1. Terri Martinson Elton Luther Seminary terrielton.com/presentations
engaging the whole faith community in growing faithful Youth into young adults
Terri Martinson Elton
Luther Seminary
terrielton.com/presentations

2. Religious Socialization
“The form, content, and intensity of religious socialization are … crucial in shaping the … religious outcomes of those being socialized. And since most of the broader American society is not in the business of direct religious socialization, this task inevitably falls almost entirely to two main social entities….

3. …First are individuals family households, where parents predictably do the primary socializing.
Second are individual religious congregations, where other adults can exert socializing influences on youth…
If formation does not happen there, it will – with rare exception – not happen anywhere.”
Souls in Transition, 286

4. congregations matter

5. Sunday School
Yet
ELCA congregations have seen a 60 percent drop in Sunday school between 1990 and 2010 (ELCA Research and Evaluation)
Some reasons:
Sunday morning is no longer set aside for “church.” “The culture no longer respects Sunday mornings,” said Diane Hymans (professor of Christian Education, Trinity Seminary)
Fewer children to participate. “The number of married couples with children in ELCA congregations has dropped from 43 percent in 1988 to 26 percent in In addition, child baptisms in the ELCA and predecessor congregations dropped 52 percent between 1970 and 2012 (ELCA Research and Evaluation).
Changes in the family life are impacting Sunday school. “For example, children of divorced or separated parents may spend weekends with a parent who doesn’t attend church or who is a member of another congregation, Hyman said.”
(“Reinventing Sunday School,” by Cindy Novak, The Lutheran, September 2014)
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6. Confirmation
Yet
The ELCA has seen a 21 percent drop in students confirmed between 2005 and 2012, from 53,961 to 42,465. (ELCA Research and Evaluation)
In a survey of confirmation of 5 Protestant denominations, leaders report 30 percent of young people were not known by leaders prior to confirmation.(The Confirmation Project.org, Webinar Overview, July 2015)
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7. THE CHURCH'S CALL TO NURTURE FAITH HAS NOT CHANGED… BUT THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH IT DOES SO HAS CHANGED.

8. The World is Changing!
While there are many challenges impacting faith formation today, four are significant and interconnected:
Increase diversity through the United States – generational identities, family structures, and ethnic make-up being key.
Rise of new digital technologies – reshaping society into a connected, network world.
Increased diversity in religious beliefs, practices and affiliation
Decline in religious transmission from generation to generation
Reimagining Faith Formation for the 21st Century – John Roberto

9. Because the religious landscape in the United States has shifted…
we live in a time when faith formation needs to be intentional and
the Christian church has to learn new ways of being community and forming faith.

10. What does this mean? We can’t keep doing what we have been doing.

11. Discussion
What shifts are you seeing in this context? What impact do these shifts having on faith formation?
How is this congregation adapting to the changing culture? What might those adaptations mean for helping people learn about the Christian faith?

12. What’s the point?

13. Identity as a Child of God

14. Discover a Christian Way of Life

15. Experience Christian Community

16. Come to know the Christian Story

17. Serve

18. Discover gifts and voice

19. Discussion
What are ways this congregation is affirming you in your Christian journey?
Write down ways you want help discovering what it means to live as a disciple of Jesus.
Christian community
Hearing the Christian Story
Serving
Discovering your Gift and voice

20. ELCA definition
 “Confirmation ministry is a pastoral and educational ministry of the church that helps the baptized through Word and Sacrament to identify more deeply with the Christian community and participate more fully in its mission.”
The Confirmation Ministry Task Force Report – adopted by the third biennial Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA on September 1, 1993.

21. ELCA vision
 Confirmation ministry is an opportunity for congregations to renew the vision of living by grace, grounded in Baptism.
This vision is especially important for ministry with young Christians, but it has lifelong implications.
Through identity with the baptized community, we grow in mission, discipleship, and our vocations in daily life.
The Confirmation Ministry Task Force Report – adopted by the third biennial Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA on September 1, 1993.

22. Exemplary Youth Ministry Study
Congregational Assets
Age-Specific Ministry Assets
The Sweet Spot!
Leadership Assets
Family Assets

23. congregations matter

24. You Matter!
The process of passing the Christian tradition from one generation to another is to introduce people to a way of life, not to pass on doctrine. People, not programs, are the best translators