Networks for Forming Faith with All Ages

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Read Chapter Six
"Networks for Forming Faith with All Ages"
and 
Chapter Nine
​"Integrating the Elements into a Lifelong Plan" ​

Lifelong faith formation is designed as a network of relationships, content, experiences, and resources—in physical places and online spaces—for children, adolescents, young adults, midlife adults, mature adults, older adults, and the whole family. A network approach transforms faith formation from a provider-centered, program-driven model to a learner-centered model where the content and experiences are designed around the people and where they have control over their learning. In a network model, faith formation shifts from “one size fits all” curriculum and programming to religious content and experiences that connect with people’s spiritual and religious needs.

Chapter Six presents the features of a faith formation network:

1. Designing around the vision and goals of lifelong maturing in Christian faith
2. Being person- or learner-centered, placing the individual or family at the center of faith formation
3. Embracing learning and faith growth as a process of active inquiry with the initiative residing within the individual
4. Providing faith forming experiences to personalize learning and faith formation around the lives of people
5. Providing a variety of content, programs, activities, and resources to address the diverse life tasks and situations, needs and interests, and spiritual and faith journeys of people of all ages
6. Providing a variety of methods for learning, ways to learn, and styles of learning. 
7. Incorporating a variety of formats for learning - on your own, with a mentor, at home, in small groups, in large groups, in the church, and in the community and world - delivered in physical gathered settings and online set- tings. 
8. Being built on a digital platform to engage people anytime and anywhere
9. Nurturing communities of learning and practice around shared interests, needs, life stages, and activities

Chapter Six also presents a variety of approaches for designing hybrid faith formation programming. A network approach is designed in three modes: gathered programming in physical places, online programming, and hybrid programming that integrates both. Synchronous (real time) and asynchronous (on your own time) offerings expanding the opportunities for people to engage in faith-forming experiences that are responsive to their time, commitments, and availability.

Chapter Nine guides you through the steps of designing a faith formation network:

1. Identify your audience
2. Develop a profile of current activities with your audience
3. Listen to the needs of your audience
4. Generate ideas for the faith formation network
5. Create a network plan for faith formation
6. Create a pathways guide for the life stage or program audience
7. Design playlists of faith formation for the pathways
8. Implement and evaluate 

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Articles: Networks of Learning

Networks of Lifelong Learning - Part 1.pdf
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Networks of Lifelong Learning - Part 2.pdf
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Application: Examples of Faith Formation Networks

We have built two demonstration websites to illustrate what a faith formation network: Seasons of Adult Faith and Family Faith Practice. The two websites are intended as a guide for churches to develop their own network and digital platform for adult formation. The network approach incorporates a diversity of  content (programs, activities, and resources), a variety of media (print, audio, video, apps, and more), and multiple environments for engagement (independent, mentored, family, small group, large group, church-wide, community-wide). Each network is developed around the the ten goals of maturing in faith.

Seasons of Adult Faith

Family Faith Practice