“The significant problems we face
today cannot be solved at the same
level of thinking we were at when we
created them.”
Albert Einstein
Technical problems (even though they may be
complex) can be solved with knowledge and
procedures already in hand.
 Leadership would be an easy and safe undertaking if
organizations and communities only faced problems
for which they already knew the solutions. Everyday,
people have problems for which they do, in fact, have
the necessary know-how and procedures—technical
problems.



Adaptive challenges require experiments, new
discoveries, and adjustments from numerous places in the
organization.
Without learning new ways—changing attitudes, values,
and deep-seated behaviors—people cannot make the
adaptive leap necessary to thrive in the new environment.
Adaptive challenges call for changes of heart and mind—
the transformation of long-standing habits and deeply
held assumptions and values.
Leadership is “the activity of mobilizing people to tackle the
toughest problems and do the adaptive work necessary to
achieve progress.”
(Ronald Heifetz and Martin Linsky)
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?
INCREASE IN HOME BROADBAND
Home broadband
80%
66%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
June
2000
April March March April March March March April
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
April
2009
May
2010
May August Jan
2011 2011 2012
100%
% of internet users
85%
86%
80%
83%
70% 71%
76%
67%
61%
60%
52%
48%
49%
51%
47%
35%
40%
33%
25%
20%
9%
7%
6%
0%
2005
8%
2006
4%
1%
2007
18-29
13%
11%
7%
2008
30-49
26%
25%
2009
50-64
2010
65+
2011
2012
67 million iPads
sold since 2010
when it was
introduced.
Prediction: 665 million tablets by 2016
2012: 120 million tablets – a 100% increase
over 2011.
The rise in accessible
information – increasing
exponentially.
 People are adding
information to Wikipedia
faster than we can read it.
Every day hundreds of
millions of people post
billions of distinct pieces of
content online.

New
Technologies
Growing
Diversity
New
Resources
21st
Century
Faith
Formation
It’s not a message problem!
It’s not a people problem!
It’s not a technology problem!
It’s not a resource problem!
It’s a delivery system problem –
the models we are using were
created in a different era!
How do we provide 21st
century faith formation?
Faith Formation in the Age of Networks
We are moving from the limitations of
faith formation in a schooling, linear,
textbook model with children and teens. . .
Grades 1-5
Grade 6-8
High School
Confirmation
???
Instead of being the center of faith
formation experiences, programs,
classes, and books now become nodes
on a much broader faith formation
network that is lifelong and lifewide.
The shift to networks will be
transformative in how we imagine and
organize faith formation for
all ages and generations.
BIBLE STUDY
@ CHURCH
BOOKS
ONLINE
COURSE
AUDIO
VIDEO
Learn
the
Bible
EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAM
- course
- conference
ONLINE
RESOURCE
CENTER
ONLINE
COMMUNITY
- experts
- learners
Online Bible Center
A Lifelong Faith
Formation
Network is a
way to provide
faith formation
for everyone,
anytime,
anywhere,
24x7x365.
UserGenerated
Content
Church
Programs
Small
Groups &
Support
Groups
Social
Media for
Connection
Mentors
Faith
Formation
Network
Blogs
Apps
Video
Conference
Online
Resources:
Print,
Audio,
Video
Community
Programs
Online
Courses
&
Activities
We are moving 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
diversity by offering a wide variety of religious content
and experiences
Providing Differentiated Faith Formation
We now have the models, resources, and
technologies to. . .
 Expand faith formation to address the diversity
of people today – life tasks and issues, religious
and spiritual needs
 Deliver religious content and experiences to
people wherever they are, 24 x 7 x 365
 Engage people in a wide variety of experiences
tailored to their needs, interests, spiritual journey,
and busy lives
 Connect people to each other – in physical places
and virtual spaces
On Your
Own
Community
& World
Church
Community
Mentored
Face-to-Face
& Virtual
@Home
Large
Group
Small
Group





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
Option 1. Program
(current model)
Social Networking
Space for a Blog,
Project Sharing
Online
Projects
(everyone)
Option 2.
Small Group
Program
Core Content
& Experiences
Option 4. Online
Program (print &
video) with Regular
Check-in
Option 3.
Mentored
Option 2.
Online Small
Group Program
using Skype
Content & Activities
for those of Vibrant
Faith & Engagement
Core Content
& Experiences
for Everyone
Content & Activities
for Spiritual but Not
Religious
Content & Activities
for Occasionals
All Youth




