The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation
An Initiative of The Episcopal Church
We are engaged in living out
The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation
Resolution A083: Directive for Dioceses to Formulate a Strategy for Lifelong Christian Formation in the Next Triennium
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention strongly encourage all dioceses to formulate a strategy for Lifelong Christian Formation in the next triennium; and be it further
Resolved, That such strategies should encompass and be suitable for all persons (e.g. various ages, languages and abilities). These strategies should be responsive to diocesan and societal contexts and accurately depict the current education and formation status. Because formation is not limited to a cognitive experience (classroom), formation should be holistic (encompasses learning, action and reflection); and be it further
Resolved, That the Congregational Life Center design an instrument and system of collection that will document currently available and successful programs, activities and resources. The instrument will pay special attention to resolutions adopted and resources highlighted at the 76th and each successive General Convention. In addition, such an endeavor will seek to gather the aspirations for diocesan future programs/activities concerning Christian formation; and be it further
Resolved, That the information and data collected be forwarded to the Standing Commission on Lifelong Education and Formation by January 31, 2011.
EXPLANATION
Most importantly, formation is so crucial to our life as disciples that we must be more and more intentional about it. This Resolution calls upon dioceses not only to share their wisdom and aspirations, but also mandates that every diocese must have a purposeful plan for Christian Formation that is appropriate to their context.
The importance of this Resolution stems from our work over the past triennium, as well as the work from PEALL. We embarked on a charge that calls us to implement "coordinated policies for children, youth, young adults, adults and seniors for lifelong Christian formation."
As we prepare for a new decade, it is appropriate to survey and coordinate the church's resources. The called for survey will enable greater collaboration between dioceses, seminaries, diocesan schools, The Episcopal Church Center, camps, conference centers and educational programs. In this age of reduced financial resources, it is urgent that we exercise good stewardship and not duplicate our formational efforts. In addition, as The Episcopal Church Center decentralizes and seeks to be more responsive to the whole church, it is necessary to discern the needs and hopes of those involved in formation in all places.
Moreover, the church flourishes when we share our experiences and resources. Such a survey will enable us to do more programs, projects and activities together-more effectively. We can better live out the axiom that 'we should only do apart what we cannot do together.' The final report from PEALL clearly states, "One consequence of this lack of effective networks is that Christian education leaders have developed identical parallel programs and replicated the same trainings, wasting both talent and resources. The need is critical for a commonly networked system with a common commitment to mission, a system that improves access to resources for all congregations. Currently there is a proliferation of resources and local networks, but these are not yet equally distributed nor equally accessible or available or even known about."
The members and congregations of The Episcopal Church are active in mission and outreach in their communities as well as in the wider society and world. Our call to attention to Christian formation recognizes the role of outreach and mission. Rather than viewing formation as related only to education (especially in a formal interpretation), the PEALL report helps us understand that experiences-grounded in mission-are formational for persons of all ages. How can we hold up these experiences-be they on a Habitat build or working in a soup kitchen-as essential to our formation? This survey of diocesan policies, practices and resources will include attention to these formational contexts for persons of all ages and thereby broaden our definition of formation.
Note: This was an additional resolution proposed by The Standing Commission on Lifelong Education and Formation upon the recommendation of PEALL. It too was approved at General Convention 2009 and can serve as a vehicle for exploring how a diocese might begin to live out The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation.
Share your ideas.
What you are doing to engage The Charter?
E-mail Sharon Ely Pearson to post them here.
Over 600 individuals endorsed The Charter leading up to General Convention. It was a collaborative effort of many networks, showing that Christian formation involves all aspects of our life together.
NETWORKS represented:
- Standing Commission on Lifelong Christian Formation and Education
- National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors (NAECED)
- Proclaiming Education for All (PEALL)
- National Organization of Episcopal Resource Centers (NOERC)
- Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers (ECCC)
- Education for Ministry (EfM)
- Episcopal Council for Christian Education (ECCE)
- Colloquium of Professional and Vocational Associations (CEPVA)
- North American Association of the Diaconate (NAAD)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Godly Play
- Episcopal publishers: Church Publishing, Inc., and Leader Resources
- Seminaries: Seabury-Western, Seminary of the Southwest, Virginia Seminary, Episcopal Divinity School, Church Divinity School of the Pacific
- Standing Commission on Ministry Development
- Diocesan Christian Educators
- Numerous Diocesan Commissions on Christian Formation
From the Diocese of Ohio:
Our Diocesan Christian Formation Commission studied the charter using Bible Study-type questions. We did a 3-part
study, one on each section.
After each section, I asked the questions:
- What word or phrase stands out to you?
- What is going on in your parish or around the diocese that are good examples of what this section talks about?
- What might this section be calling the diocese to do?
- What part of this section draws your own energy?
It was a VERY fruitful discussion. In fact, we got so much out of it that we hope to go out to each Deanery and lead similar discussions with each of those groups. We also have created a resolution about it, based on the General Convention resolution.
Submitted by: Helen Svoboda-Barber, Rector, Harcourt Parish, Gambier OH
As an evaluation tool for congregational ministries:
What if Vestries used the Charter as a model to both evaluate ministries in their congregations as well as ask the question: Are we as a congregation fulfilling our baptismal vows?
1. Continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, the breaking of the bread and the prayers.
- All ministries related to Christian formation and worship
- All ministries related to fellowship
2. Persevere in resisting evil and when you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.
- All ministries related to spirituality and renewal
3. Proclaim by word and deed the Good News of God in Christ.
- All evangelism ministries, welcoming ministries, etc.
4. Seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbor as yourself.
- All ministries related to service and outreach
5. Strive for justice and peace, respecting the dignity of every human being.
- All ministries related to advocating social justice
Submitted by: Jim Shumard, Assistant Rector, St. Peter's, Savannah, GA
Commissions on Ministry:
What if diocesan Commissions on Ministry were to place the Charter on their agenda for discussion? It might encourage support for all the Laos!
Submitted by: Fredrica Harris Thompsett, Standing Commission on Lifelong Christian Education & Formation (Diocese of MA)
