Our Vision: To restore relationships to Biblical order through the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

Our Mission: The Mission of this Department is through proactive involvement to provide Biblically sound and theologically orthodox resources, both human and material, that assist congregations in making disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and equipping the saints for the work of ministry; thereby, building up congregations for the work of the Gospel."

Connect ~ Invest ~ Equip

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:14-16

The Department of Christian Faith Formation maintains a lending library, the Diocesan Resource Center, which is located on the second floor of the Diocesan House at 126 Coming Street in downtown Charleston. Please contact Peter Rothermel at (843) 722-4075 or by e-mail. for information on available resources or to schedule an appointment to visit the Resource Center.

Rothermel Recommends

As the Diocesan Coordinator for Faith Formation my heart's desire is help Christian educators throughout the diocese restore relationships to Biblical order through the transforming power of Christ. I've researched numerous resources and want to share with you some of my favorites. Also, I'd love for you to urge your parishioners to consider attending one or more of the events listed below. Thank you. Peter Rothermel

Recommended Events

Never Too Late: Encouraging Faith in your Adult Child, January 23-24
The mission of parenting doesn't end after your kids become adults, but it does change. St. James in Charleston is offering this upcoming seminar. Read more. Download the brochure.

Announcing the New Diocesan Faith Formation Orientation Guide

The Department of Christian Faith Formation is excited to announce the creation of an Orientation Guide. This document is designed to be a tool for anyone in the Diocese who contributes to the spiritual growth of current and future generations who follow Jesus.

The heart of the Orientation Guide is centered on the Department’s strategic goal to mobilize parent-led discipleship of new generations. The document’s primary focus calls churches and Christians to discover and act in accordance with the theology of Multigenerational Faithfulness. Through the lens of this vision, the Orientation Guide offers laity and ministry professionals resources including; articles and strategic steps for transformation ministries, job descriptions, a guide for materials and resources, practical tools and training offered through the Diocese, and an introductory Episcopal orientation for those entering ministry from other contexts. Download the Faith Formation Orientation Guide.

Recommended Resources

Faith at Home

The Faith at Home Resources include a book for parents that inspires, motivates and equips them to pass on their faith in God to their children, as well as abook designed to help Christian Educators bring the program to their churches and one designed especially for pastors. Learn more about the Faith Begins at Home series. Visit www.faithbeginsathome.com.

Letters from Dad
Letters from Dad is a program the Diocese heartily endorses. You may order videos and other resources for the program by clicking the "Letters from Dad" logo.

Visionary Parenting
Visionary Parenting is an exciting program that will help you catch a vision for God’s purpose for parenting, and equips you with tools to bridge the gap between where your family is today, and where God is calling you to go. Listen to the following Visionary Parenting audio downloads.

Nooma Film Series now available for free rental from the Diocesan Office
According to Rob Bell, founding pastor of the Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan, everything is spiritual. Rob has produced a series of short films that touch on everyday subjects, challenging the viewer to reflect on life and his or her relationship with God. The Diocese has purchased two sets of the popular film series. You may reserve a copy by contacting Susan Burns in the diocesan office.

What's New in the Resource Room

The Resource Room, found in the Diocesan Office at 126 Coming Street in Charleston, operates much like a lending library and is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please call (722-4075) or e-mail Susan Burns if you are interested in borrowing a resource or have an idea for a new resource.

Lord, Change My Attitude by James MacDonald and Barb Peil (11 session study)
James MacDonald says that God cares deeply about our attitudes. In this study, based on the Israelites’ journey out of Egypt – with lots of contemporary examples, James shows how attitudes can affect whether someone stays in the wilderness with negative attitudes or enjoys the blessings of the promised land with God‐honoring attitudes.

Fingerprints of God: Recognizing God’s Touch on Your Life, by Jennifer Rothschild (7 sessions)
The God who raised mountains and set the mighty waves in motion wants you to feel His tender touch. While not skin‐on‐skin, God’s touch is always personal. Author, speaker, and recording artist Jennifer Rothschild understands that God guides us on pathways we cannot navigate alone. God’s essential touch separates us from all other created beings. His touch warms, affirms, and guides us; it communicates value and self‐esteem.

Parenting: The Early Years, 10 Biblical Traits Your Kids will Remember You For, with teaching from Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott (6 sessions)
Who you are matters more than what you do. When your kids are all grown up, how will they remember you? Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott will take you through a parenting approach you won’t find in any other parenting resource. In reality TV style, take a sneak peek at the real-life parenting moments and vulnerable questions from 20 families. Discover 10 Biblical traits that will make you a better person and a better parent. Then, begin to intentionally pass on key traits to your kids.

Beth Moore Series available (some are DVD and some are VHS):
Breaking Free
A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place
A Heart like His, Seeking the Heart of God through a study of David
Jesus, the One and Only
Beloved Disciple, the Life and Ministry of John
Living Beyond Yourself
When Godly People Do UnGodly Things
To Live is Christ, the Life and Ministry of Paul
Believing God: Experiencing a Fresh Explosion of Faith
The Patriarchs
Daniel
Lift up Your Voice
Stepping Up, a Journey through to Psalms

Grandparenthood: More Than Rocking Chairs

This exciting video series by Dr. Tim and Darcy Kimmel equips grandparents to make a difference in the lives of future generations.

The modern-day family is in a battle and the cultural enemies are formidable.
Many families are overwhelmed with the stresses that push them to the limits of
their energy and resources. Now, more than ever, grandparents are seen as necessities to their family’s success, needed to provide the extra strength and endurance necessary to win the war for the family.

It’s easy for grandparents to feel irrelevant, undervalued, disconnected or even unsure of their roles or boundaries. Grandparenthood can change this by giving you a pro-active, deeply relational way to make an earthly and eternal difference to your grandchildren. Learn more.

