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by Kent Jorgen Burreson (Author), Rhoda Grever Schuler (Author), Maxwell E. Johnson (Foreword by)
When many Christian congregations are asking, "How can we draw new members into our midst?" the authors reframe the question: "How can congregations make new disciples and deepen the faith of long-time Christians?" Rediscovery of the early church catechumenate provides a means to form new disciples in today's culture. Inspiring case studies of four congregations emphasize the contextual flexibility of adult faith formation. Interviews with catechumenal leaders and participants in adult faith formation reveal how a catechumenate that is central to congregational life can energize and orient the people of God toward the mission of God. Opening windows into congregational life, especially at worship, those who had journeyed through the adult faith formation process describe their experiences and the profound changes that took place in them. Adult faith formation is a journey--not a program--of belonging, believing, and behaving that draws people into Christ's orbit for life. As one participant said, "For the first time I understood what it meant to be a Christian." Through the adult catechumenate she heard the voice of Christ, calling her to new life and a rich baptismal identity.
Author Biography
Kent Jorgen Burreson has served as the Louis A. Fincke and Anna B. Shine Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, since fall 2000 and served as dean of chapel from 2009-2021. He holds an MA and PhD in Liturgical Studies from the University of Notre Dame and a MDiv from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
Rhoda Grever Schuler is professor emerita at Concordia University, St. Paul, having served on the full-time faculty in the department of theology and ministry from fall 2008 through fall 2020. She is a deaconess in the LCMS and holds a ThD in historical theology from Luther Seminary and an MA in liturgical studies from St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota.
