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with life today and develop models, practices and resources for the 21st century? Web and digital technologies are transforming life and learning. Every day religious publishers and organizations, seminaries and uni- versities, congregations and individ- uals create digital religious content (the Bible, Bible studies, prayer and spiritual practices, daily devotions and online courses).


The best part of these technologies is that people already own them— computers, smartphones and tab- lets—and know how to use them. Consider that 88 percent of homes have broadband Internet access, according to pewinternet. org. And Internet users include 75 percent of people 65 and younger and 58 percent of those aged 66 to 74. Social networks draw more than 71 percent of those 49 and younger, and 52 percent of those 50 to 64. More than 50 percent of those 18 to 46 (and 35 percent of 47- to 56-year- olds) access the Internet from their smartphones. And 67 million iPads have been sold since 2010, with pro- jected sales of an additional 120 mil- lion tablets by the end of 2012. Just as an earlier era adopted


the technology of schooling and the printing press to produce edu- cational models using catechisms and textbooks, in the 21st century we can adopt digital technologies, approaches and content to transform faith formation in our congregations. It’s now possible for a congregation to provide educational opportuni- ties for everyone, anytime, any- where—24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. Faith formation can be custom-


ized and personalized for all ages around life tasks, issues, interests, spiritual needs and busy lives. We can engage people in a wide diver- sity of programs, activities and


resources that incorporate a variety of ways to learn—on your own, with a mentor, at home, in small groups, in large groups, in the congregation and in the community and world— both in physical gatherings and vir- tual online settings.


This basic shift lets us fashion faith formation around people instead of making them “fit” into our pro- grams and activities.


Imagine the possibilities. Congre- gations can: • Create an online faith formation center (a website) where people of all ages can find (and link to) high qual- ity religious content and experiences (worship, prayer, spiritual practices, Bible study, Christian beliefs and tra- ditions, rituals and milestones, music and so much more). • Offer a variety of online Bible and theology courses for individuals and small groups by selecting the best offerings on iTunes University and from college and seminary continu- ing education programs. Leaders can catalog and link to these courses on the faith formation website, connect- ing adults who want to study a course together. They can even create a blog or wiki (an informational website where users can add or edit content) so people can share their reflections and learning with the whole church community. • Give parents access to the best knowledge for parenting through the church’s website (linking to or help- ing them locate print, audio, video resources). Leaders can start a wiki or blog to share parenting experiences and insights—and invite all from the congregation (and around the world) to join them. • Redesign children’s faith formation so youth can do projects and activities with their parents online (at a secure site, such as www.edmodo.com). These websites allow congregations to refocus in-person “class time” to


allow children to present their proj- ects and demonstrate their learning. • Supply different versions of a con- firmation program—with online and face-to-face activities—so young people (with the help of a guide or mentor) can select the content and activities most appropriate to their religious and spiritual needs. • Provide online Bible study to small groups of young adults who can connect virtually each week through online video-conferencing or a social networking website like Facebook or Google+ to share their reflections. • Offer a small group of young people who want to learn more about Chris- tianity the opportunity to take an online college-level theology class using a free course from the iTunesU catalog. They can share their reflec- tions and learning with each other via a blog or wiki or during a gathering at a restaurant or bar. • Give art lovers a way to explore Christian works by virtually studying art in the great museums of the world. Group members can meet online and


Resources


• Click 2 Save: The Digital Ministry Bible by Elizabeth Drescher and Keith Anderson (Morehouse, 2012). • Faith Formation 2020: Designing the Future of Faith Formation by John Roberto (LifelongFaith Associ- ates, 2010; www.LifelongFaith.com and www.faithformation2020.net). • Grouped: How Small Groups of Friends Are the Key to Influence on the Social Web by Paul Adams (New Riders, 2011). • Networked: The New Social Oper- ating System by Lee Rainie and Barry Wellman ( MIT Press, 2012). • Tweet If You ♥ Jesus: Practicing Church in the Digital Reformation by Elizabeth Drescher (Morehouse, 2011).


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