On Sunday, January 12, our family of faith gathered around a group of parents who brought their children for the sacrament of Holy Baptism. It is always a powerful witness as parents courageously make a commitment to “be responsible for seeing that the child…is brought up in the Christian faith and life” and boldly state their intent to “help this child to grow into the full stature of Christ by their prayers and witness” (Book of Common Prayer, pg. 302). The writers of our liturgy offer us hope in this awesome task by appropriately including in the response “with God’s help.”

It all begins here at baptism…a life-long journey of growing into the full stature of Christ. A life of being a ‘peculiar’ people, a people of love, faith, and hope who proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ, who seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving neighbor as self, who strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being, who live in community sharing in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayer.

How do we as a church guide and support persons in this journey? How do we help each person to grow into the full stature of Christ? How do we assist in the formation of Christ-like people? These are questions I have continually asked myself over the years in professional ministry. They are questions I have been asking the lay leadership. They are questions I now offer you.

I will be attending a conference in February with clergy, educators, and lay leadership sponsored by the National Office of the Episcopal Church on the topic of Christian Formation. The conference will focus on faith formation in the Church and the changing context of our lives. Bishop Curry and Dr. Parker Palmer are the keynote speakers. It is my hope to gain new insights and directives and upon my return to begin conversations from generation to generation.