Adult Faith Formation

“Faith formation encompasses the ministries and activities offered by the church that help people grow in faith and in their understanding of and love for God.”

— Five Practices of a Fruitful Congregation by Robert Schnase

There are many ways that you can deepen your spiritual practice, whether on your own or with a group of other seekers. Here are a few options that are offered Diocese-wide and, if you know of others, please share the details with us by submitting this form.

Diocesan Resource Center

The Diocesan Resource Center is a lending library serving congregations and individuals in the Diocese of Olympia. It provides religious resources, in print and on DVD, with emphasis on materials for ministry, and includes books on the reading list for the College for Congregational Development and the Iona Olympia School, as well as having material on a variety of subjects of use in Sunday forums and study groups. A selection of materials from the Resource Center library is on display at many diocesan events and material can be checked out at that time; our catalog is online. Visits to the library at Diocesan House are welcome, and we also mail materials. For more information, please contact Sue Tait, Director of the Resource Center.

Online Catalog

Discipleship

Zimzum Discipleship: Practices for a Christ-Centered Life is a new formation initiative of the Diocese of Olympia under the leadership of Bishop Phil LaBelle.  Join the Bishop on a three-year discipleship series with a focus on intentionally making space to live as a faithful apprentice of Jesus. Visit the new home for the zimzum discipleship series where you can find resources, community, and more.

Zimzum Discipleship

Education for Ministry (EfM)

Education for Ministry (EfM) is a faith formation program for laypeople (non-ordained members of the church) seeking to deepen their faith. The heart of the program is theological reflection, and learning to see one’s life in the light of learning, experience, and through group interaction. Developed by the School of Theology, University of the South at Sewanee, small groups (6-12 people) meet weekly over the course of 36 weeks to discuss the bible and assigned texts with classmates. Currently over fifteen seminar groups in this diocese participate. Students only sign up for one year at a time, but the entire course covers four years and includes an overview of Christian tradition including church history, ethics, and worship. Each group is led by a trained mentor, who facilitates the group. For more information about joining a group or any questions, please contact Dean Mielke, the volunteer Diocesan EfM Coordinator.

Education for Ministry

Enrichment

• Book Discussion – Discussing a book as a group at church is a great way for people to get to know one another and to access themes of faith and spirituality. Looking for a title to try? Connect with Sue Tait, our Resouce Librarian for a suggestion or take a look at this list of books published by priests and lay people in the Diocese of Olympia. If you would like to buy books at a discount, go to bulkbookstore.com for orders of 25+ copies.

Meaningful Movies are periodically offered online by the Diocese of Olympia through the non-profit organization, Meaningful Movies Project. This is also something that local congregations can take advantage of. First you screen a documentary of choice — either in-person or on-line — and then host a follow-up community discussion with panelists who can address the topic at-hand. A collaborative offering of the Diocesan Faith Formation and Multi-Cultural Ministries & Community Transformation offices. Sign up here to get on the Meaningful Movies e-mail list to be notified of upcoming screenings. 

• The Wisdom School – This speaker series brings the most cutting edge spiritual thinkers and teachers to the Diocese. Curated by Saint Mark’s Cathedral, both in-person and online options are available for experiencing presenters like Padraig O’Tuama, Ed Bacon, Walter Brueggemann, and Mirabai Starr. The Wisdom School is “the space for reasoned discourse, lifelong learning, and spiritual renewal.” Learn more here.

Iona Olympia

The Diocese of Olympia offers an Iona Initiative School (called Iona Olympia) for postulants seeking ordination in the diaconate, for some seeking local ordination as priests and deacons, and for lay persons who feel called to such training. We use the Seminary of the Southwest’s Iona Initiative curriculum as our baseline for both academic and practical education, enhancing and modifying it to meet our local needs.  It is a three year program, that runs from September through May.  The Iona Olympia School meets one weekend a month, usually at St. Andrew’s House Retreat Center.  Students prepare for the weekends through reading and viewing videos  During the weekends, students engage in large and small group discussions and activities, participate in and lead liturgies, and practice preaching.

Sue Tait, Director of the Resource Center, is available to provide Licensed Ministry Training or to send materials to support local training for those interested in becoming Eucharistic Ministers, Eucharistic Visitors or Worship Leaders.

Social Justice

The College for Congregational Development (CCD)

The College is a comprehensive training program that seeks to nurture and develop congregational development practitioners from within existing parish lay and clergy leadership.