Christian Formation Forum Notes
Posted by Sarah McDermott
Notes Submitted by Mary Kay Huss
First Impressions
At the Christian Education Forum on Sunday October 11, about 70 people filled the parish hall tables. Folks received numbers as they walked in and were asked to sit at tables according to numbers chosen. Comments like "oh no, you are going to make me work! " and "you mean I can't sit where I want to?" made me wonder if this was going to work at all. But true to the St Paul's spirit, the room embraced their task of "dreaming about the gospel" and began to talk about Christian Formation.
What We Did
After a scripture reading from Jeremiah, read from two translations, a good tone was set for the discussion. Each table was asked to review the list of questions on their tables and to pick two or three to discuss. The questions and comments are summarized below:
What Was Said
What makes Christian Formation distinctive from other formation?
Provides us with teaching/training/support/recognition/techniques to keep/ develop one's spirituality alive and an operative part of our lives 24 hours a day. For example, Muslims pray 5 times a day. It helps stay connected. Our children need to learn that there is not a difference or conflict between Christianity and spirituality. This is part of why young adults leave the church and then come back for community.
Christian Formation is on-going-you never get to the end, never finished.
What aspects of Christian Formation does St. Paul's do best?
Docc was a great tool for Christian formation.
How can Christian Formation illuminate the intersection between the Bible and the New York Times?
The Bible is tomorrow's newspaper. Learn from what you experience. How do we bring the Bible into our families? Preaching informs education. Small groups could examine sermon.
Things happen. As Christians our job is to respond (prayer,actions) in terms of our belief. Sermons are an important part of this.
Bible is about humans and struggles. Look for teaching moments in the bible and look for parallels in outside worked. The Bible is static, but interpretations are different and evolving.
What does Obama Nobel Peace prize mean?
It could mean an award for the spirit of US. We should respond with excitement rather than fear.
When does Christian Formation happen?
Christian Formation happens in small groups and in the world at times when you are not expecting it. It is important to take time to reflect on what God is doing at the intersection of church and the world. St. Paul's needs more small group work and an evening service.
Open mind and open heart; sharing; on-going
How can Christian Formation proclaim Christ in the heart of the city?
Ongoing teaching/learning-resulting in empowerment to go share with others outside the church community
Small groups-form relationships creating trust with others to delve into the word
Study needs to be based on historical circumstance.
Use music and art to get to know the Bible better.
What Christian Formation opportunities do you think are missing?
Renew the DOCC program. People through church could pastor to each other-in reach.
Richmond Hill offerings-Spiritual development
Missing a whole demographic of singles, young people moving downtown, unemployed people.
Other churches offering different services on different days/times
Divorced people-ministering to them.
Bible study is missing and is needed. Eyes on Richmond, Jazz lunch, etc-where is the bible in that? We are more comfortable doing programs that do not include the Bible.
What age groups do you think are currently best served? How?
Youth are well served.
Are there age groups that are underserved? If so, who? How do we better serve them?
Young people are interested in non-traditional service outside the church
We have to meet the issues represented by the new, younger, more technological generation who come to church (if they do) for face to face interaction and relationship.
We are "Bible-light" at all levels of Christian formation. Need to have more of a balance in confirmation.
Young adults are underserved/ college age underserved. Get involved at VCU.
Other comments:
Have get together groups for sharing time, check-in time. We rush too much.
We need to keep the Bible and Christian formation in what we offer. We stray from that often with all the other programming.
Acknowledgement of tension between small group and larger offerings.
Let your voice be heard! Feel free to add a comment!
