Lifespan Faith Development

Religious education has to be at the heart of ministry. It is essential that we know where we come from as a faith community – that we are equally aware of our historic successes as well as our less than noble missteps. Our 4th principle calls to each of us to engage in our own free and responsible search for truth and meaning and what better way to take on this task than with a community of kindred explorers.

I have had the delightful opportunity to teach RE to our children (including Our Whole Lives), provide mentorship to youth in our Coming of Age process, and to help with youth group programming. I have co-directed Transitions Camp at Rowe Camp (a UU camp in Western Massachusetts), and lead a variety of adult education programs (including The Shared Pulpit and Beloved Conversations).

The ongoing re-creation of The Beloved Community is dependent upon the continual development of everyone – across all ages. We need to keep growing and deepening our understanding of the world around us, the ways we interact with the world and the foundation upon which we engage in those interactions.

Religious education is about finding meaning but it is also about naming both the beauty and the injustice in the world, and figuring out how each of us fit into creating a world with more beauty and less injustice.

“It is time for critical examination to identify the impediments that keep us from greater alignment between what we say we value and our effectiveness in the process of social transformation. We must face the hidden realities that stand in the way of changes. We must gain a clear understanding of the ideologies of liberalism and liberation, which sometimes stand in conflict, inhibiting our progress. These efforts must be coupled with a holistic religious education program, education for critical consciousness and the practice of freedom, rooted in the doctrine of love.” ~ Rev. Majorie Bowens-Wheatley