Faith Formation Ends Policy
Colossians 1:9-10 "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God."
Ephesians 4:12 ”To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature.”
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
• The goal of Faith Formation at Lord of Life is personal and community transformation and growth in relationship with Christ; providing each person with an opportunity to mature as a Christian. We recognize that people are at different levels or stages of their lifelong faith journey, and that we need to be able to accommodate people at every stage.
• Comprehending Christian theology and its personal implications is an important component in the development of each believer.
• Maturing Christians will move from a dependence on the church to an interdependent partnership with each other (which we define as the church), in which they will learn, experience and act.
ENDS POLICIES
1) People will identify and develop their personal faith formation and ministry.
2) People at all stages of faith development will grow in Christian faith and experience personal and community transformation through development of biblical knowledge and opportunities to put knowledge and faith into action through service, mentoring, teaching and giving.
3) People will experience a nurturing culture which:
a. Emphasizes the need for believers to take responsibility for their own faith formation and ministry, and
b. Ensures that each person matures as a Christian.
Reasonable Interpretation:
The purpose of Lord of Life Faith Formation Ends policy will be:
1. Create a faith formation ministry…
a. that focuses on spiritual growth is a Biblical mandate.
b. that acknowledges that everyone is responsible for their own faith formation journey.
c. that creates an environment and culture that encourages personal and corporate faith formation, service and giving.
d. that affirms people where they are in their faith formation and gently and firmly encourages them to grow..
e. that provides multiple opportunities for growing in faith.
f. that develops leaders who inspire, motivate and mentor people on their spiritual journey.
Current activities
1. Worship.
2. Communications strategies.
3. Children’s ministries (church school and all other programing)
4. Youth Ministries (confirmation and all other programming)
5. Adult leadership training
7. Adult ministry learning opportunities and Bible studies
11. Experiential and service ministries
12. Special events
Next Steps – Initial Faith Formation Ends Policy Initiatives
1. Coordinate Faith Formation Ends policy with Leadership Ends policy
2. Be intentional about Faith Formation strategy based on approved Reasonable Interpretation above
3. Use the concepts of “Hourly Prayer”, “Daily Scripture Reading”, “Weekly Worship” and “Regular Service” as a framework of thinking through faith formation practices.
4. Pastor Phil will coordinate planning with pastoral staff to create initial Faith Formation vision
5. Strategy will include:
a. Goals, including measurement of success
b. Specific activities to achieve goals
c. Resources, including financial, staff to achieve goals
d. Timeframe for next steps