Develop Awareness of Online Christian Formation Resources Standing Commission on Lifelong Christian Formation and Education Christian Formation

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1 RESOLUTION NO.: 2015-A075 GENERAL CONVENTION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2015 ARCHIVES RESEARCH REPORT TITLE: PROPOSER: TOPIC: Develop Awareness of Online Christian Formation Resources Standing Commission on Lifelong Christian Formation and Education Christian Formation Directly Related: (Attached) 2012-A046 Commend the Ministry of Lifelong Christian Formation 2009-A083 Encourage Dioceses to Formulate a Strategy for Lifelong Christian Formation Indirectly Related: (Available in the Acts of Convention database, searchable by resolution number) 2012-D037 Fund Lifelong Christian Formation and Vocation 2009-A082 Adopt the Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation 2009-A103 Authorize Development of a Continuing Education Web Site 2006-D082 Launch an Information Technology Cooperative Network 2003-A080 Direct Episcopal Church Center to Maintain a User-Friendly Website 2000-B015 Support Development of Episcopal Educational Materials for All Ages 1997-D034 Request Dioceses to Establish Minimum Continuing Education Standards 1988-A072 Direct Church Staff to Use Computers to Communicate on Educational Matters 1982-D064 Affirm Support of Programs for Lay Ministry in the Secular World In preparing this report, the Archives researched the resolutions in the Acts of Convention database for the period 1976 through 2012, selecting direct resolutions that have a substantive bearing on the proposed legislation. The direct resolutions are attached and indirect resolutions are available in the Acts of Convention database. Committee members who require other research assistance should contact the Archives at before Convention or at Convention in the General Convention Secretariat. The Acts of General Convention Research report provided by The Archives of the Episcopal Church

2 Resolution Number: 2012-A046 Title: Commend the Ministry of Lifelong Christian Formation Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Amended Final Text: Resolved, That the 77th General Convention commend FORMA, formerly the National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors (NAECED) for their work in developing and supporting lifelong Christian Formation in The Episcopal Church; and be it further Resolved, That the 77th General Convention commend the ministry of Christian formation and education leaders in The Episcopal Church for continuing to lift up The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation adopted at the 76th General Convention and the importance of inviting, inspiring, and transforming people in the Christian faith as well as the continued development of training for leaders of the Church; and be it further Resolved, That the 77th General Convention commend to all dioceses and congregations the use of online Christian formation and leadership certifications as well as other forms of continuing education for Christian educators; and be it further Resolved, That the 77th General Convention commend the work of FORMA, formerly NAECED in continuing to develop the Certificate in Leadership for Lifelong Christian Formation (CLLCF); and the programs of the Center for the Ministry of Teaching at Virginia Theological Seminary, the Certificate Program in Christian Education at the Seminary of the Southwest, the Certificate in the Spiritual Guidance of Children at the General Theological Seminary, and other recognized entities for offering continuing education opportunities and certification for those called to the ministry of Christian formation; and be it further Resolved, That the 77th General Convention commend the Formation and Vocation Offices of The Episcopal Church in actively collaborating and serving as a resource as needed for the appropriate development and promotion of these certificate programs. Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...the Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 2012 (New York: General Convention, 2012), pp Archives Research Report, 2012-A046 Page 1 of 1

3 Resolution Number: 2009-A083 Title: Legislative Action Taken: Final Text: Encourage Dioceses to Formulate a Strategy for Lifelong Christian Formation Concurred as Amended Resolved, That the 76th General Convention strongly encourage all dioceses to formulate a strategy for Lifelong Christian Formation in the next triennium; and be it further Resolved, That such strategies should encompass and be suitable for all persons (e.g. various ages, languages and abilities). These strategies should be responsive to diocesan and societal contexts and accurately depict the current education and formation status. Because formation is not limited to a cognitive experience (classroom), formation should be holistic (encompasses learning, action and reflection); and be it further Resolved, That the Congregational Life Center design an instrument and system of collection that will document currently available and successful programs, activities and resources. The instrument will pay special attention to resolutions adopted and resources highlighted at the 76th and each successive General Convention. In addition, such an endeavor will seek to gather the aspirations for diocesan future programs/activities concerning Christian formation; and be it further Resolved, That the information and data collected be forwarded to the SCLEF by January 31, Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...the Episcopal Church, Anaheim, 2009 (New York: General Convention, 2009), pp Archives Research Report, 2009-A083 Page 1 of 1

4 A075 TOPIC: CHRISTIAN FORMATION Develop Awareness of Online Christian Formation Resources PROPOSER Standing Commission on Lifelong Christian Formation and Education ENDORSED BY SPONSORED BY PAGE NUMBER(S) FOR REFERENCE Blue Book: p. N/A; Constitution & Canons: p. N/A CURRENT STATUS Awaiting Committee Action HOUSE OF INITIAL ACTION / LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE HB / 12 - Formation and Education for Ministry REVIEW STATUS (PB&F, CONSTITUTION, CANONS) N/A; not yet reviewed; not yet reviewed RESOLUTION TEXT 1 Resolved, the House of concurring, That the Episcopal Church Center establish a prominent tab or link on the website of The Episcopal Church to give persons seeking Christian Formation resources access to websites that provide suitable Christian Formation resources, including the websites maintained by Forma, the Center for Spiritual Resources of the Diocese of Western North Carolina, Anglicans Online, and the Center for the Ministry of Teaching at Virginia Theological Seminary; and be it further 2 Resolved, That the Episcopal Church Center publicize to dioceses, congregations, and Christian Formation leaders the availability of these websites that provide helpful Christian Formation resources, and be it further 3 Resolved, That dioceses and congregations with websites consider including links to websites that provide suitable Christian Formation resources; and be it further 4 Resolved, That Christian Formation leaders throughout The Episcopal Church be encouraged to share with these websites suitable formation resources that they themselves have developed. EXPLANATION There are a number of electronic resource hubs that provide easy online access to, and a workable index of, resources for Christian Formation. This resolution urges The Episcopal Church to make the existence and content of resource hubs more widely known and available to Episcopalians at all levels. The resource hubs are especially helpful to small congregations. Some of the currently available electronic resource hubs are maintained by Forma ( and by the Center for Spiritual Resources of the Diocese of Western North Carolina ( by Anglicans Online ( and by the Center for the Ministry of Teaching at Virginia Theological Seminary ( The Episcopal Church can be a connector to help coordinate access to the resources that exist both inside and outside the Church today by creating a prominent tab or a link on its website ( to serve as a portal for any church or individual seeking materials to support ministry in the area of Christian Formation. The Church Center should also make congregations and Christian Formation ministers aware of the electronic Printed: Monday, May 04, 2015 at 09:41 AM. Page 1 of 2

5 resource hubs. Most dioceses and congregations do not have a staff member to search for program ideas and resources from the greater Episcopal community in the area of Faith Formation. The internet greatly reduces that isolation, but it takes a trained eye and an Episcopal ethos to analyze the vast amount of content that is found on the web that can inform living out our Baptismal Covenant and the Five Marks of Mission. Finally, many Christian Formation leaders in congregations have developed materials that they use and which would be helpful to others. This resolution requests that these Christian Formation leaders submit these materials to the electronic resource hubs so they can be used by others. Printed: Monday, May 04, 2015 at 09:41 AM. Page 2 of 2