A 21st Century Approach to Adult Faith Formation

The Seasons of Adult Faith FormationNational Symposium

Comprehensive Vision

Provide developmentally- and generationally-appropriate formation for each season of adulthood: young adults, midlife adults, mature adults, and older adults

Focus on the process of growing in faith and discipleship using the eight faith-forming processes as a framework for designing adult faith formation

Comprehensive Vision

Engage adults intergenerationally in the life and events of the Christian community

Develop missional faith formation—outreach, connection, relationship building, and engagement with adults where they live; and providing pathways for people to encounter Jesus and the good news, and to live as disciples in a supportive faith community.

AFF Features

Provide a variety of content, methods, formats, and delivery systems to address the diverse life tasks and situations, needs and interests, and spiritual and faith journeys of adults in four seasons of adulthood.

Use multiple environments for faith formation: self-directed, mentored, at home, in small groups, in large groups, church-wide, in the community, and in the world

A shift from education to learning anywhere, anytime.

A shift from consumption of information to participatory learning.

A shift from institutions to networks.

Topic

Courses

Online Course

s

Small Groups

Books

Video Progra

ms

Audio Podcas

ts

Mentors

Apps

Online Resources

& Communiti

es

Networks of Faith Formation

Imagine adult faith formation as a network of relationships, content, experiences, and resources offering a wide variety of engaging and interactive content and experiences in online and physical settings (church, home, community, world) that respond to the diversity of adults today.

Imagine congregations as centers of adult learning and faith growth for all adults.

Intergenerational

Experiences &

Connections

Sunday Worship

Seasons of the

Year

Scripture Enrichme

nt

Spiritual

Enrichment

Faith Enrichm

ent

Justice &

Service

Milestones &

Rituals

Discovering Faith

Life Stage Issues

Adult Network

AFF Features

Utilize online resources and communities, and design digitally-enabled strategies into adult faith formation. ▪ Digitally-enabled —blending gathered

community settings with online learning environments and utilizing the abundance of digital media and tools for learning and faith formation▪ Digitally-connected—linking

intergenerational experiences, adult programs, and daily/home life using online and digital media

Digitally-Enabled

Online Faith

Formation

Mostly Online with

Regular Interactio

n in Gathered Sessions

Online Faith

Formation &

Gathered Sessions (Flipped Classroo

m)

Gathered Program

with Online

Components

beyond the

Program

Gathered Program

with Supportive Online Content

Emerging Roles

CURRENT ROLES Developing

religious content Designing

programming Managing

programming Teaching/

Facilitating programming

EMERGING ROLES

Designing learning environments—architecture

Curating religious content and experiences

Faith Formation Curators

A Faith Formation Curator is a trusted guide who continually finds, groups, organizes, evaluates, and connects the best and most relevant content and experiences on a specific topic to match the needs of a specific audience.

Curation Checklist

1. People: teachers, mentors/guides, program leaders, small group leaders, guest presenters

2. Community programs: churches, agencies, organizations, 3. Educational institutions: colleges, seminaries, educational

organizations4. Retreat and spiritual life centers, monasteries 5. Regional and national denominational programs, events,

websites 6. Museums 7. Books (with study guides) & E-books8. Apps9. Audio podcasts & audio learning programs10. Videos & Video learning programs11. Online courses & online activities 12. Television shows13. Organizational websites14. Resource center websites

Curating Religious Content

Research & Organize

Resources

Identify Potential Resources

for Programmin

g

Evaluate Resources

Select & Connect

Resources to

programming