Teach the Faith

One of the key planks of Reader Ministry (Licensed Lay Ministry) as well as ordained ministry is to teach the faith. That can be done in a variety of ways, from sermons to home groups to individual conversations. Back in the day when our Prayer Book was first devised, it involved teaching people to memorise, and understand a catechism, a set of questions and answers that taught key elements of faith and practice.

What is the basic content of the faith that we need to include in Christian Basics courses or Confirmation Courses? What do we need to teach as part of our ongoing follow-up after Baptism and / or Confirmation? What do we teach about the faith as Anglicans understand it to those who join us from another denomination?

If one set of questions is all about content, then another is about method. What helps people learn? How do we teach skills like finding your way round the Bible? Is there still a place for learning some things by heart – key scripture verses, the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles’ Creed? All these are questions that traditionally come under the heading of catechetics.

Iin many parts of the world Anglican and other churches train specific people as catechists. The Roman Catholic church has both a very developed catechism and published guidance for catechesis. Are there lessons we can learn from elsewhere?

This workshop is a conversation which Doug Chaplin, Discipleship and Lay Training Officer and John Fitzmaurice, Director of Vocations and Ordinands, are hosting for those who are interested in asking, exploring and answering these questions. It is particularly aimed at Licensed Lay Ministers, but is open to all who engage in this ministry of catechesis.

To book your place, please click here.