Central to a compelling catechumenate is the role of adult sponsors for the catechumens. For a congregation slow-walking toward faith formation practices, developing adult sponsors for the catechumens is one of the lowest hanging fruit, a relatively easy starting place for a congregation. Catechumenates that are successful at transforming catechumens into committed participants in the […]
For many in the world, Christmas is now over. The big box stores have super sales on remaining Christmas inventory, my email inbox is full of junk mail touting the “After Christmas Blowout” online sales or “New Year’s” specials, and a relative responded to my text on December 26 with “Merry day after Christmas.” I’m […]
We are pleased to announce that Cascade Books, a division of Wipf and Stock Publishers, has accepted our book proposal for Journey to Jesus: Faith Formation into Christ and Community. As we stated in the proposal,Journey to Jesus describes energetic congregations whose adult catechumenate is central to their congregational life. Told through the lens of […]
This is the second (of three) video interviews with the Reverend Daniel Eggold, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Lafayette, Indiana. A few weeks ago, Pastor Eggold talked about the three ways in which the adult faith formation process at Grace has transformed his preaching: his sermons are more intimately connected to the biblical text; […]
Slow Walking Series Last week we reflected on the reorientation of Scripture study as part of a faith formation process. Such a reorientation entails less focus on information and learning what Christians believe and a much greater focus on hearing and reflecting on the Word of God and exploring the questions about Jesus, faith, and […]
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 […]