Learn
The work of Christian Education at Disciples Home Missions goes back many years. The same is true for the work of Merger Staff* responsible for this service to the church. Christian Education and Faith Formation are siblings in our walk with God, but not identical twins. Institutional practices like Sunday School, Vacation Bible Schools, liturgies, Bible studies, camp songs, corporate prayers, scripture recitation, and even predictable components of worship are all forms of Christian Education that many of us have come to know and value.
Faith Formation is the intentional development of authentic, relational, vulnerable, communing relationship with God and all God’s creation. Faith Formation is not transactional; it is transcendental. In times of both exceeding joy and deep crisis, our faith formation reveals itself. Often, our faith formation starts with an introduction to some form of Christian Education.
At DHM, we design resources and experiences for Christian Education and Faith Formation in your congregational, regional, and personal lives. It is our joy and responsibility to grow the capacity of learners and teachers in the Christian Church to strengthen one another spiritually and communally with Jesus as our guide.
Please help yourself to our many resources and be sure to share them with others.
Resources
Use the tools below to browse our resources and filter your results:
This season in our churches, homes, and schools feels heavy, but our collective capacity to strengthen one another and our communities is great. We are an extension of our magnificent Creator--one who emboldens, loves, and heals us toward a world that is unlike empire. The Realm of God moves by the Spirit in all living things, cultivating justice and harmony one precious load of anointing at a time.
It is imperative we lift up and carry the power of the Holy Spirit in refreshing ways. Our legions of lay leaders fortify the church for every season, especially those seasons that dare us to follow Jesus. “Weightlifters” provides you with enough development materials for monthly laity training over the next year. Let us lean into intentional conditioning and be well!
DHM is pleased to offer our 2024 resource for the Advent Season. Take time to sit with reflections from our thoughtful writers (Miseon Choi, David Clifford, James Semmelroth, Darnell Managerrie Winston), listen to a few songs, and say a prayer. Blessed Advent!
From the Theological Manna Series -- Theopoetics: Black Women's Poetic Writing as Spiritual Practice with Dr. Oluwatomisin Oredein
From the Theological Manna Series -- Prayer, Uncertainty, and Pastoral Care with Dr. Eunil David Cho
From the Theological Manna Series -- Membership Has Its Privileges: Systems and Equity in the Hebrew Bible with Rev. Kimberly D. Russaw
Death, Dying, and Bereavement -- A Theological Manna Conversation featuring Dr. Jamie Eaddy and Dr. Dan Moseley; moderated by Rev. Monique Crain Spells
Theological Manna Conversation: Communal Faith Formation for Today. A Webinar featuring Dr. William Crowder, Dr. Young Lan Kim, Dr. Kimberly Johnson, Dr. Bill Kincaid, and Dr. Yara Gonzalez-Justiniano
Panel Discussion featuring Dr. Amy Lindeman Allen, Dr. Irie L. Session, Rev. Gabriel Lopez, and Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri; moderated by Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray
Watch the Recording from the second session of the Thursdays in Black Summit! Join us as we participate in rich dialogue and intentional learning on Gender & Sexual Based Violence through the lens of Thursdays in Black!
Together, we’ll learn how to partner in Breaking the Chains of gender and sexual based violence through deconstructing biblical narratives, testimony in action, social media’s influence on youth and ways to engage in violence prevention and anti-trafficking work.
Join us as we participate in rich dialogue and intentional learning on Gender & Sexual Based Violence through the lens of Thursdays in Black!
Together, we’ll learn how to partner in Breaking the Chains of gender and sexual based violence through deconstructing biblical narratives, testimony in action, social media’s influence on youth and ways to engage in violence prevention and anti-trafficking work.
Lent arrives early to us this year, but the leadership of Jesus is always on time. Please enjoy and share reflections from Alan Dicken, Caroline Hamilton-Arnold, Fiyori Kidane, and Natasha Robinson. They have given prophetic encouragement for this time!
Take some time to share the 2024 Week of Laity Resource “Care in Plain Sight” with your church, friends, and family. Rev. Dr. Milton Keys has given us beautiful reflections on how to be more intentional in our caring as Jesus cared, a call to action with partners is included, and an affirming litany is ready for your laity service!
Truly, this is a season of Advent. We need the hope, justice, comfort, and power of Jesus on earth. Please take time to enjoy and share prayers, reflections, and music in “Unveiling the Divine,” our 2023 Advent Devotional.
In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday, but it means more than a day off work. As Disciples, we are learners. Take advantage of Juneteenth resources for your congregation. Wisdom makes us stronger and more loving like our God.
Just as seasons change, our pace ought not be fixed. We can miss the vastness of God’s glory when living in a hurry. Spend time the next few months reflecting with our “Summer Encounters: A Journal of Holy Visitation.” Enjoy the inviting presence of our God!
We will celebrate with you the love and strength of laity across the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) January 15-21, 2023. Laity Sunday is a special time when the church pauses to consider lay leaders’ varied gifts for ministry to church and community.
