1. SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW The Future of Intergenerational Christian Faith Formation October 9-11, 2014

2. Symposium Goals  Identify best practices in intergenerational ministry and faith formation  Explore a diversity of models of intergenerational community, learning, prayer, service, worship  Develop directions and strategies for the future of intergenerational ministry and faith formation

3. What is a Symposium?  A meeting to discuss a particular subject.  A collection of essays or papers on a particular subject by a number of contributors.  A drinking party or convivial discussion, especially as held in ancient Greece after a banquet (and notable as the title of a work by Plato).

4. Thursday Schedule  1:00 - Session 1. The Growth & Development of Intergenerational Ministry & Faith Formation  5:00 - Break  5:30 - Dinner  6:30 - Session 2. Models of Intergenerational Ministry & Faith Formation

5. Friday Schedule  8:00 - Breakfast  9:00 - Session 3. Principles for Intergenerational Ministry & Faith Formation  12 - Lunch  1:30 - Session 4. Envisioning the Future of Intergenerational Ministry & Faith Formation  5:30 - Dinner  6:30 - Session 5. Developing Strategies for Bringing the Future to Life

6. Saturday Schedule  7:30 - Breakfast  8:30 - Session 6. Implementing Strategies for the Future of Intergenerational Ministry & Faith Formation  11:30 - Close

7. Session 1. Growth & Development 1. Contributions to Intergenerational Faith Formation: Recent History 2. What We Have Seen and Heard – Holly, Jim, and Kathie 3. Storytelling in Generational Groups 4. Reporting to the Whole Group 5. Similarities and Differences across the Generations

8. Storytelling 1. How did you get involved in intergenerational ministry and faith formation? What motivated you? 2. How has intergenerational faith formation and ministry evolved in your congregation (or the churches you serve) since you became more intentional about intergenerationality? 3. What impact has intergenerational faith formation had on the leaders those who are participating on the faith community as-a-whole

9. Session 2. Models & Approaches 1. Overview of Models of Intergenerational Ministry & Faith Formation 2. Effective Models, Approaches, & Programs We Have Created/Seen - Holly, Jim, and Kathie 3. Groups Organized by Five Elements of Church Life – Caring, Celebrating, Learning, Praying, and Serving – to Surface Models, Approaches, and Programs 4. Publishing Reports: Models and Effectiveness Factors

10. Group Work 1. Organize into groups around the five elements of an intergenerational faith community:  Caring  Celebrating  Learning  Praying  Serving 2. Surface models, approaches, and programs for your element (or integration of multiple elements) 3. Write the models and brief description on newsprint. 4. Identify the factors that make these models, approaches, and programs effective.

11. Session 3: Principles 1. Survey Results on Principles for Intergenerational Ministry and Faith Formation 2. Important Principles for Intergenerational Ministry & Faith Formation from Research and Experience - Holly, Jim, and Kathie 3. Kindred Groups to Review Principles (pastors, faith formation leaders, youth ministry leaders, publishers, seminary professors, trainers, and consultants) 4. Publishing Reports

12. Group Work Kindred Groups: pastors, faith formation leaders, youth ministry leaders, publishers, seminary professors, trainers, and consultants 1. Use the survey research and the presentations to add the principles that guide the practice of intergenerational ministry and faith formation. Consider areas such as 1) Christian identity, 2) relational/community, 3) developmental; 4) learning & growth, and 5) leadership. 2. Connect the principles to practices (action) using the models, approaches, and programs identified earlier. Write these on newsprint.

13. Session 4: Envisioning the Future 1. Creative Activity: Images of the Future (generational groups) Develop your own personal image of the future of a intergenerational ministry and faith formation. Use art, symbols, words, etc. 2. Images of the Future - Holly, Jim, Kathie 3. Group Work: Share your image(s) with your group. Work together to weave the individual images into an integrated group vision (on a large sheet of newsprint).

14. Themes for the Future 1. Community grows together deeper; and then moves outward to the world 2. Part of a generative community of God’s love that consists of people on a journey together: dynamic with elements of surprise, relationships are forming and reforming, all embracing God’s love, peace, trust, lack of fear, sense of joy, impossible to do alone; vessels for the message and tools for the mission, contagious creative, AMEN!!!! 3. Potential; Christ-story; vocation 4. All connected 5. With – God is with us; Mary-Joseph-Jesus; we are with part of a “neighborhood” – to be for – to – be with 6. Inviting and welcoming ALL, with opportunities to grow together in love and service to God and one another 7. The Body of Christ 8. Vine and Branches – many different shapes coming off the vine

15. Themes 9. Scripture – fulfillment of God’s plan 10. Journey – Centered – Rooted 11. Connectedness, Movement, Grace Interconnection, Innovation, and Impact 12. Diversity, stories, relationships, making disciples, formed to go forth 13. Inclusiveness – decision-making for future generations 14. Ministry of reconciliation and restoration 15. Growth, life, unity, we, Jesus, fluid process, interconnected, eternal, robertology, pinot noir 16. Sustainability, done through renewable spiritual resources 17. Praying for future generations

16. Future To bring to life the vision of the future of intergenerational ministry and faith formation, WE NEED TO…. Identify the top priorities for your kindred group. Write the list on a sheet of paper.

17. Session 4: Envisioning the Future 4. Viewing Images of the Future 5. Finding Common Images or Characteristics of the Future Work as a group to identify themes for an emerging vision of the future of intergenerational faith formation and ministry that emerge from the work of the whole group.

18. Session 5: Developing Strategies 1. Reporting on Common Themes 2. Reviewing Common Themes for the Future Intergenerational Ministry & Faith Formation - Holly, Jim, and Kathie 3. Creating Strategies for the Future 4. Viewing Reports from the Strategy Groups & Adding Your Strategies to Other Themes using a Post-It Note.

19. Developing Strategies Creating Strategies for the Future 1. Select one of themes developed for the future of intergenerational faith formation and ministry and join that group. 2. Develop strategies for bringing the theme to life. Write one strategy per Post-it Note. 3. Post the strategies on newsprint and cluster similar ideas.

20. Session 6: Implementing Strategies 1. Designing the Future - Holly, Jim, Kathie 2. Developing Action Recommendations for Moving into the Future: How will we do this? Specific Projects, Activities, Initiatives  Group 1. TRAINING & EDUCATING Leaders  Group 2. ADVOCACY for the Vision & Approach  Group 3. RESOURCING for Intergenerational  Group 4. NETWORKING Intergenerational Leaders  Group 5. DEVELOPING Intergenerational in a Faith Community  Group 6. SUPPORTING Intergenerational Leaders 3. Reporting Highlights from the Agendas for Action 4. Projecting Next Steps: From the Symposium to Action