from marriage to parenting: faith formation with “next generation” adults

From Marriage to Parenting: Faith Formation with “Next Generation” Adults

John Roberto (jroberto@lifelongfaith.com)

Marriage & Family Trends

Trends in the Catholic Church 2001-2010

(Using figures from the Official Catholic Directory)

1. Catholic population + 3 million (68.5 total)2. Parishes- 2,5003. Marriages - 70,000 (168,400 total)4. Infant Baptisms - 150,000 (857,410 total)5. Adult Baptisms - 43,000 (119,00 total)6. First Communions - 71,000 (822,000 total)7. Confirmations- 7,000 (622,000 total)8. Children (parish) - 400,000 (3.1 million)9. Teens (parish)- 78,000 (689,552)10.Catholic grade school - 500,000 (1.5 million)11.Catholic HS students - 70,000 (611,723)

Trends in the Catholic Church The number of marriages celebrated in

the Church has fallen from 415,487 in 1972 to 168,400 in 2010 — a decrease of nearly 60 percent — while the U.S. Catholic population has increased by almost 17 million.

To put this another way, this is a shift from 8.6 marriages per 1,000 U.S. Catholics in 1972 to 2.6 marriages per 1,000 Catholics in 2010.

(CARA, 2011) 

Changing Views of U.S. Family

A Family

Not a Family

Married Coupled with Children 99 1Married Couple without Children 88 10Single Parent with Children 86 12Unmarried Couple with Children 80 18Same-Sex Couple with Children 63 34Same-Sex Couple without Children

45 52

Unmarried Coupled without Children

43 54Pew Research,

2011

Generational Change

Generational Shifts Among those in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s….1. Increasing number of “Nones”- Religiously

Unaffiliated2. Increasing number of “Spiritual but not Religious” 3. Accepting and embracing diversity: culturally,

sexually, family structures 4. Living together, marrying later, and having children

later 5. Declining participation in Mass and Sacraments,

especially Marriage, Baptism and First Eucharist for Children

6. Declining levels of family faith practice & socialization

Impact of Generational Shifts Significant Generational Change

began in the early 90s among the younger generations and is influencing society and the older generations

These trends are having a significant impact on a Life Cycle approach to faith formation and church life, in general. fewer marriages – marrying later – fewer

baptisms – fewer young families – lower Mass attendance…

1. Will trends in U.S. culture lead people to become more receptive to organized religion, and in particular Christianity or will trends lead people to become more resistant to organized religion and Christianity?

2. Will people’s hunger for and openness to God and the spiritual life increase over the next decade or will people’s hunger for and openness to God and the spiritual life decrease.

Spiritual & Religious Diversity

Faith Formation 2020 MatrixDominant Cultural Attitude toward Organized

ReligionReceptive

Low High People’s Hunger for God and the Spiritual Life

Resistant

Spiritual & Religious Diversity

Scenario 4

Uncommitted &

Participating

Scenario 1 Vibrant Faith & Active

Engagement

Scenario 3

Unaffiliated &

Uninterested

Scenario 2

Spiritual but Not

Religious

21st Century Approaches

21st Century Faith Formation

What could a 21st century approach to faith formation look

like? How would we address the diversity

of people’s religious and spiritual needs today?

How would we engage people? How would we reach people?

What technologies would we use? What resources would we access?

Significant ShiftShifting from. . .

“One Size Fits All” Curriculum & Programming

to A Network of Personalized & Customized Faith Formation Activities & Resources

focusing on addressing people’s spiritual and religious growth by offering a wide variety of

religious content and experiences“Differentiated Faith Formation”

A Network Approach

Faith Formati

on Networ

k

Church Progra

msSmall

Groups &

Support

Groups

Mentors

Community

Programs

Online Course

s & Activiti

esOnline Resourc

es: Print, Audio, Video

Video Confere

nce

Apps

Blogs

Social Media for Connecti

on

User-Generat

ed Content

A Faith Formation

Network is a way to

provide faith formation for

everyone, anytime,

anywhere, 24x7x365.

