Weaving God's Promises in an Unpromising World: The Role of Christian Formation.
Presenter: The Rev. Canon Joanna Leiserson
Faciliator: Rebecca Hall
Persons involved in all sorts of Christian Formation: Adult, Young Adult, Youth, and Children are invited to participate in this lively session of networking that will include "speed dating" around challenges faced in the Formation field across areas of responsibility. In addition, you will have an opportunity to learn about a new curriculum just published by Church Publishing, from the author, Joanna Leiserson. Here are a few words about the Curriculum:
Walter Brueggemann once talked about "Gospel imagination" which is the ability to see an alternative reality other than the one that is right in front of us - God's reality. In today's church, we need to develop this kind of imagination, and Christian formation will play a vital role in imagining "Church" in the 21st century. We can no longer depend on the well-worn practices of the 1950's and 1960's to foster spirituality and faithful living in a society of technological wizardry that often says to its owners, "I have no need of you." We need to incorporate current societal practices into the Body of Christ in order to be a more effective Christian community. This session will explore issues, concerns, and best practices around such topics as:
+ Sunday mornings and Christian education
+ Scheduling education in an over-scheduled world
+ Alternative Christian formation venues: electronic, alternate days, etc.
+ The case for a renewal of storytelling
+ Finding, nurturing, and affirming volunteers
+ Publicity and promotion in culture of overload
+ Nurturing the nurturers
+ Resources to share
+ Connecting Christian formation to mission and outreach
+ Round table discussion on vital concerns