Formation
PURPOSE:
To form disciples of Jesus, we engage the work of lifelong
Christian formation because we believe God calls us to join in God’s
transformative work in the world, manifesting the beloved community through a
deeper spiritual connection to all of God’s creation.
DIOCESAN GOALS & STRATEGIES:
The purpose listed above is an invitation to the creativity and ingenuity of our churches to help us accomplish our priority objective. We do, however, have diocesan-wide goals set to help guide the work. Your gifts are needed, whether to achieve the diocesan goals or to show us additional ways to fulfill our purpose.
Download the in-depth summary of goals and resources (Coming Soon)
Goal 1: To form disciples who understand the biblical and moral imperatives for seeking racial, environmental and social justice.
Strategies:
- Expand Dismantling Racism training opportunities and next steps by offering to youth, youth leaders, vestries, committees, commissions, chartered committees and vocational discernment
- Plan and implement Racial Justice Pilgrimage 2022 or 2023 with scholarship funds to help people with access to the trip
- Resource congregations with special attention to Black and Hispanic congregations with curricula and programs
- Invest in translators and dual language curriculum writers to ensure quality of formation offerings that speak to specific cultural aspects
- Continue to support the LGBTQIA+ community through programs of education, understanding and communication for youth, parents and ministry leaders.
Goal 2: To offer lifelong and multigenerational formation to support discipleship throughout the diocese
Strategies:
- Offer health and wholeness programs such as Stewardship of the Self-Wellness, modeling norms for self-care, and programs for resilience in children, loving your neighbor and addressing the ongoing impacts/trauma due to the pandemic and racism
- Provide training for ministry by inviting people into diocesan leadership roles for events (resourcing and “staffing” an Acolyte Festival, Ministry Fair, etc. Leverage budget line item to enrich and develop youth ministry at the local level
- Engage lay leaders in vocational discernment and support for ministry by offering ongoing programs, webinars and covenant groups for formation across ages and ministries
- Acknowledge specific life stages by offering classes (Parenting Classes, End of Life) designed to ministry to and with groups like LGBTQIA+ Parenting/ Youth Mental Health First Aid (expand to adult and teen offerings)
- Increase focus and offerings on spiritual practices and vocational discernment as a way to broaden capacity of discernment for all baptized
Goal 3: To equip disciples who understand the biblical and moral imperatives of creation care and provide resources to enable disciple advocacy
Strategies:
- Promote programs from the Chartered Committee on Environmental Ministry and utilize programs in all formation areas and collaborate to broaden reach
- Incorporate creation care and environmental justice into all confirmation classes.
- Incorporation of creation care and environmental stewardship at all children’s and youth diocesan events – Genesis Youth Event Rotation
Goal 4: To prepare Christian disciples to understand and appreciate other faith traditions while strengthening our own faith journey
Strategies:
- Include interfaith conversation in diocesan youth and adult confirmation offerings
- Offer workshops at Bishops’ Ball focused on interfaith conversations and sharing
- Include interfaith conversations in youth and adult confirmation classes
- Offer interfaith pilgrimage for youth, families and adults and continue interfaith and ecumenical conversation
WATCH:
Shared at the Special Convention on March 5, 2022, this video provides an overview of what we're trying to accomplish with the priority along with stories of work already happening.
GET STARTED:
- Take first steps to implementing formation into daily life; pray the Daily Office or read the daily scripture (offered on diocesan social media channels: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram)
- Enroll in anti-racism training, such as Dismantling Racism or Sacred Ground
GO DEEPER:
- Become a facilitator for Dismantling Racism or Sacred Ground
RESOURCES:
BE INSPIRED:
- Picnic Blankets, Porch Drop-Offs and Costumes (Disciple, Fall 2021)
- VIDEO: Symbols and Signs of Hope in a Season of Waiting
- VIDEO: Breath of Life - Whose Breath, Whose Life? ( Part 1, Part 2)
- VIDEO: I Know My Redeemer Liveth ( Part 1, Part 2)