Workshop Overview: Welcome, Purpose, Confession, and Prayer; Meditation by Howard Thurman; Recognize and name our fatigue; “The Real Reason Why We are Tired” video by Dr. Saundra
Dalton-Smith; Assess our capacity and prioritize; Tools and Practices; Accountability
Taking inspiration from acclaimed book, The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones, “Forward Toward Freedom” offers historical accounts of black experiences in America alongside biblical stories that help illustrate consideration of the following themes: freedom of culture, freedom of body, freedom of mind.
As we move forward into healthier hybrid realities, we have created a few deskside guides to encourage you in developing ministry for today and tomorrow. Feel free to download, print, and share!
As we move forward into healthier hybrid realities, we have created a few deskside guides to encourage you in developing ministry for today and tomorrow. Feel free to download, print, and share!
As we move forward into healthier hybrid realities, we have created a few deskside guides to encourage you in developing ministry for today and tomorrow. Feel free to download, print, and share!
As we move forward into healthier hybrid realities, we have created a few deskside guides to encourage you in developing ministry for today and tomorrow. Feel free to download, print, and share!
We have designed a concise 2022 Lenten Resource for you to enjoy across the church. Included are litanies, daily affirmations, meditations, reflections, a playlist, and prayer. Let us remember Jesus together!
A One Page PDF featuring the significant dates we need to know to celebrate the history of Black Disciples. Adapted from "Journey Toward Wholeness" by Brenda Cardwell and William Fox, Sr.
The history of African Americans is weaved into the tapestry of America. African American History has impacted history of our church, community and world. We give special attention to the lives of African American Disciples who have committed their life and ministry to be a blessing to the entire Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
The key to hybrid faith formation is the integration of in-person faith forming with online faith forming into one holistic integrated experience. A program design can begin online and then move to in-person and back to online or it can begin in-person and continue online.
As you start the year, these resources will aid you in doing so thoughtfully. Simon of Cyrene was a North African man we find supporting the enfleshed church in Matthew 27, Mark 15, and Luke 23.
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States and also celebrated in the Western African Diaspora in other nations of the Americas. The celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving.
This essay from the President of the Center for Congregations, discusses eight behaviors of congregations that learn well.
Congregations often invite us to deeper thinking, not just about beliefs but about life. The congregation in which I grew up had an open forum Sunday School class. This class helped people talk about so many important things in life: parenting, politics, marriage, vocation, education, health, medical ethics, science and much more.
How can faith be proclaimed in a manner that will be both satisfying and challenging? How can people come to be embodiments of faith, whose lives reflect their baptismal covenant and the good news of Jesus Christ? These complex questions defy a simple response.
Experience
Under the Experience tab you will find Videos and Multimedia productions from/featuring Justice and Advocacy Ministries.
Communal Faith Formation for Today
From the Theological Manna series — Communal Faith Formation for Today is a webinar recording featuring Dr. William Crowder, Dr. Young Lan Kim, Dr. Kimberly Johnson, Dr. Bill Kincaid, and Dr. Yara Gonzalez-Justiniano; moderated by Rev. Monique Crain Spells
The Theological Manna Series
From the Theological Manna Series — Theopoetics: Black Women’s Poetic Writing as Spiritual Practice with Dr. Oluwatomisin Oredein
From the Theological Manna Series — Prayer, Uncertainty, and Pastoral Care with Dr. Eunil David Cho
From the Theological Manna Series — Membership Has Its Privileges: Systems and Equity in the Hebrew Bible with Rev. Kimberly D. Russaw
Death, Dying, and Bereavement — A Theological Manna Conversation featuring Dr. Jamie Eaddy and Dr. Dan Moseley; moderated by Rev. Monique Crain Spells
Panel Discussion featuring Dr. Amy Lindeman Allen, Dr. Irie L. Session, Rev. Gabriel Lopez, and Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri; moderated by Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray
Engage
Under the Engage tab you’ll find a full list of Upcoming and Past Events from Christian Education & Faith Formation.
Upcoming Events
Black Ministers Retreat 2025
Date: March 11, 2025 12:00 am – March 13, 2025 12:00 am (Eastern)
Location: Charleston, SC
Organizer: Disciples Home Missions
Program: Christian Education & Faith Formation
Past Events
Thursdays in Black Summit Day 1
Date: November 13, 2024 1:00 pm – November 13, 2024 2:30 pm (Eastern)
Location: Online Via Zoom
Organizer: Disciples and UCC Thursdays in Black Team
Program: Christian Education & Faith Formation, Disciples Men, Disciples Women’s Ministries, Justice & Advocacy
Thursdays in Black Summit Day 2
Date: November 20, 2024 1:00 pm – November 20, 2024 2:30 pm (Eastern)
Location: Online Via Zoom
Organizer: Disciples and UCC Thursdays in Black Team
Program: Christian Education & Faith Formation, Disciples Men, Disciples Women’s Ministries, Justice & Advocacy
