Episcopal Story Project: The way we do Faith Formation is not working

The Rev. LeeAnne Watkins, Rector at St. Mary's, St. Paul, confesses what she never thought she would - that adult Faith Formation, as it's always been done, is not working.

Despite years of experience and lots of good will, traditional Faith Formation programming is floundering in communities across the country. In this video the Rev. LeeAnne Watkins ponders what might be at the root of this shift and what is replacing the Wednesday night/Sunday morning adult education format.

St. Mary's, St. Paul is a growing faith community located in the Merriam Park neighborhood of St. Paul, Minnesota.

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Comment by John Sullivan on March 5, 2012 at 9:34pm

Wow!

Thanks for sharing this Rev. LeeAnn. I would guess that this is exactly what is happening in most of our parishes. I think your assessment is right on... people want (maybe need) a sort of short term immediate experience of "God"... we could say "Gospel".

We know that formation is important and that formation is or ought to be intentional and life-long but it just seems that people aren't there... at least they aren't there when we're offering the traditional programs and events. I don't exactly know what "it" is at this point. I think I see it here or there but I think mostly what we are seeing is the traditional dressed up in the latest fad.

I think this is really a critical issue for us right now... for formation. church growth, and simply preaching the Gospel.