A service of Vibrant Faith generating adaptive change in the formation of faith alongside Christian communities and the leaders that serve them www.vibrantfaith.org A new vision of faith formation for the 21st century A new set practices and approaches for faith formation with all ages & generations A new online leadership formation experience to equip Christian leaders Every congregation wants vibrant, life-transforming faith formation for all ages and generations that promotes lifelong faith growth and discipleship. Our 21 st century world presents congregations and their leaders with significant challenges, but also new possibilities for creating dynamic faith formation. Congregations need leaders who possess the knowledge, skills, and practices to develop faith forming communities in the 21st century. The Certificate in Faith Formation for the 21st Century is for leaders who care about the future of faith formation in their communities whether they are full time, part time, or volunteer ministry leaders. You may be a pastor or Christian education director or faith formation coordinator or children, youth, and family minister or in any number of ministry leadership roles. If you are involved in some aspect of faith forming in the congregation and want your faith community to embrace a 21 st century approach to faith formation, then the Certificate program is designed for you. The Certificate in Faith Formation for the 21st Century is a new approach to developing leaders for faith formation in today s church. The Certificate program is developed around the knowledge, practices, approaches, and skills for 21 st century faith formation. It is designed to guide leaders in embracing a new vision for faith formation and implementing a comprehensive approach that will: engage all generations intergenerationally nurture family faith and equip parents to transmit faith to their children address the unique needs of people across the life cycle: children, youth, and adults 1
develop missional outreach to the unaffiliated and uninvolved and invite people into discipleship and participation in the faith community utilize digitally enabled and digitally connected approaches in faith formation The Certificate in Faith Formation for the 21st Century curriculum consists of six online courses each spanning four months offered in sequence. Course 1: Reimagining Faith Formation for the 21 st Century Course 2: Intergenerational Faith Formation Course 3: Family Faith Formation Course 4: Life Cycle Faith Formation Course 5: Missional Faith Formation Course 6: Leading Faith Formation in the 21 st Century Certificate courses are limited to a maximum of 25 participants per cohort. New cohorts begin three times per year: January, May, and September. The Certificate in Faith Formation for the 21st Century courses immerse Christian leaders in a learning environment that includes: three online live presentations conducted by experts in the field of faith formation (presentations are recorded for those who cannot attend live) self-paced, dynamic online learning sessions which deepen and apply the knowledge, practices, and skills from the live presentation application activities for developing course projects two books per course plus online resources an online learning community one-to-one guidance from learning guides projects that apply the knowledge, practices, and skills in each course to your local congregation The Certificate in Faith Formation for the 21 st Century has been designed by Leif Kehrwald and John Roberto who will also serve as primary faculty for the program. A team of faith formation experts and ministry educators will also serve as the Certificate in Faith Formation for the 21 st Century faculty. (Dr.) Kathie Amidei Pastoral Associate at St. Anthony on the Lake Parish, Pewaukee, WI; Author, Instructor (Ph.D. Leadership, Cardinal Stritch University) (Rev) Keith Andersen Pastor, Upper Dublin Lutheran Church, PA; Author, Presenter (M.Div. Harvard University) (Rev) Von Clemans Associate Pastor for Adult Education, Myers Park Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC (D.Ed.Min., Educational Ministry, Columbia Theological Seminary) Lynn Barger Elliott Associate Pastor Plymouth Congregational Church, Grand Rapids, MI; adjunct instructor Calvin College (M. Div. Princeton Theological Seminary) 2
(Rev) Tanya Eustace Campen United Methodist Deacon, Assistant Director Intergenerational Ministry, Texas Rio Annual Conference UMC (Ph.D. Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary) Leif Kehrwald Project Coordinator, Certificate in Faith Formation for the 21 st Century; Parish Life Coordinator, Parish Pastoral Administrator at St. Charles Catholic Church in Portland, OR (M.A. Pastoral Ministry, Regis University) (Rev) Matt Marino - Associate Rector of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, Houston, TX; Instructor (M.Div. Phoenix Seminary) Jim Merhaut Director of Coaching to Connect; Author, Trainer, Coach (MS Religious Education, Duquesne University) (Rev) Kyle Matthew Oliver Digital Missioner at the Center for the Ministry of Teaching, Virginia theological Seminary; Alexandria, VA; Instructor, Author (M.Div, Virginia Theological Seminary) John Roberto Project Coordinator, Certificate in Faith Formation for the 21 st Century; President LifelongFaith Associates (M.A., Religious Education, Fordham University) Jolene Roehlkepartain - Founder and President of Ideas to Ink, Author, Educator; Minneapolis, MN (MBA, University of St. Thomas) Janet Schaeffler, O.P. Adult Education Consultant, Instructor, and Author; Detroit, MI (M.A. Religious Studies, Detroit-Mercy University) Courses in the Certificate in Faith Formation for the 21 st Century Course #1. Reimagining Faith Formation for the 21st Century Course #1 introduces the participants to the five elements of the new faith forming ecology of the 21 st century: 1) engaging all generations intergenerationally, 2) nurturing family faith at home and equipping parents to transmit faith to the children, 3) addressing the unique needs of people across the life cycle, 4) developing missional outreach to the unaffiliated and uninvolved and inviting people into discipleship and participation in the faith community; and 5) utilizing digitally-enabled strategies and approaches in faith formation. Reimagining Faith Formation for the 21 st Century. John Roberto (LifelongFaith, 2015). Exploring Faith Formation in the Congregation Interpreting the Challenges of Faith Formation in the 21 st Century Live Presentation #1: The New Faith Forming Ecology Intergenerational Faith Formation Family Faith Formation Lifelong Faith Formation Missional Faith Formation Live Presentation #2: Digitally-Enabled & Online Faith Formation Developing a Faith Formation Network Building a Digital Platform for a Faith Formation Network 3
