Toward An Adult Church

Penance. Confirmation. Eucharist. Children participate in these sacraments, and many other Catholic rites, thanks to America's long-standing model of parish catechesis. Once children become adults, however, what becomes of their faith formation?In Toward an Adult Church: A Vision of Faith Formation, Jane Regan explores the current structure of parish catechesis. Basing her ideas on contemporary theory and traditional practice, Regan sets forth an intriguing argument: the vitality of the Church depends on establishing a new education paradigm--one that is focused on adults.How can parishes design a framework for adult catechesis? Will such programs be accepted by local church communities? Where does children's faith formation fit into the new structure?Regan answers these questions and offers ideas for developing a balanced approach to religious education--one that addresses the ongoing faith life of adults.

If you're not reaching the future of the church, your church has no future. As much sting as that statement has, it's hard to argue with. Yet many churches have no idea how to attract and retain younger generations. If you want to understand how to reach, teach, and empower young adults in your church, Jonathan "JP" Pokluda is ready to show you how. Sharing stories of successes and failures during his years of ministering to Millennials, JP offers you transferable principles that will help you mobilize the next generation toward Jesus. He encourages and equips you to - be real - teach the whole truth - hold traditions loosely - find young leaders - give the ministry away - and so much more Tomorrow's church is out there, waiting for you to care, to reach out, to understand their struggles, and to show them why today's church needs, wants, and cherishes them.

Young people aren’t walking away from the church—they’re sprinting. According to a recent study by Ranier Research, 70 percent of youth leave church by the time they are 22 years old. Barna Group estimates that 80 percent of those reared in the church will be “disengaged” by the time they are 29 years old. Unlike earlier generations of church dropouts, these “leavers” are unlikely to seek out alternative forms of Christian community such as home churches and small groups. When they leave church, many leave the faith as well. Drawing on recent research and in-depth interviews with young leavers, Generation Ex-Christian will shine a light on this crisis and propose effective responses that go beyond slick services or edgy outreach. But it won’t be easy. Christianity is regarded with suspicion by the younger generation. Those who leave the faith are often downright cynical. To make matters worse, parents generally react poorly when their children go astray. Many sink into a defensive crouch or go on the attack, delivering homespun fire-and-brimstone sermons that further distance their grown children. Others give up completely or take up the spiritual-sounding “all we can do is pray” mantra without truly exploring creative ways to engage their children on matters of faith. Some turn to their churches for help, only to find that they frequently lack adequate resources to guide them. This is where Generation Ex-Christian will lend a hand. It will equip and inspire parents, church leaders, and everyday Christians to reawaken the prodigal's desire for God and set him or her back on the road to a dynamic faith. The heart of the book will be the raw profiles of real-world, young ex-Christians. No two leavers are identical, but upon close observation some categories emerge. The book will identify seven different kinds of leavers (the postmodern skeptic, the drifter, the neopagan, etc.) and offer practical advice for how to connect with each type. Shrewd tips will also intersperse the chapters alerting readers to opportunities for engagement, and to hidden landmines they must sidestep to effectively reach leavers.

Every day, another Millennial becomes an adult. For many young people, the transition is a bumpy one, fraught with opportunities to make mistakes and bad choices. The clear expectations they had at home or in school are gone, and they may feel unprepared to face what comes next. But sometimes we make it harder than it has to be. Combining entertaining stories from his own experience, insights from the Bible, and compelling evidence from research, "JP" Pokluda lays out a roadmap for how to navigate life as an adult, addressing topics like - friendships and dating - career and money management - interpersonal conflict - controlling anxiety - recovering from addiction - and discovering your purpose on this earth Anyone struggling to find a footing in the world of adult life will welcome this witty, non-patronizing guide.

The author argues that the chief and most pressing function of catechetics is to foster an adult Church by according a deeper respect to the hitherto underrated roles of freedom and intelligence in religious development, and by diverting much of the Church's educational resources into adult education.

Reimagining Young Adult ministry takes the guesswork out of reaching the next generation by first opening the roadmap and firmly clarifying "you are here" with the state of the relationship between Millennials and the church. From there it goes on to uncover 6 of the most common mistakes that almost every church makes when they try and connect with young adults (hint: you've probably done them too!). Finally, the book walks you through 6 new ways of thinking that will totally reshape your approach with young adults to one that will succeed followed by a step by step process that you can take and begin implementing right now.

One of the first books of its kind addressing how young adults are living in an intentional community in the Episcopal Church. Young adults (18-30) are searching for a church that demands their involvement, whether it is in mission, worship, theology, or daily life. They want a church that is relevant and offers a vision of the Divine. This book places the church in context with consumerism, freedom of choice, war and terror, and the impact of technology now dominating the worldview of young adults. Drawing upon the proven success at St. Hilda s House in New Haven, CT, this book provides stories and narratives from young adult interns, who are involved in its mission and ministry."

Thirty years ago John Hull wrote “What Prevents Christian Adults from Learning?”. This new book asks “What Prevents Christian Adults from Acting?” How has it come about that the Church appears to be so preoccupied with itself? What happened to the quest for the social justice of the Kingdom of God?