Redeemer Family,

May I confess something to you?

I have a love/hate relationship with Redeemer’s Foundations Class.

Now, this class is my baby, so let me explain!

I have poured so much of my heart, energy, time, and love into this class over the past 8 years.

I’ve edited and re-edited the content dozens of times and yet, every time I conclude another round of Foundations Class, I feel very mixed emotions.

There are two things I absolutely love about the class:

Getting to know the new people in our parish and hearing the questions that are on their hearts. This is the absolute highlight for me!
Teaching on our seven practices – Story, Identity, Belonging, Virtue, Context, Vocation, Imagination. These take us to the core of what it means to be human and I find the conversation invigorating every time.

But here’s what I do not love about the class:

It’s too long. The seven week commitment is tricky for many people and, invariably, some folks end up missing a session or two.
There’s too much content. You saw this coming a million miles away and I see it too. I’ve sought to cram far too much spiritual formation content into what should effectively be a membership class.

I’ve spent significant time this past spring and summer reflecting on this double-sided question: “How can our parish effectively educate and orient prospective new members, and also provide ongoing teaching and spiritual formation practices to help our people grow deeper in their faith?”

Up until this point, I have tried to answer both of these challenges with one jam-packed Foundations Class.

No more.

It is time to both simplify and expand.

Let’s simplify our Membership Process and expand our Adult Education and Catechesis offerings.

Simplifying the Membership Process: I will teach a 3-part Membership and Confirmation Class on October 12, 19, and 26 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. You can sign-up here.
Expanding Adult Education + Catechesis: This fall I will begin putting together a curriculum of class offerings for adults with the hope of launching these classes in 2026. I know that our parish is blessed to have a number of people with formal theological education. If you are one of these people, I’d be delighted to hear from you and would value your input.

Redeemer family, I love you all dearly and I hope that this decision serves everyone well.

Onward!

In the Father’s love,