Learning in the Age of Networks

Learn the

Bible

Bible Study @ Church

Educational

Program- course

- conferenc

e

Online Course or Bible Study Group

Online Resource Center

BooksAudioVideo

FeaturesUtilize a variety of faith formation models to address the diverse life tasks, religious and spiritual needs, and interests of people:

on your own at home in small groups in large groups in the congregation in the community and world

Diversify Faith Formation Models

Face-to-Face

& Virtual

On Your Own Mentor

ed

@Home

Small Group

Large Group

Church Commun

ity

Community & World

A Process for a Developing a Personalized Faith Growth Plan

Assessing Spiritual Growth

Working with a Mentor/Guide

Finding Resources on the Network

Engaging in Formation

Sharing with the Community

Reflecting on Growth and

Identifying New Needs

Building Networks Around Sunday worship Around service and mission projects Around programming: children’s

faith formation, youth ministry, Vacation Bible School

Around age groups/generations: young adults, midlife adults, Baby Boomers, older adults

Around families

Promoting/Marketing Network Connect it to a gathered event (Mass,

sacramental celebration, Church Year season) Connect it to a parish-based program Connect it to a life stage or milestone event Use Facebook - regular announcements Use an E-newsletter (Constant Contact or

Mail Chimp) – regular “mailings” Create interest through short “You-Tube”

style videos Create testimonials Engage users to invite others to be involved

Fashioning Faith Formation around Married Couples

Building a Network:Newly Married Couples

Faith Formation

Before Marriage

Preparation for

and Celebrat

ion of Marriage

Faith Formation

After Celebratio

n of Marriage

Marriage

Mentors

Faith Formation

Targeted to religious &

spiritual needs

Marriage Preparation

Married Life Tasks

Support Groups

Couples before Marriage

AfterMarriage

Mentors

Faith Practices

Prayer, Rituals, Bible Reading, Service, Faith Conversations

Continuing Formation

Theology, Scripture, Spirituality

Married Life Tasks & Issues

Courses, Workshops,

Online Resources

Support Groups

Quarterly Couple

Gatherings

Couples after Marriage

A Network for Married Couples

Newly Marri

ed Coupl

es

Mentors

Marriage Prep

- Online-

Gathered

Faith Growth- Online

Courses & Resources

- Print/Audio/Vi

deo- Gathered ProgramsSmall

Groups & Support Groups

Married Life Tasks

- Print/ Audio/Video

- Online courses & Resources- Gathered Programs

Blog & Social

Network

Vibrant Faith @

Hom

e

Social Network/Group

Fashioning Faith Formation around Young Families

Family Religious Socialization Parent Influence: The single

most important social influence on the religious and spiritual lives of adolescents is their parents.

Embedded Family Religious Practices: Effective religious socialization comes about through specific religious activities that are firmly intertwined with the daily habits of family life

Family Socialization

Faith

Parental Faith

Parental Modelin

g & Teaching

Prayer

Scripture

Reading

The single most important influence on the religious and spiritual lives of children, teens, and emerging

adults is their parents.

Family SocializationChildren and teenagers with seriously religious parents are more likely that those without such parents to have

been trained in their lives to think, feel, believe, and act as serious religious

believers, and that that training “sticks” with them even when the leave home

and enter emerging adulthood.(Souls in Transition: The Religious & Spiritual Lives of

Emerging Adults by Christian Smith with Patricia Snell)

Family & Household Faith Qualities(Spirit & Culture of YM Study)

Parental Faith Life &

Practice

Family Harmony

Parental Affection toward

Children

Parental Help with Problems

Family & Household Faith Qualities(Spirit & Culture of YM Study)

Faith of the Parents…1. My faith helps me know right from wrong2. I have a sense of sharing in a great

purpose3. I have had feelings of being in the

presence of God4. I have a sense of being saved in Christ5. I am spiritually moved by the beauty of

God’s creation6. God helps me decide what is right or

wrong behavior7. I have found a way of life that gives me

direction.

Family & Household Faith Qualities(Spirit & Culture of YM Study)

Faith of the Parents…8. Religious faith is important in my life.9. My life is committed to Jesus Christ.10. My life is filled with meaning and purpose.11. I have a real sense that God is guiding me.

Each of the 11 items rate 7.30 or better

on a 9.0 scale.

Family & Household Faith Qualities(Spirit & Culture of YM Study)

Teens: How have your parents influenced your faith life?1. Values are focused on serving others and God.2. Positive influence on my religious faith3. Talk with me about my relationship with Jesus

Christ4. Attending Sunday worship5. Talked with my parent about religious faith6. Reading the Bible

44 Faith Assets:Family & Household Faith Qualities

One in four teens said their family sat down together and talked about God, the Bible, and other religious things on a weekly or daily basis.

