You’ve gotta love Boomers. They changed our culture. Once upon a time education was for kids. If you were smart enough to go to college, then your schooling would extend to your early 20s. For everyone else, you graduated high school, went into the workforce and, apart from on-the-job training, that was the end of your formal education.
Then the Boomers unleashed their curiosity on an unsuspecting world. For them, retirement was not the end of things, but a chance to learn new stuff. They said things like, “I think I’ll learn German ... I’ve always wanted to take up Mahjongg ... I want to travel and encounter other histories and cultures.” Boomers were inquisitive, eager to explore, and believed they had a duty to improve themselves right up to their final breaths.
They also reinvented Sunday School, but they called it ‘Adult Formation’. Why let the kids learn about the Bible and how to live a good Christian life, and not allow the adults to do the same? So, they wrote courses, designed curricula, and exploited media to help the Church understand that discipleship is a life-long learning process.
Today I’m thrilled to be able to tell you about a huge step forward St John’s is making in the ministry of Adult Formation. Our parish has long been known for the quality of its teaching. We have had some stellar clergy in the last couple of decades who have been immensely gifted at helping adults to learn more about their faith and how to live it. However, as we all know, fewer people are being ordained today and even fewer are seeking a call to Alabama. As a consequence, our task of providing quality Adult Formation has suffered.
So, if there happens to be a highly-gifted, charismatic, energetic, lay person in the parish who has earned a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry from an accredited seminary, and has experience of working for United Methodist and Episcopal churches, why not hire them to lead our Adult Formation? Great idea! Glory to God, we do have such a person already on our parish staff - Emily Howard, whom you all know and value as our Director of Communications.
Emily has done a fantastic job introducing new digital ways of communication in the parish. You’ve also enjoyed her talented writing style in the occasional newsletter article and Lenten study guide. Now, beginning on June 1 Emily will occupy a new position on our staff - Lay Associate for Adult Formation. In her new role, Emily will continue to do our digital communication (like the website and newsletters) but will become a vital part of our Sunday morning and midweek Adult Formation programs.
An immediate fruit of Emily’s new role is that we will once again be able to offer year-round adult formation classes at 9:15 on Sundays, and not only at those times when Duncan is not tied up with the All-Age Service and the Welcome Course. Emily will also be looking to build in-person midweek programs and seeing how we can make the most of online platforms to provide a rich experience of spiritual growth for people beyond childhood. Look out for news very soon of a new class beginning at 9:15 on June 7, led by Emily.
Welcome to your new role, Emily!