a missional approach to Forming Lutheran Disciples
Latest News
Register Now for Our Visioning Labs on Adult Faith Formation
Registration deadlines are approaching for our Summer “Visioning Labs” designed to encourage pastors, commissioned ministers, and lay leaders to envision how you might introduce an adult catechumenate process into your congregation. There are two workshops/visioning labs scheduled TO REGISTER for the June Visioning Lab … TO REGISTER for the July event at CSP … Click […]
From Font to Table: Welcoming the Stranger into Christ and Congregational Life Visioning Workshop
Dr. Kent Burreson and Dr. Rhoda Schuler will offer two workshops this summer as part of the Concordia Seminary Prof Insights Workshop Series. The first led by Dr. Burreson will be in Ottawa, Kansas, near Kansas City, June 26-28. The second led by Drs. Schuler and Burreson will be at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, […]
The Adult Catechumenate and Christian Formation: Plumbing the Treasures
At the end of his book Faith Shaping Ministry, on the basis of Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” Paul Hoffman writes, “Our treasure lies buried deep within the waters of baptism where Jesus himself unites us to a death like his and graciously raises us in a […]
Real Characteristics of the Catechumenate
Over the last four class periods, our catechumenate class has had the opportunity to converse with two of the pastors—Pastor Dan Eggold of Grace, Lafayette, IN and Pastor Tim Droegemueller of Living Faith, Cumming GA—who were involved in our catechumenate grants and with Dr. Schuler. The conversations surfaced numerous characteristics that shaped a vision of […]
Events
Upcoming Events: Help Us Plan What You Need
Although we are beyond the grant-funded phase of Forming Lutherans, we are still eager to share the results of our research and our knowledge of adult faith formation with LCMS pastors. These are ways in which we can do so at no cost to participants. All options require equipment for a Zoom gathering (strong internet connection, projector and screen, good microphone, and tech person on your end to manage the technology in the room with multiple people).
Congregational Meeting
If you, the pastor of a congregation, would like to introduce congregational leaders to a process of adult faith formation, we could meet virtually with you and your lay leadership, offer resources to introduce the idea of the adult catechumenate to the leadership, and/or lead a session on the type of Scripture study appropriate for […]
Pastors’ Retreat
If one or more circuits has a one- or two-day retreat, we could offer an extended program with a mix of presentations, discussions about current practices for receiving new members, and visioning about how individual congregations might benefit by introducing aspects of adult faith formation incrementally in a congregation. For a successful event, the retreat […]
Winkel Gatherings
Looking for a topic for an upcoming Winkel gathering? If your gathering place has the equipment for a Zoom meeting with a small group, one or both of us could lead a short presentation and discussion on the benefits of an adult catechumenate model. We can tailor the presentation to various times, from a minimum […]
What people say about FormingLutherans.org
The church knows ritual shapes its life. Yet, ongoing changes in worship compel us to better understand how. Forming Lutherans provides answers through ethnographic and qualitative research, testing the power of ritual in real-life congregations, leaders, and individuals.
The research, reflection, speaking, and writing of Drs. Schuler and Burreson provide keen insights and practical applications to pastors and congregations as they seek to teach the baptized to hold fast to all our Heavenly Father has given us through, Jesus, the Word of Truth (John 17:17).
The thorough catechetical process advocated by FormingLutherans is absolutely necessary for making disciples who are prepared to answer the challenges that the modern culture presents. This FormingLutherans project has proven invaluable in assisting our congregation, Grace Lutheran, St. Petersburg, FL, in accomplishing that all important task.
Forming Lutherans holistically focuses on evangelization, catechesis, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. It will help your congregation to be both ancient and postmodern as all the baptized are involved in forming disciples for Jesus Christ by joining them to Christ and his life.
Because effective catechesis shapes a person’s total being, I heartily endorse “Forming Lutherans.” We do believe the Spirit is at work wherever the Gospel is present, don’t we?
All those who are to be baptized, both men and women, sit closely around the bishop … beginning with Genesis he goes through the whole Scripture … [teaching] not only about the Resurrection but also concerning the body of faith. This is called catechetics.
I knew well that visual testimony [of your baptism] is more trustworthy than mere hearsay and therefore I awaited this chance of finding you more amenable to my words, so that out of your personal experience I could lead you into the brighter and more fragrant meadow of Paradise of earth.
