Rethinking Adult Religious Education

Increasingly, adults do not see the church as a credible provider of quality religious education. This revision by R. Michael Harton of the classic work by Leon McKenzie addresses the foundational issues of what constitutes such an education for adults and how ministers and teachers can determine and understand the needs of learners. It also offers ways to involve learners in the planning and execution of their own religious education. A must-read for ministers and seminarians who care about the religious education of adults. Leon McKenzie is a retired professor of adult education at Indiana University, where he also served as Director of Human Resource Development for Indiana University Hospital. He received his Ed.D. in adult education from IU. and has authored several books, including Adult Education and the Burden of the Future and Adult Education and World View Construction. He lives in Indianapolis. R. Michael Harton has authored several articles on local church adult education, and contributed to A Church's Ministry to Adults and Handbook on Adult Religious Education. A former congregational educator and seminary professor, he now serves the Virginia Baptist Resource Center in Richmond, Virginia, and teaches adjunctively at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. He received his Ed.D. in adult education and instructional systems technology from Indiana University.

Close to 60 percent of young people who went to church as teens drop out after high school. Now the bestselling author of unChristian trains his researcher's eye on these young believers. Where Kinnaman's first book unChristian showed the world what outsiders aged 16-29 think of Christianity, You Lost Me shows why younger Christians aged 16-29 are leaving the church and rethinking their faith. Based on new research, You Lost Me shows pastors, church leaders, and parents how we have failed to equip young people to live "in but not of" the world and how this has serious long-term consequences. More importantly, Kinnaman offers ideas on how to help young people develop and maintain a vibrant faith that they embrace over a lifetime.

A simple, clear introduction to higher education from a Christian perspective for the adult student.

Since the ending of Vatican II, the church has officially published no fewer than eight major documents calling for adults to be the center of the church's educational mission. And the Catholic faithful are calling on the church to quench their thirst for a deepening of their lived faith. They realize that the catechesis they received as children simply isn't enough to continue in the faith as adults in the church and world; they desire a deepened faith. In Deepening Faith, Janet Schaeffler, OP, offers a practical guide and source of encouragement to parish and diocesan committees, catechists, and adult faith formation teams. She outlines the essential foundations, methods and strategies that can support this journey for today's adults of all ages and generations.

The shift from adolescence to adulthood, a recently identified stage of life called "emerging adulthood," covers an increasing span of years in today's culture (roughly ages 18-30) due to later marriages and extended education. During this prolonged stage of exploration and self-definition, many young adults drift away from the church. Here two authors--both veteran teachers who are experienced in young adult and campus ministry--address this new and urgent field of study, offering a Christian perspective on what it means to be spiritually formed into adulthood. They provide a "practical theology" for emerging adult ministry and offer insight into the key developmental issues of this stage of life, including identity, intimacy and sexuality, morality, church involvement, spiritual formation, vocation, and mentoring. The book bridges the gap between academic and popular literature on emerging adulthood and offers concrete ways to facilitate spiritual formation among emerging adults.

"[This book is a] self-help guide for all of us seeking to define our purpose in life. [F]ull of relatable stories about [the author and his life-long work in ministry, this book will help you discover that true happiness is found when we are totally oriented to God. With the same high energy he brings to his talks to youth and adult audiences, [the author] will help you identify what you're truly looking for in life"--Amazon.com.