A Catechumenal Vision for Compact Congregations: Forming Disciples Together

In Acts 13 as Paul and Barnabas are proclaiming the Word of the Lord to the synagogue in Antioch, some of the Jews willingly hear what they have to say while others contradict and contend with them. Which leads Paul to say, “For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth’” (Acts 13:47). So, the church, receiving this apostolic commission through the apostles, likewise seeks to bring the message of salvation to the ends of the earth. One of the ways in which the church fulfills its calling is through the catechumenate. For compact congregations, teaming up with other congregations can be a very effective way to, as Rhoda put it last week, follow the voice of Jesus’ calling. Coordinated, collaborative team-taught catechumenal classes can be an effective part of the church’s living into its identity and life together.

Accomplishing this, as I observed two weeks ago, brings together the imaginative, planning, and teaching gifts of all those involved and enriches the teaching with manifold gifts. But four basic questions come to mind with cross-congregational classes: Why? How? Where? When?

Why?

Beyond the eliminating duplication of effort and effectively deploying the energy and time of pastors and laypeople involved, toward what end should we pursue coordinated classes? The end is not just information. The end is the formation of disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Coordinated catechetical classes allow all the resources of several congregations in one area to be deployed toward fully forming disciples for the long haul of life. The catechetical riches of each congregation forming disciples toward the abundant life in Christ.

How?

Rhoda highlighted the visioning that pastoral and congregational leaders across congregations need to engage. The pastoral leaders need to “fling wide the door” to consider all the possibilities for shaping rich, substantive, and formative collaborative classes. Be creative! As Rhoda indicated, both pastoral and lay leaders can and should be involved. Identify responsibilities and roles for pastors and laity. Pastors could rotate the teaching across the periods of the catechumenate. Or they could rotate on a monthly or weekly basis. What would work most effectively in your context?

Where?

The natural, default setting for the classes is the congregations. But think outside the box. Is there a gathering place that would be in the middle of the congregations? A coffee shop? A pub? A restaurant? An outdoor venue in nice weather? Even if you use some other space, it is beneficial to have classes in one of the congregations occasionally to remind the catechumens of their approaching baptism and discipleship centered in the body of Christ. When classes are in the congregations, they could rotate between congregations on a weekly or monthly basis, or across the four periods of the catechumenate.

When?

Context will be the determinative factor here. Demands on time are going to vary between a rural, small town, and urban context. In a rural context, one might imagine that later in the evening would not be a good time during harvest season when farmers are rising early. Perhaps early Saturday mornings are best in a small town. Or maybe Sunday late afternoon/evening would work well in an urban context. And remember the need to provide childcare. Without that, many younger adults might be unable to attend.

The questions are intended to prompt the kind of visionary thinking that needs to happen. When it comes to coordinated, collaborative catechumenal classes—to a collaborative catechumenate across congregations—forward-looking thinking is essential. In Paul’s words, “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

We’d love to hear your ideas by contacting us at Kent@FormingLutherans.org or Rhoda@FormingLutherans.org.

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Photo by Kent Burreson
Font at Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris