The following list is descriptive of a variety of resources in use within dioceses of the Anglican Church of Canada and does not suggest official endorsement of any of these programmes by the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee or the General Synod. We encourage you to check out the websites of the resource-providers to help you in your discernment of what might be a useful programme for your community and context.
This resource list is a work-in-progress. If you have any suggestions of programmes, resources or networks that might be helpful additions to this webpage, please contact Eileen Scully, Coordinator for Ministry and Worship, e-mail.
Additional resources for theological education for lay people can be obtained by contacting:
- Educational Institutions Affiliated with the Anglican Church of Canada
- Dioceses of the Anglican Church of Canada
- Retreat and Christian Education Centres connected with the Anglican Church of Canada
Alpha
“Alpha is a ten-week opportunity to explore the validity and relevance of the Christian faith for our lives today. It is a practical introduction to the basics of Christianity with loads of opportunity for debate and discussion. The style of Alpha is informal, friendly and non-pressured – a style which seems to be appreciated in Canadian culture.”
Cursillo
“Cursillo; A movement of the church which, with its own method, makes it possible to live that which is fundamental to being a Christian, in order to create nuclei of Christians who engage in leavening their environments with the gospel….(Fundamental Ideas of the Cursillo Movement p. 34).”
Diocese of New Westminster
The Diocese of New Westminster offers a series of educational brochures on its website: Welcome: An Introduction to the Anglican Church); Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Same-Sex Blessing, and Funeral.
Disciples of Christ in Community
DOCC groups have been meeting in the Diocese of Montreal since 2000. DOCC is “an adult education program which provides an experience in building Christian community while encouraging individual spiritual growth.” It began in New Orleans but is now overseen by the School of Theology Programs Centre of the University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee. It has several levels: DOCC Basic (21 Sessions exploring topics such as “Becoming the Church”, “Biblical Faith,” aimed at participants growing in understanding of the faith and of one another); CODD II: Basic Pastoral Care (equips people to respond to the world around them by living out the baptismal promises that call us to pastor each other) and other sessions on the Acts of the Apostles, the Gospel of Mark, the Old Testament, and DOCC 16/20 [for youth]. Contact person as of 2006 is Tim Smart.
The Discovery Series: A Christian Journey
Developed by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, this video series “…is designed to help every Christian – new or life-long, young or old – discover their own path to a life in Christ.” It can be used in various ways and by various sizes of congregations: as an aid to baptism and confirmation preparation, as an adult education course, as an aid to bible study or prayer groups. It includes five courses, a facilitator’s video, facilitators’ and participants’ guides. The topics are: The Path to Episcopal Worship, A Journey of Faith, A Path to Spiritual Maturity, Our Spiritual Gifts, The Great Commission.
EFM: Education for Ministry
“The Education For Ministry programme in Canada is a university level course in theology for both lay people and clergy. It is a four year part-time study programme designed to teach people to think theologically, develop a personal systematic theology and increase their knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.”
Emmaus: the way of faith
From the UK, a program in three stages. The first is “Contact,” help in reaching those outside the church. The second is “Nurture,” a 15 week course in the basics of the Christian faith. The final stage is called “Growth”and consists of several different studies, some of them 4 weeks long on topics such as prayer, ethics, etc. Also have bible study resources and a youth program for ages 11-16.
FaithQuest: A Journey Toward Congregational Transformation
A 17-week bible study designed by the United Methodist Church USA for congregational leaders to help them think about “…God, the church, the world, and our Christian life… (it) uses Scripture as a lens for viewing the 21st century understanding and experience of the world,” exploring Scripture and the teachings of John Wesley.
Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee, Anglican Church of Canada
FWM has produced the video Written on the Heart: The Bible for Anglicans in the 21st Century.
God in My/You/Our Story
A trilogy of workshops offered by the Evangelism Resources Committee of the Diocese of Huron. “My” helps people see how God has been active in their lives. “Your” helps participants gain confidence and sharpen skills in presenting the Gospel to others. “Our” helps congregations develop sensitive strategies for sharing the gospel in the world in which they find themselves. The agenda of each of these workshops is available on the diocesan website under “Ministries” and then “Evangelism Resources.”
Journey: People of God on the Way
A course developed for the Diocese of New Westminster by Dr. Elmer Joy, formerly Coordinator for Christian Formation in that Diocese. Has three units of six sessions each: First Things, The Anglican Way, and God Speaking.
The Kerygma Program
Twenty-five Bible Study programs of differing lengths and for different levels of Christian maturity, all intending to help the student learn the basics of the Bible, develop skills for interpreting Scripture, and apply their learning to life in today’s world.
LifeCycles
A program of spiritual formation for lay people, less “information” and more about “experience”. Involves liturgy and reflection on learning and ministry. A Rule of Life required of participants that includes Scripture reading, prayer and journaling. Not a “one-time” program, but is on-going throughout a person’s life and ministry.
Living Faith: Exploring the Essentials of Christianity
Based on interviews/discussions with Bishop and New Testament scholar Tom Wright, its primary focus is the Bible. The course also looks at the history of the Church, from the first century to the present day, summarizes important Christian doctrines and beliefs, compares Christianity with other religions, aims to help us grow in faith through the disciplines of prayer and study, provides answers to common challenges to Christianity, offers some ways to share our faith with others, and sets forth biblical guidelines for Christians to use in developing personal habits of godly living.
“Living the Questions”
(USA) A 12 week DVD and web-based small group program of Christian invitation, initiation and spiritual formation. “A progressive alternative for Christian invitation, initiation, and spiritual formation.” Authors are Jeff Procter-Murphy and David Felton (United Methodist Church Pastors), with a wide range of ecumenical contributions from Nancy Ammerman, John Bell, Marcus Borg, Minerva Carcano, John Cobb, John Dominic Crossan, Lloyd Geering, Leslie Griffiths, Stanley Hauerwas, Culver Nelson, Siyoung Park, Stephen Patterson, Tex Sample, John Shelby Spong and Emilie Townes. The units explore “beyond the traditions and rote theologies in which so many people and local churches seem to be stuck.” Includes conversations with scholars, sermon and lecture clips, ideas for spiritual practice and discipline and suggestions for social justice action. Sets itself to be an “open-minded alternative to studies that attempt to give participants all the answers.” Ongoing themes include: biblical authority, metaphor and how it shapes us, the Jesus/Christ dichotomy, and the question: what does faith look like in the 21st century?
Ministry in Daily Life – A Guide to Living the Baptismal Covenant
“Published by The Episcopal Church, in collaboration with The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and ecumenical colleagues in The Coalition for Ministry in Daily Life, 1996. Dedicated to Frances A. Young and the Total Ministry Task Force. Thank you for the Vision. This rich resource is for leaders of congregations interested in developing and/or enhancing a sense of ministry in daily life among the members of your parish. It helps us discover how we as the Baptized, regardless of our age or station, live our lives as ministry in the world in which we live. It includes resources from a wide variety of persons and organizations in The Episcopal Church. There are step-by-step approaches, and models you can adapt for your own congregation. Stimulating articles, stories of individuals living ministry in their daily lives, and an annotated list of resources round out the collection. You are encouraged by the authors to copy, use, change, and adapt to your situation.”
The New Church’s Teaching Series
This series of books includes topics ranging from prayer and worship to “The Anglican Vision”, engaging the Scriptures, social justice, Church history, and specific areas of doctrine. Recently updated, the series is widely in use across the Anglican Church of Canada and Episcopal Church USA.
The Primate’s Theological Commission
From 2001 to 2003, the Primate’s Theological Commission produced three Workbooks to help to engage the Anglican Church of Canada in theological reflection. Under the heading Wrestling with God, the Commission published Book I: Longing for God: Anglicans Talk about Revelation, Nature, Culture and Authority; Book 2: Turning to God: Anglicans Talk about Sin, Grace, and the Christian Life; Book 3: Meeting God: Anglicans Talk about Creation, the Trinity and the Church. In 2005, they produced The St. Michael Report, the Commission’s theological reflections on the question of the blessing of same-sex unions. Their website space also includes discussion papers related to these questions.
S.E.A.N.: Study by Extension for All Nations (pronounced SAY-ANN)
A program from the United Kingdom in use in the Diocese of Niagara. The program involves small groups who study at home, then come to group sessions and finally do ministry assignments and projects under supervision by a tutor. A “help in teaching basic doctrine” for the purpose of building up disciples who will be involved in leadership and mission in the church. “To motivate, equip, and train for service the vastly untapped source of leadership and, in so doing, not bypass or disqualify the very type of ordinary folk whom Jesus originally called to be his disciples”
“via media”
From ECUSA and now in use in the Diocese of Niagara, this is an 8 week series with video-taped conversations of an “intentionally diverse panel of Anglicans” on: God the Creator, God is Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible as the Word of God, Sin, the Kingdom of God, and the Anglican Way of Being Christian. Billed as “a place to ask 21st century questions”, and based on the Anglican 3-legged stool of scripture, tradition and reason.
Witness: Exploring and Sharing your Christian Faith
Prepared by the United Methodist Church in the USA, this program is designed to help adults “…answer questions about their own gifts for ministry and witness.” It integrates biblical and theological reflection, practice of spiritual disciplines and witness in the name of Jesus Christ. It is a 25 week small group study aimed at helping individuals and congregations get excited about Christian witnessing. The website includes sample sessions and ordering information.
Networks and other Resources:
Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission
Associated Parishes produces and catalogues resources on baptism preparation, marriage preparation, the eucharist, and various other aspects of worship and liturgy.
The Centre for Baptismal Living
“We believe that all the Baptized, through the Covenant made between God and themselves at their Baptism, are commissioned by Christ to serve him through the ministries which he gives them in all the spheres of their daily life. We believe that the Church should support these ministries as the primary expression of Christian ministry. Our vision is that all the Baptized will grow into the vocation and ministry given them at their Baptism and that the Church will equip and nurture them in their vocations as the Baptized in the world. Our mission is to join with others in reclaiming the centrality of Baptism in the life of the Church and the life of every Christian through providing a multifaceted effort to support, encourage, enhance, and equip congregations and individuals in the ministry and vocation of the Baptized. While the Episcopal / Anglican Church is our primary mission, we welcome and share with all Christians.”
LeaderResources
A comprehensive guide to a wide scope of faith educational and congregational development programmatic resources, produced by a publishing and consulting organization serving the Episcopal Church USA and beyond.
Living Stones
See also this PDF document for a primer on “Total Ministry”. Living Stones is a network of dioceses within the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada sharing and working together in the area of ministry development, “Total” or “Mutual” ministry. Canadian partners include the Dioceses of Rupert’s Land, Kootenay, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior.
North American Association for the Catechumenate
An ecumenical organization which provides training and support for churches engaged in the process of baptismal conversion and making Christian disciples.
Prayer Book Society of Canada Christian Formation Resources
The Prayer Book Society of Canada has a new section on their website devoted to resources for Christian formation, listing and providing ordering information for books and music, both publications of the PBSC and other material of interest.
