ThinkingThe Insights & Practices from Research and Theory Series explores the latest research and thinking on forming faith with families and age groups, and suggests practical strategies for forming faith that reflect the current research and thinking
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The Insights & Practices from Research and Theory Series explores the latest research and thinking on forming faith with families, children, adolescents, young adults, and intergenerationally; and proposing practical strategies for forming faith that reflect the current research and thinking. Each report explores:
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Report #1. Practices for Forming Faith with Families & Parents
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We seek to respond to several key questions that surface when considering faith transmission for children and youth. When it comes to passing faith to the next generation, in our minds, the key questions are:
Download the article in PDF and share it with your leaders and colleagues. 
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Report #2. Practices for Forming Faith Intergenerationally
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We have known for some time that a graded-level, schooling model of faith formation focused almost exclusively on children and youth, all by itself, fails to move the needle in the quest for effective faith transmission, i.e., passing faith to the next generation. Rather, a whole life approach that offers intergenerational programming and home/family learning options, along with age-specific efforts has a much greater chance of authentic and lasting faith transmission.
Research and other literature clearly indicate that intergenerational faith formation plays a crucial role in the faith transmission process, and every church should consider how to incorporate it in their faith formation efforts. This report can help. Download the article in PDF and share it with your leaders and colleagues.
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Report #3. Practices for Forming Faith with Children
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If we accept the broadly affirmed theological premise that God is present in every human person, regardless of age and development, then we owe it to children to help them discover and respond to that gracious presence in their lives. Even if children cannot grasp the full meaning and implications of the Christian journey, we have a solemn responsibility for developing their innate spirituality and nurturing them, over time, into the Christian way of life.
It's clear from the research and literature on children’s faith formation that this responsibility remains largely unrealized. In many communities, children only find welcome in the church if they do not act like children. All churches say they welcome children, but how many really do? How many churches genuinely and systematically seek answers to such questions as: What is the spiritual condition of the children when they are born? In what ways should Christians include young children within the fellowship and community of the church? How might believers effectively raise children toward a vital love and faith in God? What responsibilities should the church in general, along with parents or caregivers, take in the spiritual instruction and nurture of children? How can Christians work together for our children’s good? Download the article in PDF and share it with your leaders and colleagues.
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Report #4. Practices for Forming Faith with Adolescents
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Adolescence is the age period of intense ideological hunger, deep search for meaning and purpose, and near constant yearning for relationships and connectedness. Adolescence is also the age period when many young people make what turns out to be a lifetime commitment to faith and religious practice, while many others turn away from religion altogether (Hardy). What are the factors involved in adolescents going in one direction over the other? How can churches and their leaders position themselves to influence these factors for the overall good of young people themselves, their families, and the church community?
Download the article in PDF and share it with your leaders and colleagues.
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Report #5. Practices for Forming Faith with Young Adults
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Young adults have reached a life stage that calls for a lot of sorting. They have had twenty plus years of rules, roles, and responsibilities provided by parents, teachers, friends, media, pastors, and other key influencers. As they launch into adulthood, they must sort through all of that and decide what to take with them and what to leave behind, what to keep just as it is and what to reshape to suit their individual identities. Our key question is this: Where does faith and religious practice fit in the sorting process? What factors lead to them integrate a religious faith into their identify and life, and what factors prompt them to leave religious faith and practice behind?
Download the article in PDF and share it with your leaders and colleagues.
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