Faith Formation for the 21st Century

Luther Seminary has partnered with Vibrant Faith Institute to offer this foundation course for leaders engaged in faith formation in their communities. This hybrid course (one day in-person, followed by nine weeks online) engages pastors, Christian education directors or coordinators of children, youth or family ministries through:

• Day-long, on-campus session of each part taught by a Vibrant Faith Institute faculty member at Luther Seminary
• Nine self-paced, dynamic online learning sessions with specially selected readings, videos and online resources
• Two online discussion and application sessions facilitated by the course instructor
• Participation in an online learning community
• Practical activities and resources to apply the knowledge, practices and skills for faith formation in a congregation, provided online through the Vibrant Faith Solutions website.

The one-year, three-part Foundations course provides participants with the essential knowledge, practices, and skills for promoting lifelong faith growth and discipleship in the church community, at home, in age groups and online. You will design and implement a plan for vital and vibrant faith formation for the whole congregation. You will design strategies, programs and activities.

This course counts toward the Certificate in Faith Formation for the 21st Century offered by Vibrant Faith Institute. For more information on this certificate, visit https://www.vibrantfaith.org/vfi/

Part 1. Reimagining Faith Formation for 21st Century

On-Campus Session: Tuesday, Apr. 10, 2018, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Online Sessions: Weeks of Apr. 16 through June 12

Part One presents the vision and practices for the five elements of the new faith-forming ecology, which forms the foundation for developing a vibrant faith-forming congregation in the 21st century. Discover how the new faith-forming ecology 1) engages all generations intergenerationally; 2) nurtures family faith and equips parents to transmit faith at home; 3) promotes faith-maturing in each life stage: children, youth, young adults, midlife adults, mature adults and older adults; 4) develops missional outreach to the unaffiliated and uninvolved, and invites people into discipleship and participation in the faith community; and 5) utilizes digitally enabled strategies in faith formation.

Part 2. Designing 21st Century Faith Formation

On Campus Session: Tuesday, July 10, 2018, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Online Sessions: Weeks of July 17 through Sept. 10

Part Two focuses on designing and implementing a lifelong faith formation plan to promote faith-maturing from childhood through adulthood. Discover models and practices for becoming intentionally intergenerational and learn how to design intergenerational strategies, programs and activities. Discover approaches and strategies for family and parent faith formation and learn how to design faith formation for families and parents at home, at church and online. Discover how to use 21st century approaches and practices for designing faith formation for each life stage. Discover how to develop missional outreach and relationship building with the unaffiliated and uninvolved, and learn how to design pathways into discipleship and engagement in the faith community.

Part 3. Leadership 21st Century Faith Formation

On Campus Session: Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Online Sessions: Weeks of Sept. 24 through Nov. 20

Part Three presents an approach to Christian leadership that has two essential elements, internal (heart and soul) and external (practices and skills). Christian leaders cultivate their inner life by developing a spirituality that sustains and guides their leadership—centered in a personal mission that is informed by a living faith in Jesus Christ and his mission and ministry. Christian leaders develop their external life by learning the knowledge and skills for the effective practice of leadership in congregations and in the world. Part Three guides leaders in 1) strengthening their inner life and spirituality, 2) applying contemporary leadership thinking and practices to congregational life, 3) developing the skills for effective leadership and 4) learning the skills and processes for equipping leaders in the congregation.