God's Not Finished With Me Yet
Lifelong Faith Formation
Becoming Fully Formed
This is not just a buzz-word in the Episcopal Church. Lifelong Christian Formation is now recognized across many denominations as an essential element in humans being fully integrated into the person God made them to be. The education cycle for this term is Information (knowledge is learned) -- Formation (the learning is internalized) -- Transformation (you change because of what you've come to know about yourself and your relationship to God).
In the Episcopal Church this cycle is so important to one's spiritual growth, that our governing body which meets as a huge community every three years adopted a Charter to guide churches when forming Christians. Below is a sampling of what is covered in this Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation.
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church adopt the following text as The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation:
Lifelong Christian Faith Formation in The Episcopal Church is lifelong growth in the knowledge, service and love of God as followers of Christ and is informed by Scripture, Tradition and Reason.
"I have called you friends… " John 15:14-16
Through The Episcopal Church, God INVITES all people:
§ To enter into a prayerful life of worship, continuous learning, intentional outreach, advocacy and service.
§ To hear the Word of God through scripture, to honor church teachings and continually to embrace the joy of Baptism and Eucharist, spreading the Good News of the risen Christ and ministering to all.
§ To respond to the needs of our constantly changing communities, as Jesus calls us, in ways that reflect our diversity and cultures as we seek, wonder and discover together.
§ To hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people, placing ourselves in the stories of our faith, thereby empowering us to proclaim the Gospel message.
" …You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit..." John 15:14-16
Through The Episcopal Church, God inspires all people:
§ To experience Anglican liturgy, which draws us closer to God, helps us discern God's will and encourages us to share our faith journeys.
§ To study Scripture, mindful of the context of our societies and cultures, calling us to seek truth anew while remaining fully present in the community of faith.
§ To develop new learning experiences, equipping disciples for life in a world of secular challenges and carefully listening for the words of modern sages who embody the teachings of Christ.
§ To prepare for a sustainable future by calling the community to become guardians of God's creation.
"…I am giving you these commands that you may love one another…" John 15:17
Through The Episcopal Church, God transforms all people:
§ By doing the work Jesus Christ calls us to do, living into the reality that we are all created in the image of God and carrying out God's work of reconciliation, love, forgiveness, healing, justice and peace.
§ By striving to be a loving and witnessing community, which faithfully confronts the tensions in the church and the world as we struggle to live God's will.
§ By seeking out diverse and expansive ways to empower prophetic action, evangelism, advocacy and collaboration in our contemporary global context.
§ By holding all accountable to lift every voice in order to reconcile oppressed and oppressor to the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord; and be it further
EXPLANATION
Christian formation is the lifelong process of growing in relationship with God, self, others and all creation. In this process we are transformed into the people God wants us to be. As twenty first century Episcopalians, we still long for the inheritance common to all Christians in all times and places-to be united in Christ, who calls us in the power of the Holy Spirit to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and bodies; to love our neighbors as ourselves; and to make disciples, baptize and teach. In our Baptismal Covenant, The Episcopal Church has gracefully articulated the way in which we answer Christ's call. Life-long Christian Formation describes the many processes by which we live into that covenant.
By this definition, life-long Christian formation encompasses a broad set of activities, supported by a rich array of communities and institutions, serving people from cradle to grave. Without attempting to circumscribe the action of the Holy Spirit-who is always at work renewing the minds of Christian people-we acknowledge some common characteristics of formation ministries.
This is not just a buzz-word in the Episcopal Church. Lifelong Christian Formation is now recognized across many denominations as an essential element in humans being fully integrated into the person God made them to be. The education cycle for this term is Information (knowledge is learned) -- Formation (the learning is internalized) -- Transformation (you change because of what you've come to know about yourself and your relationship to God).
In the Episcopal Church this cycle is so important to one's spiritual growth, that our governing body which meets as a huge community every three years adopted a Charter to guide churches when forming Christians. Below is a sampling of what is covered in this Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation.
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church adopt the following text as The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation:
Lifelong Christian Faith Formation in The Episcopal Church is lifelong growth in the knowledge, service and love of God as followers of Christ and is informed by Scripture, Tradition and Reason.
"I have called you friends… " John 15:14-16
Through The Episcopal Church, God INVITES all people:
§ To enter into a prayerful life of worship, continuous learning, intentional outreach, advocacy and service.
§ To hear the Word of God through scripture, to honor church teachings and continually to embrace the joy of Baptism and Eucharist, spreading the Good News of the risen Christ and ministering to all.
§ To respond to the needs of our constantly changing communities, as Jesus calls us, in ways that reflect our diversity and cultures as we seek, wonder and discover together.
§ To hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people, placing ourselves in the stories of our faith, thereby empowering us to proclaim the Gospel message.
" …You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit..." John 15:14-16
Through The Episcopal Church, God inspires all people:
§ To experience Anglican liturgy, which draws us closer to God, helps us discern God's will and encourages us to share our faith journeys.
§ To study Scripture, mindful of the context of our societies and cultures, calling us to seek truth anew while remaining fully present in the community of faith.
§ To develop new learning experiences, equipping disciples for life in a world of secular challenges and carefully listening for the words of modern sages who embody the teachings of Christ.
§ To prepare for a sustainable future by calling the community to become guardians of God's creation.
"…I am giving you these commands that you may love one another…" John 15:17
Through The Episcopal Church, God transforms all people:
§ By doing the work Jesus Christ calls us to do, living into the reality that we are all created in the image of God and carrying out God's work of reconciliation, love, forgiveness, healing, justice and peace.
§ By striving to be a loving and witnessing community, which faithfully confronts the tensions in the church and the world as we struggle to live God's will.
§ By seeking out diverse and expansive ways to empower prophetic action, evangelism, advocacy and collaboration in our contemporary global context.
§ By holding all accountable to lift every voice in order to reconcile oppressed and oppressor to the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord; and be it further
EXPLANATION
Christian formation is the lifelong process of growing in relationship with God, self, others and all creation. In this process we are transformed into the people God wants us to be. As twenty first century Episcopalians, we still long for the inheritance common to all Christians in all times and places-to be united in Christ, who calls us in the power of the Holy Spirit to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and bodies; to love our neighbors as ourselves; and to make disciples, baptize and teach. In our Baptismal Covenant, The Episcopal Church has gracefully articulated the way in which we answer Christ's call. Life-long Christian Formation describes the many processes by which we live into that covenant.
By this definition, life-long Christian formation encompasses a broad set of activities, supported by a rich array of communities and institutions, serving people from cradle to grave. Without attempting to circumscribe the action of the Holy Spirit-who is always at work renewing the minds of Christian people-we acknowledge some common characteristics of formation ministries.
- Formation is unceasing-serving the individual's emerging understanding of identity, community, authority and purpose in Christ throughout their lives.
- Formation is dynamic-encompassing learning, action and reflection.
- Formation is formal and informal-informing, forming and transforming both the individual and the community.
- Formation is hospitable-welcoming the "new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator." (Col 3:10)