FAITH DEVELOPMENT & RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

A Lifetime of Growing Souls

It was in the community of children, youth, families, and wise elders that I felt a call to the ministry.  And in the company of professional religious educators that my inspiration turned to passion.  After directing a large summer program for 400 children, supervising a staff of 50 for 8 weeks each summer, I found the work as Director of RE at Mt. Vernon Unitarian to be a delightful enterprise.  I grew the program from 85 children and youth to 250;  and I brought energy and spirit, built community among families, deepened the connections among generations, and nurtured a large RE program for adults.  At Arlington, I came into a healthy program of 350 children and youth, and grew that to almost 500.  

My understanding of religious education is building a community that supports self-awareness, encounter with the community story and with new insights, and pathways to putting learning into actions in the world.  Faith Development means much more than “learning about” religion;  it means deepening an appreciation of life, discovering meaning, and nurturing the impulse to be of service.