40% of teens said they did this once or twice a month.

Key Faith Factors1. Caring Conversation2. Celebrating Rituals & Traditions3. Praying4. Reading the Bible5. Serving Others6. Learning about Faith

Building a Network:Young Families

Faith Formation Before Baptism

Preparation for

and Celebrat

ion of Baptism

Faith Formation After

Celebration of

Baptism

Faith Formation for

Parents before

BaptismParent

Discernment

Faith Growth Plans for Parents

Online Faith Formation

Center

Preparation for &

Celebration of Baptism

Mentors (Grandparen

ts)

Face-to-Face & Virtual

Preparation

Connection with Church Community

Faith Formation with Young

Families

Mentors

Faith Practices @Home

Parent Faith Formation &

Parenting Skills

Support Groups

Milestone Celebrations

Family Gatherings

Online Faith Formation

Center

Baptism

Mentors

Faith Practices @ Home

Prayer, Rituals, Bible, Family Conversation,

Service

Parent Faith Formation &

Parenting Skills

Workshops CoursesOnline ResourcesSupport Groups

MilestonesBaptism Anniversary, First Prayers, Start of

School

Family Learning Programs

Church GatheringsSmall GroupsWorkshops

Parent/Family Online Resource Center

Families in the First Decade of Life

Children's Festival & Backpack Blessing

Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.Shake, rattle and roll on over to the big tent on the front lawn of the church for a 50’s sock hop the whole family will enjoy!

Doo-Wop Band Contests Cruise-In Classic Car Show Games & Activities Giant Inflatables Festival Rides

This is a FREE event. Food and snacks will be available at a nominal cost. Everyone receives a blessing for the new school year All are welcome! No RSVP necessary. Just show up with your backpack!

Family Faith Formation

Extending a Gathered Event

Gathered Event

Talk About It: Conversation

Questions Learn More: Watch a Video, Listen to a

Talk, Read an Article

Live:Action Project for the

Month

PrayDevotions, Bible

Reading, Table Prayer

Family & Parents Center:

How-to helps (video, audio, print)Family Faith

Practices

Share What Your Learning: Write a Blog Entry, Create & Share a

Video or Project

Stone 1: Raising a Healthy Baby physical, emotional and spiritual

needs of infants and their parents; nightly blessing as a family faith practice.

Stone 2: Raising a Healthy Preschooler

physical, emotional and spiritual needs of preschoolers and their parents; add prayer to the nightly blessing as a faith practice

Faith Stepping Stones (www.faithink.com)

Stone 3: Entry Into School physical, emotional and spiritual

needs of kindergarteners and their parents; share highs & lows with children and add it to their nightly prayers and blessing

Stone 4: My Bible 120 key verses in young

readers’ Bibles; reading a Bible verse nightly, continue with highs & lows, prayer and blessing nightly

Faith Stepping Stones

Stone 5: Livin’ Forgiven Passover to Lord’s Supper, with

nightly confession and absolution added to the faith practices of Bible reading, highs & lows, prayer and blessing

Stone 6: Surviving Adolescence

theological reflection (i.e. setting the Bible verse and the highs & lows of the day together to ask “What is God saying to us today?”), adding to confession/ absolution, Bible reading, highs & lows, prayer and blessing continue

Faith Stepping Stones

Stone 7: Confirmation As Ordination

youth and parents look at their confession, their confirmation, and their call.

Stone 8: Graduation Blessing seniors and their parents look back

God’s blessings, look to the moment, and look to the future of their new callings

Faith Stepping Stones

Apps

The Wesley PlayhouseFamily Life Center

The Emerging Role of the Faith Formation Curator

Faith Formation Curator Shifting from providing religious

content and programming to curating religious content and experiences for all ages

A content curator is someone who continually finds, groups, organizes, and shares the best and most relevant content on a specific subject to match the needs of a specific audience.

Faith Formation CuratorWhat would you curate?

Parish Programs & ActivitiesCommunity Programs & ActivitiesPeople ResourcesPrint ResourcesAudio & Video ResourcesArt, Drama, and Music ResourcesOnline Content: Websites,

Courses, Blogs Apps & Digital Resources

The Process of Curation Researc

h

Aggregate & Evaluate

Deliver

Communicate &

Connect