Process, Not Program: Adult Faith Formation for Vital Churches (Web Resource)

Are you seeking ways to develop spiritual growth, theological reflection, and Christian practices in your faith community? Here is an online guide to creating and sustaining a vital process of adult faith formation.

Diana Butler Bass begins by pointing to an emerging phenomenon in many congregations: spiritual seekers (often Gen-Xers), who have little experience in a church. What they need is an introduction to the Scriptures, Christian community, and—as Bass puts it—the "fullness of life in God." At the same time, church returnees (often Baby Boomers) need to be brought to greater theological maturity. For both groups, faith formation is a more pressing issue than evangelism.

Bass explores the components of a vital faith formation process: (1) structure (applying appropriate timeframes, leadership styles, and communication modes); (2) practices (discovering a new language, fostering community, discerning mission and vision, communicating fully, setting goals, giving support, and welcoming conflict); (3) content (choosing curricula, creating templates, responding to liturgical seasons, and providing theological frameworks); and (4) community (practicing hospitality, encouraging relationships, engaging in holy reading, connecting on line, and forming networks). "Questions to consider" are listed with each of these components.

The resource recommendations distinguish between the "five most basic" resources and those for exploring adult faith formation in greater depth. Curricula and additional links are also listed.

Anyone responsible for adult education or faith formation in a congregation will find this Web resource—and the resources it suggests—most helpful.
 

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See also these resources:

Growing in the Life of Faith: Education and Christian Practices (Second Edition) (Book)
Craig Dykstra, Author.  Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2005.
Craig Dykstra has written this second edition of Growing in the Life of Faith to provide foundational perspectives for developing Christian education and for understanding the role of practices in fostering faithful communities.