In this Video Study you'll learn how to:

Pass on a great sense of blessing to each one of your grandchildren.
Be a light to guide the way for the generations that follow you.
Set a clear and reliable standard for your grandchildren to emulate.
Help your grandchildren if and when their parents go through a divorce or difficult times.
Respond graciously if your grandchildren move in with you.
Be an effective grandparent to your step-grandchildren.
"Spoil" your grandchildren in a positive way.
Avoid crossing the fine line between intervening and interfering.
Process the inevitable conflicts that go with grandparenting.
Grow even closer to your grandchildren as they grow older.
Leave a legacy that will go on forever.

The Gift of Grandparenting: Building a Meaningful Relationship With Your Grandchildren
By Eric Wiggin / Tyndale House

More than a source for cookies and zoo trips, grandparents, whether around the corner or across the country-can impact a child's life for eternity. From passing on family history and imparting godly wisdom to sharing special times and fun activities, Wiggin encourages grandparents to take an active role in helping build spiritually strong families.

The Power of a Godly Grandparent: Leaving a Spiritual Legacy
By Stephen & Janet Bly / Beacon Hill Press

You may or may not have material wealth to leave your grandchildren, but you have a rich heritage to pass on. Give your grandchildren the power of unconditional love. Give your grandchildren the power of your own testimony of faith, and show them how God will be faithful through the coming generations. Whether your grandchildren live across the country or down the street, the Blys will show you how to be a grandparent your
grandkids can count on.

Story of the Journal
Cavin Harper, Executive Director of Christian Grandparenting Network

I have always looked for ways to bring generations together in a closer bond. I was blessed to stumble onto a practical tool for building that bond between the generations.

As the administrator of Christian camps that children and grandparents attend together, I needed to create a quick and easy way to get grandparents and grandchildren on the same page.

The idea of the "Legacy Journal" was born on those camping trips, where we would Xerox off a sheet of journaling ideas and have camp participants fill them out together. I saw the amazing affect that this little piece of paper had on relationships between generations, children laughing at the stories of grandpa's courtship of grandma, listening eagerly to the history of family traditions, working earnestly with their grandparents to describe their family. I realized then that this wasn't just an activity to fill a rainy afternoon at camp - it was a tool that could be properly developed and expanded, to create heirloom-quality keepsakes that will be permanent supports to an intergenerational family bond.

We expanded and rewrote the journal from the ground up, creating a beautiful 80-page wire-bound book for grandparents and grandchildren to complete together. These Journals are of exceptionally high quality and will be a treasured possession for grandchildren - and for their children and grandchildren, too. When a grandparent and a grandchild do a Legacy Journal together, they aren't filling in sheets of paper - they're creating eternal memories that will bond the generations together and build a family tradition that can span lifetimes. http://www.legacyjournal.org/
http://www.grandparenthood.net/

ABCs of Christian Grandparenting (ABC’s of Christian Life Ser. 12) (Hardcover)

by Robert G. Bruce (Author), Debra Bruce (Author)
http://www.amazon.com/ABCs-Christian-Grandparenting-Abcs-Life/dp/0570053501

Keeping Grandparents Grand
By Charles Schneider

This article is courtesy of ParentLife magazine.

It was a cold and snowy day when we said goodbye to our four grown daughters and headed for a new job in another state eight hours away. We felt a tug at our hearts as we moved away from our family for the first time, especially since our daughter and son-in-law had surprised us with the news that they were expecting a baby. This baby would be our first grandchild, so we naturally began to think about what it means to be a grandparent.

Bible Promises To Treasure For Grandparents

Seventy million Americans – about one-third of all adults – are grandparents. Grandparents can be valuable role models and offer support and encouragement. Christian grandparents can model for parents and their Grandparents also can be a source of baby-sitting. Many grandparents even find themselves in a parenting role as they have assumed the responsibility for
raising one or more of their grandchildren. In the year 2000, 3.5 million children in the United States were growing up in families headed by grandparents. Raising grandchildren can be a positive experience for both
grandparents and grandchildren. Grandparents who raise children are more likely to live longer and more active lives.

Many grandparents and grand-children live great distances from one another. We are willing to travel long distances to be with our grandchildren and their parents, but many grandparents cannot do so. Distance can be a negating factor in the role grandparents play. However, steps can be taken to minimize the effect of distance in the role grandparents play in the lives of their grandchildren. These suggestions can help keep grandparents and grandchildren connected:

Prominently display pictures of grandparents in your home. Make a point of drawing attention, especially of small children, to the pictures.
Refer to grandparents by the name the children call them.
Many grandparents know how to use computers. Up-to-date photos can be exchanged via e-mail. Our computer took on added value when we started receiving pictures of our grandchildren. We have archived the photos and look back on them frequently.
Encourage older children to call or e-mail grandparents to relate important happenings in their lives. Make it a priority to keep the grandparents involved. We live in busy times with many important matters competing for our time and attention. If we do not prioritize making interaction occur, children will grow up missing the wonderful experience of knowing their grandparents.
Plan family vacations at central locations that would make it possible for grandparents who live a distance from the family to be included.
When the grandchildren are older, leave them with their grandparents for a few days. You and your spouse can enjoy some time alone together. Be sensitive to the grandparents’ schedule and energy level when making these arrangements.
Celebrate special events when grandparents can attend, or take the events to them. Alternating with in-laws has to be considered when making arrangements to visit for holidays. The best gift that you can give grandparents is time with their grandchildren, whether in person or by phone. As parents, find unique and special ways frequently – not just once a year – to let your parents know how
much you appreciate their continued interaction with the family.

Charles Schneider is a proud grandfather. http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D155075%2526M%253D
50018,00.html