/Changing Structure

Priorities used to be….. God Church Home Community

Church Home Online God Priorities have shifted….

Statistics and the present situation might cause fear… Fear is not the enemy. Paralysis is the enemy. (Seth Godin)

Jesus said, “No one puts new wine into old wineskins, otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.”

Fuller Youth Institute studied youth group graduates for three years across the transition out of high school. Their research uncovered shifts that are needed in order to help young people develop a faith that sticks.

SHIFT 01 BEHAVIOR TO GRACE

A list of behaviors. Like a jacket.

Those whose faith sticks=, Grace.

Formation not “school” Guides not “teachers” Applying Gospel to daily life Worship. Is. Formation.

SHIFT 02 TWO TABLES TO FAMILY TABLE

Those who faith sticks=Intergenerational.

Worship Together Sundays/Wednesday All in Activity Nights Prayer Partners Mentoring/one on one Faith Webbing

SHIFT 03 DRY-CLEANER PARENTING

Dry-cleaner parents drop their kids off at church expecting to pick them up sixty minutes later all clean and pressed. In other words, they’ve learned to outsource their kids’ spiritual development.

The Church has too.

Those whose faith sticks=faith in the home

SHARING YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY/PRAYING TOGETHER SERVING TOGETHER FAITH CONVERSATIONS ACCESSING CURATED RESOURCES FOR HOME 04

SHIFT 04 NETWORKED, BLENDED AND CURATED FORMATION

Network Programming Blended Learning Hybrid Faith Formation  A wide variety of diverse faith formation experiences, programs, activities, and resources to match with people’s diverse needs and tailored to their busy lives.  Multiple ways to learn and grow  Online/virtual & Gathered/physical  Mobile - available anytime & anywhere.

Age Specific AND Intergenerational At Home Community Programs, Events, & Activities Online Activities & Resources New Operating System: Faith Formation Network Those whose faith sticks=hybrid faith formation

Curated Faith Formation Curating Content & Experiences 1. Church Programs & Activities 2. Denominational Resources 3. Community Programs & Activities 4. People Resources 5. Print, Audio, Video Resources 6. Art, Drama, Music 7. Websites, Courses, Blogs 8. Apps & Digital Resources

Four Shifts 1-Behavior to Grace Based Faith 2-Two Table to a Family Table Church 3-Dry Cleaner to Partnered Parenting 4-Networked, Blended and Curated Formation

Bringing Sunday Worship Home Online Formation Seasonal Festivals Intergenera tional Experiences - Prayer Partners Kids Word People of Faith Re form Confirm ation Journey Adven- ture Kids Teen Quest Youth Ministry Vacation Bible School Mile- stones Parent- ing Support Serving Others Worship Together

“We want our youth to know Jesus as he is, the living, laughing, loving eternal Creator who can rock their world, mend their broken hearts, add clarity to their confused lives, maybe save them from the pills and razor blades, and one day snatch them from the violent, terminal jaws of death itself. We want them to have a faith of meaning, ultimate meaning; close your eyes in death with a twinkle and a whisper and a grave shattering shout of victory on your lips meaning.” adapted from Rich Melheim