The model of adult faith formation which we advocate calls for a reorientation of our classic Lutheran practices for “confirmation instruction,” especially during the early stage of the adult catechumenate, the period of inquiry. Rather than inviting the seeker to “attend classes” and “learn about” what Christians believe, we are called to invite the seeker […]
Kent and I have written and spoken and quoted others about the transformative power of an adult faith formation process for individuals and for a congregation committed to making such a process central to their mission. In today’s video the Rev. Daniel Eggold, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Lafayette, Indiana, speaks of three ways […]
A lively catechumenate should lead to congregational growth, at least incrementally if not substantially. That should be an expectation that any congregation has at the beginning of a new catechumenal ministry. As Paul Hoffman says in his book, Faith Forming Faith, There is a culture of expectation that living together under the cross of Chris […]
Ritual scholars remind us of the universal experience and meaning of shared meals—that they do more than nourish the body with the food. By their corporate nature, the meals build community; the feast celebrates an important event, present or historical; the food and drink can take on symbolic meaning, whether it’s a champagne toast by […]
This is part 2 of my video conversation on adult faith formation with the Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor of Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran congregations in Lidgerwood, North Dakota. In this excerpt, Pastor Filipek references the key scriptural texts emphasizing the presence of God that serve as turning points in the biblical narrative. I […]
The faith formation process (catechumenate) is a journey, a lifelong journey toward the kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). It is a journey on the formation highway, not the information highway. We best leave that to Silicon Valley. Not that there is no place in faith formation for information. […]
This is the second blog post based on my participation in an ecumenical working group associated with Journey to Baptismal Liturgy tasked to adapt the catechumenal process appropriately for those already baptized. One section of “A Guide for Walking with Spiritual Seekers” is a detailed description for leading a “church tour” with two or more […]
For nearly two years I’ve been part of an ecumenical working group associated with Journey to Baptismal Liturgy tasked to adapt the catechumenal process appropriately for those already baptized. We meet regularly via Zoom and are getting close to finishing “A Guide for Walking with Spiritual Seekers,” intended to be used by a catechetical team […]
Continuing our series slow walking our way toward changing our adult faith formation practices, this week we focus on what exactly the WAY is. I will use descriptions throughout this post from Paul Hoffman’s Faith Forming Faith, the primary book anyone considering reforming their adult instruction should read before embarking on that journey. As Hoffman […]