Live Presentation #3: Curating Faith Formation & Participant Project Presentations Course #2. Intergenerational Faith Formation Course #2 guides the participants in 1) envisioning the role of the intergenerational faith community community, worship, learning, praying, and serving in developing vibrant faith in people of all generations, 2) exploring the theory, research, and principles of intergenerational faith formation, 3) applying practices and models for becoming intentionally intergenerational, and 4) designing intergenerational strategies, programs, and activities. Generations Together. Kathie Amidei, Jim Merhaut, and John Roberto (LifelongFaith, 2014). Intergenerational Christian Formation. Holly Allen & Christine Ross (IVP, 2012). Bringing the Generations Together Assessing the Congregation s Intergenerationality Live Presentation #1: Foundations of Intergenerational Ministry and Faith Formation Understanding Generations Creating a Culture of Intergenerationality in the Congregation Effective Practices in Intergenerational Ministry and Faith Formation Live Presentation #2: The Practices of Intergenerational Ministry and Faith Formation Practice: Caring Relationships Practice: Celebrating Worship, Rituals, and Milestones Intergenerationally Practice: Learning Intergenerationally Practice: Praying Intergenerationally and Spiritual Formation Practice: Serving, Working for Justice, and Caring for Creation Intergenerationally Course #3. Family Faith Formation Course #3 explores the family as the single most important influence on religious transmission and faith practice by guiding the participants in 1) exploring the research on the importance of families in religious transmission and developing a vibrant faith at home, 2) designing approaches for equipping the congregation to nurture family faith and develop the faith life of parents and grandparents, and 3) designing approaches for strengthening families and equipping parents. Don t Forget the Families. (Search Institute, 2015) Families at the Center of Faith Formation. Leif Kehrwald, Gene Roehlkepartain, Jolene Roehlkepartain, and John Roberto. (LifelongFaith, 2016). Researching Family Faith in the Congregation Research Insights on Today s Parents and Families Live Presentation #1: Transforming Our Narrative about Families 4
Transforming Our Narrative about Families Vision of Families at the Center of Faith Formation Families and Faith Practice Live Presentation #2: Strategies for Family Faith Formation Strategy: Forming Faith at Home through the Life Cycle Strategy: Forming Faith through Milestones Strategies: Forming Family Faith through Community Strategy: Developing a Strong Family Life Strategy: Empowering Parents and Grandparents Develop a Families at the Center of Faith Formation Plan for a Congregation Course #4: Faith Formation across the Life Cycle Course #4 explores faith formation across the life span by 1) understanding the life stages of children, adolescents, and adults, 2) identifying and applying effective practices and approaches for faith formation at each stage of life, and 3) designing a faith formation plan for lifelong fait formation with programs, activities, strategies) for each stage of life. Seasons of Adult Faith Formation. John Roberto, editor. (LifelongFaith, 2015) Faith Formation with a New Generation. John Roberto, editor. (LifelongFaith, 2018) Development across the Life Cycle Faith Maturing across the Life Cycle Live Presentation #1: Faith Formation for the Ages and Stages of the Lifespan Developing a Congregational Faith Formation Plan Live Presentation #2: Designing Life Cycle Faith Formation Designing and Launching a Season of Faith Formation Course #5. Missional Faith Formation Course #5 explore missional faith formation by 1) understanding the research and experience of the unaffiliated and uninvolved, 2) developing approaches that expand and extend the church s presence through outreach, and 3) developing pathways for people to consider or reconsider the Christian faith, to encounter Jesus and the Good News, and to live as disciples in a supportive faith community. The Digital Cathedral: Networked Ministry in a Wireless World. Keith Anderson (Church Publishing, 2015). Surprise the World: The Five Habits of Highly Missional People. Michael Frost. (NavPress, 2016). Discovering the Stories/Needs of Uninvolved and Unaffiliated People 5
Live Presentation #1: Outreach to the Uninvolved and Unaffiliated Missional: Expansive, Holistic, and Contextual Approaches to Faith Formation Missional: Networked, Relational, and Incarnational Missional: Locating God in Daily Life Missional: Third Places and Sacred Spaces Missional: Forming Faith and Sharing the Gospel in the Digital Age Live Presentation #2: Pathways to Faith and Discipleship Designing Pathways to Faith and Discipleship Becoming a Missional Leader Live Presentation #3: Participant Research Findings and Project Presentations Course #6: Leading Faith Formation in the 21st Century Course #6 explores leadership for 21 st century faith formation by 1) strengthening the inner life and spirituality of the Christian leader, 2) applying contemporary leadership theory to congregational life, 3) learning the skills and process for equipping leaders in the congregation; and 4) learning how to lead change and implement innovative faith formation in a congregation. Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the Voice of Vocation. Parker Palmer (Jossey-Bass, 2000) Strengths Based Leadership. Tom Rath and Barry Conchie. (Gallup Press, 2008) Developing a Personal Leadership Profile Leading from Within Live Presentation #1: The Inner Life of the Christian Leader Leading from Within A Vision of Christian Leadership Leading from Within The Spirituality of the Leader Developing a Plan for Growing as a Christian Leader Live Presentation #2: The Practices of Effective Leadership for Faith Formation Practices: Leading in Congregations Practices: Working with Teams Practices: Empowering Leaders Practices: Facilitating and Sustaining Change Developing a Plan for Strengthening Leadership Practices For More Information For a copy of the curriculum, tuition costs, and registration procedures go to the Vibrant Faith website: www.vibrantfaith.org/certff21. If you have questions, contact John Roberto, Certificate Coordinator, at jroberto@lifelongfaith.com. 6