21st Century Faith Formation

The Challenge of Adaptive Change

“The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we

were at when we created them.”

Albert Einstein

Technical Problems Technical problems (even though they

may be complex) can be solved with knowledge and procedures already in hand.

Leadership would be an easy and safe undertaking if organizations and communities only faced problems for which they already knew the solutions. Everyday, people have problems for which they do, in fact, have the necessary know-how and procedures—technical problems.

Adaptive Challenges Adaptive challenges require experiments, new

discoveries, and adjustments from numerous places in the organization.

Without learning new ways—changing attitudes, values, and deep-seated behaviors—people cannot make the adaptive leap necessary to thrive in the new environment. Adaptive challenges call for changes of heart and mind—the transformation of long-standing habits and deeply held assumptions and values.

Leadership is “the activity of mobilizing people to tackle the toughest problems and do the adaptive work

necessary to achieve progress.” (Ronald Heifetz and Martin Linsky)

21st Century Faith Formation

What could a 21st century approach to faith formation look

like? How would we address the diversity

of people’s religious and spiritual needs today?

How would we engage people? How would we reach people?

What technologies would we use? What resources would we access?

New Technologies Emerge

New Technologies Emerge

June 2000

April 2001

March 2002

March 2003

April 2004

March 2005

March 2006

March 2007

April 2008

April 2009

May 2010

May 2011

August 2011

Jan 2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

INCREASE IN HOME BROADBAND

Home broadband

Adoption of New Technologies

66%

Increase in Internet users – 80%

Increase in Social networking – 52%

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

9%

49%

67%

76%

86%83%

85%

7%8%

25%

48%

61%70% 71%

6% 4%11%

25%

47% 51%52%

1%7%

13%

26%33%

35%

18-29 30-49 50-64 65+

% of internet users

Increase in Smartphones – 46%

67 million iPads sold since 2010 when it was introduced.

Prediction: 665 million tablets by 2016

2012: 120 million tablets – a 100% increase over 2011.

Increase in Tablets

New Digital Resources

New Resources The rise in accessible

information – increasing exponentially.

People are adding information to Wikipedia faster than we can read it. Every day hundreds of millions of people post billions of distinct pieces of content online.

Fascinating Convergence

21st Century

Faith Formati

on

Growing Diversity

New Technolo

giesNew

Resources

It’s not a message problem!It’s not a people problem!

It’s not a technology problem!It’s not a resource problem!

It’s a delivery system problem –

the models we are using were created in a different era!

How do we provide 21st century faith formation?

Faith Formation in the Age of Networks

Grades 1-5 Grade 6-8 High School Confirmation ???

We are moving from the limitations of faith formation in a schooling, linear, textbook model with children and teens. . .

The 20th Century: Age of “Linear” Curriculum

A Network Model of Lifelong & Lifewide

Instead of being the center of faith formation experiences, programs, classes, and books now become nodes on a much

broader faith formation network that is lifelong and lifewide. The shift to networks will be

transformative in how we imagine and organize faith

formation for all ages and generations.

Learn the

Bible

BIBLE STUDY @ CHURCH

ONLINE COURSE

ONLINE RESOURCE

CENTER

ONLINE COMMUNIT

Y- experts- learners

EDUCATIONAL

PROGRAM- course

- conference

BOOKSAUDIOVIDEO

YouVersion Bible App Study Bibles

Online Bible Center

iTunes U

Online Courses

A Network Approach

Faith Formati

on Networ

k

Church Progra

msSmall

Groups &

Support

Groups

Mentors

Community

Programs

Online Course

s & Activiti

esOnline Resourc

es: Print, Audio, Video

Video Confere

nce

Apps

Blogs

Social Media for Connecti

on

User-Generat

ed Content

A Lifelong Faith

Formation Network is a

way to provide faith formation for

everyone, anytime,

anywhere, 24x7x365.

Network Model of Faith Formation

We are moving from. . . One Size Fits All Curriculum &

Programmingto

A Network of Personalized & Customized Faith Formation Activities

& Resourcesfocusing on addressing people’s

spiritual and religious diversity by offering a wide variety of religious

content and experiencesProviding Differentiated Faith

Formation

Network Model of Faith FormationWe now have the models, resources, and technologies to. . . Expand faith formation to address the diversity

of people today – life tasks and issues, religious and spiritual needs

Deliver religious content and experiences to people wherever they are, 24 x 7 x 365

Engage people in a wide variety of experiences tailored to their needs, interests, spiritual journey, and busy lives

Connect people to each other – in physical places and virtual spaces

Faith Formation Models

Face-to-Face

& Virtual

On Your Own Mentor

ed

@Home

Small Group

Large Group

Church Commun

ity

Community & World

Examples of Networks in Practice

Building Networks Around Sunday worship Around service and mission projects Around programming: children’s

faith formation, youth ministry, Vacation Bible School

Around age groups/generations: young adults, midlife adults, Baby Boomers, older adults

Around families

Building a Network: Differentiating Faith Formation

Core Content & Experiences

Option 1. Program (current model)

Option 2. Small Group

Program

Option 2. Online Small

Group Program using Skype

Option 3. Mentored

Option 4. Online Program (print &

video) with Regular Check-in

Online Projects

(everyone)

Social Networking Space for a Blog, Project Sharing

Differentiating Faith Formation

Core Content & Experienc

es for Everyone

Content & Activities for

those of Vibrant Faith & Engagement

Content & Activities for Occasionals

Content & Activities for Spiritual but Not Religious

Example: Confirmation

All Youth Sunday Worship Service projects Confirmation blog & online confirmation

projects Celebration of confirmation

Example: Confirmation

Scenario 1 (In-Depth Experience) In-depth faith formation in theology,

Bible, spirituality, and Christian practices offered in different formats, customized to the needs of the young people: small group program, online courses and resources, and mentors

