I am working with a hand-full of congregations on the East Coast to help them shift the culture of their faith community from “faith formation is for children and teens” to “faith formation is a lifelong journey for everyone.”
They all agree on the need for such a shift, but as they work toward implementation, each congregation is encountering difficult and provocative challenges. They are wrestling with the right questions: what about the children? What is the role of children’s faith formation vis-a-vis this new (actually ancient) intergenerational approach for the whole community?
From the beginning of this project, I have espoused a vision of faith formation that is:
- lifelong — not just for children, but for everyone
- anchored in the community — not solely focused on the individual
- beckon vs. shove — adults beckoning children and youth into the faith rather than expecting church leaders to somehow shove God into the children and youth
When congregations catch this vision and implement it well, it transforms the community. They become a learning community as well as a worshiping community. Yet it has implications for children’s faith formation. Children remain important, but they no longer occupy the central focus of faith formation.
Their questions are important because they point to the natural resistance to change that these leaders need to recognize in themselves, as they can surely anticipate it also coming from parents and parishioners once the shift has been made.
My experience tells me that much of that resistance comes from those parents who are essentially doing church for the sole sake of their children. It’s tempting for leaders to think, “Well, at least they are coming.” Problem is, then, we only reinforce and perpetuate the mindset that we do church for the sake of children (which only promotes the graduation mentality already rampant). When, to a great degree, living the authentic Christian life requires maturity that comes only in adulthood. We need to structure and align congregational faith formation so that it leads people toward authentic Christian living.
There is a place for age-specific faith formation–for children, youth, and adults–but it’s not the central place. Age-specific faith formation should supplement and enhance the intergenerational efforts and the efforts in the home.
Like nearly every congregation I’ve worked with over the last ten years, I’m confident that my current East Coast group will only solidify their vision and passion for lifelong faith formation as they wrestle with the provocative question of what about the children?
by Leif Kehrwald
Vibrant Faith Ministries 
How do adults learn in this digital age when their are so many demands on their limited leisure time and so, so many options.? I believe that many are willing to commit blocks if time for the faith formation of children. Most adults consider themselves fully formed. They were told that explicitly or implicitly at confirmation or graduation – whatever the form may be for specific faith communities to bring formal youth faith formation to a close.
I believe you can give the adult learning nuggets in engaging bits and pieces. Many of these can have parent-child applications.
For example, I am regularly sending parents links to the family activities that you post in your newsletters. That is a great service for me.
I do this on a parent Facebook page and through a monthly e-newsletter. Your items on my Facebook page get a higher level of engagement that many of my posts.
Frank, thanks for your insightful comment. It is unfortunate that most adults consider themselves “fully formed” in faith. If one is not always in a learning/growing posture, then one’s faith will surely become stagnant and rote. How can that possibly be attractive to children and youth. Also, as adults we live adult lives that present us with challenges and decisions that cry out for mature faith to help us navigate those waters.
How do adults learn in this digital age when there are so many demands on their limited leisure time and so, so many options.? I believe that many are willing to commit blocks of time for the faith formation of children. Most adults consider themselves fully formed. They were told that explicitly or implicitly at confirmation or graduation – whatever the form may be for specific faith communities – that they are bringing their formal youth faith formation to a close.
I believe you can give the adults learning nuggets in engaging bits and pieces. Many of these can have parent-child applications.
For example, I am regularly sending parents links to the family activities that you post in your newsletters. That is a great service for methat you provide. I do this on a parent Facebook page and through a monthly e-newsletter. Your items on my Facebook page get a higher level of engagement that many of my posts.