Sunday Worship
Service projects
Confirmation blog & online confirmation projects
Celebration of confirmation
Scenario 1 (In-Depth Experience)
 In-depth faith formation in theology, Bible,
spirituality, and Christian practices offered in
different formats, customized to the needs of the
young people: small group program, online
courses and resources, and mentors
 Spiritual formation experience (retreat) on
spiritual practices and disciplines
 Whole group confirmation-specific content
Scenario 4 (Foundations Experience)
 Foundational program in Christian life essentials offered




as a whole group experience, integrating confirmationspecific content
Experience of Christian practices and spiritual disciplines
Active participation in the activities of church life and
ministries; apprenticeships with ministries and leaders to
experience church life as “insiders”
Mentors to guide growth and participation in church life
Whole group confirmation-specific content
Scenarios 2 and 3 (Exploration Experience)
 Exploration experience to investigate the claims of the
Christian faith in an informal, no pressure, nonjudgmental, and friendly environment, offered in small
group settings with a meal and including topics such as:
Who is God? Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? Who is the
Holy Spirit? How can we have faith? Why and how do I
pray? Why and how should I read the Bible? How does
God guide us? How can I resist evil? What about the
Church? How can I make the most of the rest of my life?
 Introductory experiences of Christian life through
participating in Christian practices, service, worship, and
so on.
Family @Home
(Online
Resources)
Small Group Course
(online & physical
settings)
On Your Own
(Print, Audio,
Video, Online
Resources &
Courses)
Adult 4-Week
Lecture Series @
Church
(Videotaped &
online)
Whole
Church
Theme
Age Group
Programs:
Children & Youth
Small
Groups
UserGenerated
Content
Online
Courses &
Activities
GATHERED
EVENT
Online
Resources
Blogs &
Social
Media
Print,
Audio
Video
@ Home
Activities
Share What Your
Learning: Write a Blog
Entry, Create & Share a
Video or Project
Family & Parents
Center:
How-to helps (video,
audio, print)
Family Faith
Practices
Talk About It:
Conversation
Questions
Gathered
Program
Pray
Devotions, Bible
Reading, Table
Prayer
Learn More: Watch
a Video, Listen to a
Talk, Read an
Article
Live:
Action Project for
the Month
Share It
Blog/Forum
After Mass
In Programs
Family Conversation Activity
Study It
Taking Faith Home Insert
Homily Video + Study Guide
Daily Readings
Scripture Commentaries
Online Bible Study
Sunday
Worship
Live It
Living the Message Daily
Living Christian Practices
Service Ideas for the Week
Pray It
Weekly Table Prayer
Praying with the Saints
AM & PM Prayer
Faith
Formation
Before
Marriage
Preparation
for and
Celebration
of Marriage
Faith
Formation
After
Celebration
of Marriage
Couples
before
Marriage
Discernment
Faith
Formation
Marriage
Preparation
Mentors
Support
Groups
Parish
Website
S1 Faith
Growth Plan
S2 Faith
Growth Plan
S3 Faith
Growth Plan
Newly
Married
Couples
Mentors
Faith Practices
Prayer, Rituals, Bible
Reading, Service, Faith
Conversations
Continuing
Formation
Theology, Scripture,
Spirituality
Married Life
Tasks & Issues
Courses, Workshops,
Online Resources
Marriage
Support Groups
Quarterly Couple
Gatherings
MENTORS
MARRIAGE
PREP
- Online
- Gathered
SOCIAL
NETWORK
Newly
Married
Couples
MARRIAGE
ENRICHMENT
- Workshops
- Online
-Retreats
SMALL
GROUPS
& Support
Groups
FAITH
GROWTH
- Programs
- Online
Courses &
Resources
Families in
the First
Decade of
Life
Mentors
Parent Faith
Growth Plans:
S1, S2, S3, S4
Discernment
Family Faith
Growth Plans:
S1, S2, S3, S4
On Your Own
At Home
Small Group
Large Group
In Church
In Community
Online Resource
Center
Families in
the First
Decade of
Life
MENTORS
FAITH PRACTICES
@ HOME
Prayer, Rituals,
Bible, Family
Conversation,
Service
PARENT
FORMATION &
PARENTING SKILLS
Workshops Courses
Online Resources
Support Groups
MILESTONES
Baptism Anniversary,
First Prayers, Start of
School
FAMILY LEARNING
PROGRAMS
Church Gatherings
Small Groups
Workshops
BAPTISM
ONLINE RESOURCE
CENTER
Faith Formation
for Parents
before Baptism
Preparation for &
Celebration of
Baptism
Faith Formation
with Young
Families
Parent
Discernment
Mentors
(Grandparents)
Mentors
Faith Growth
Plans for
Parents
Face-to-Face &
Virtual
Preparation
Faith Practices
@Home
Online Faith
Formation
Center
Connection
with Church
Community
Parent Faith
Formation &
Parenting Skills
Support Groups
Milestone
Celebrations
Family
Gatherings
Online Faith
Formation
Center
SUNDAY
WORSHIP
REFLECTIO
DISCOVERING
FAITH
PROGRAMS
THEOLOGY
PROGRAMS
N
SOCIAL
LIFE TASKS &
TRANSITIONS
PROGRAMS
NETWORKS
& BLOGS
ADULT
FAITH
EXTENDED
PROGRAMS
& TRIPS
FORMATION
NETWORK
SMALL
GROUP
STUDIES
ONLINE
COURSES &
RESOURCES
BOOK OR
VIDEO
GROUPS
JUSTICE,
SERVICE,
MISSION
TRIPS
PRAYER,
SPIRITUAL
PRACTICES,
RETREATS
We Can Now
Provide Faith
Formation for
All Ages &
Generations!