Spiritual formation experience (retreat) on spiritual practices and disciplines

Whole group confirmation-specific content

Example: Confirmation

Scenario 4 (Foundations Experience) Foundational program in Christian life essentials

offered as a whole group experience, integrating confirmation-specific content

Experience of Christian practices and spiritual disciplines

Active participation in the activities of church life and ministries; apprenticeships with ministries and leaders to experience church life as “insiders”

Mentors to guide growth and participation in church life

Whole group confirmation-specific content

Example: Confirmation

Scenarios 2 and 3 (Exploration Experience) Exploration experience to investigate the claims of the

Christian faith in an informal, no pressure, non-judgmental, and friendly environment, offered in small group settings with a meal and including topics such as: Who is God? Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? Who is the Holy Spirit? How can we have faith? Why and how do I pray? Why and how should I read the Bible? How does God guide us? How can I resist evil? What about the Church? How can I make the most of the rest of my life?

Introductory experiences of Christian life through participating in Christian practices, service, worship, and so on.

Building a Network:Diversifying FF Models

Whole

Church

Theme

On Your Own (Print, Audio, Video, Online

Resources & Courses)

Small Group Course

(online & physical settings)

Family @Home (Online

Resources)Adult 4-Week

Lecture Series @ Church

(Videotaped & online)

Age Group Programs: Children &

Youth

GATHERED

EVENT

Small Groups

Online Courses

& Activitie

s

Online Resourc

esPrint, Audio Video@ Home

Activities

Blogs & Social Media

User-Generat

ed Content

Building a NetworkExtending a Gathered Program

Building a NetworkExtending a Gathered Program

Gathered Program

Talk About It: Conversation

Questions Learn More: Watch a Video, Listen to a Talk, Read an Article

Live:Action Project for

the MonthPray

Devotions, Bible Reading, Table

Prayer

Family & Parents Center:

How-to helps (video, audio, print)

Family Faith Practices

Share What Your Learning: Write a Blog Entry, Create & Share

a Video or Project

Building a Network:Extending Worship into Everyday Life

Share ItBlog/ForumAfter Mass

In ProgramsFamily Conversation

Activity

Study ItTaking Faith Home

InsertHomily Video + Study

GuideDaily Readings

Scripture Commentaries

Online Bible StudyLive ItLiving the Message

DailyLiving Christian

PracticesService Ideas for the

Week

Pray ItWeekly Table Prayer

Praying with the SaintsAM & PM Prayer

Sunday Worship

Building a Network:Newly Married Couples

Faith Formation

Before Marriage

Preparation for

and Celebrat

ion of Marriage

Faith Formation

After Celebratio

n of Marriage

Discernment

Faith Formation

S1 Faith Growth

PlanS2 Faith Growth

PlanS3 Faith Growth

Plan

Marriage Preparatio

n

Mentors

Support Groups

Parish Website

Couples before Marriage

Marriage

Mentors

Faith Practices

Prayer, Rituals, Bible Reading, Service, Faith Conversations

Continuing Formation

Theology, Scripture, Spirituality

Married Life Tasks & Issues

Courses, Workshops,

Online Resources

Support Groups

Quarterly Couple

Gatherings

Newly Married Couples

Newly

Married

Couples

MENTORS

MARRIAGE PREP

- Online- Gathered

FAITH GROWTH

- Programs- Online

Courses &Resources

SMALL GROUPS

& Support Groups

MARRIAGE ENRICHME

NT-

Workshops- Online

-Retreats

SOCIAL NETWORK

Discernment

Parent Faith Growth Plans: S1, S2, S3, S4

Family Faith Growth Plans: S1, S2, S3, S4

Mentors

On Your OwnAt Home

Small GroupLarge Group

In ChurchIn Community

Online Resource Center

Families in the First Decade of Life

BAPTISM

MENTORS

FAITH PRACTICES

@ HOME

Prayer, Rituals, Bible, Family Conversation,

Service

PARENT FORMATION &

PARENTING SKILLS

Workshops CoursesOnline

ResourcesSupport Groups

MILESTONESBaptism

Anniversary, First Prayers,

Start of School

FAMILY LEARNING

PROGRAMS

Church Gatherings

Small GroupsWorkshops

ONLINE RESOURCE

CENTER

Families in the First Decade of Life

Faith Formation for

Parents before

Baptism

Parent Discernment

Faith Growth Plans for Parents

Online Faith Formation

Center

Preparation for &

Celebration of Baptism

Mentors (Grandparen

ts)

Face-to-Face & Virtual

Preparation

Connection with Church Community

Faith Formation with Young

Families

Mentors

Faith Practices @Home

Parent Faith Formation &

Parenting Skills

Support Groups

Milestone Celebrations

Family Gatherings

Online Faith Formation

Center

ADULT FAITH

FORMATION

NETWORK

SUNDAY WORSHIP REFLECTI

ONTHEOLOG

Y PROGRA

MSLIFE TASKS

& TRANSITIO

NS PROGRAM

S

ONLINE COURSES

& RESOURC

ES

BOOK OR VIDEO

GROUPSPRAYER,SPIRITUA

L PRACTICE

S, RETREATS

JUSTICE, SERVICE, MISSION

TRIPS

SMALL GROUP STUDIES

EXTENDED

PROGRAMS & TRIPS

SOCIAL NETWOR

KS & BLOGS

DISCOVERING FAITH

PROGRAMS

We Can Now Provide Faith Formation for

All Ages & Generations!