Lifespan Faith Development
Religious Education for all Ages & Stages
Learning Overview
"Lifespan Faith Development" is a term Unitarian Universalists often use when talking about religious education or faith formation in programs for children, youth, and adults. We embrace that our faith is ever-evolving over a lifetime. Lifespan Faith Development is an expanded way of thinking about what had long been called "religious education."
Unitarian Universalists are called to a free and responsible search for truth and meaning that begins at birth and is fostered as long as we live. In our welcoming congregation, we seek to support all families and all individuals according to their needs. Our Unitarian roots honor that divine spirit, the great mystery that some call God, as a loving presence in our lives, supporting us all as we make our way. Our Universalist roots affirm that everyone is born into a state of blessing and grace. While our specific beliefs diverge, our shared faith professes that each of us is called to seek truth and meaning and that our journeys are strengthened and enriched in our community of acceptance.
We develop our spiritual lives through programming that provide children, youth, young adults, and adults an opportunity to explore, reflect, and learn in a nurturing spiritual community. Faith development occurs during communal worship as we allow ourselves to be moved emotionally and spiritually, and as we find ways to integrate the worshipful experience into our day to day lives. Faith development occurs when we gather to consider, plan, and implement curriculum that reaches people of many perspectives and at every stage of development. Faith is developed as we struggle and celebrate, grow and change. Faith development is living our lives in accordance with our conscience. To that end, faith development for our congregation means everything we do together integrates to support and inspire:
Faith development begins early and lasts a lifetime
"Lifespan Faith Development" is a term Unitarian Universalists often use when talking about religious education or faith formation in programs for children, youth, and adults. We embrace that our faith is ever-evolving over a lifetime. Lifespan Faith Development is an expanded way of thinking about what had long been called "religious education."
Unitarian Universalists are called to a free and responsible search for truth and meaning that begins at birth and is fostered as long as we live. In our welcoming congregation, we seek to support all families and all individuals according to their needs. Our Unitarian roots honor that divine spirit, the great mystery that some call God, as a loving presence in our lives, supporting us all as we make our way. Our Universalist roots affirm that everyone is born into a state of blessing and grace. While our specific beliefs diverge, our shared faith professes that each of us is called to seek truth and meaning and that our journeys are strengthened and enriched in our community of acceptance.
We develop our spiritual lives through programming that provide children, youth, young adults, and adults an opportunity to explore, reflect, and learn in a nurturing spiritual community. Faith development occurs during communal worship as we allow ourselves to be moved emotionally and spiritually, and as we find ways to integrate the worshipful experience into our day to day lives. Faith development occurs when we gather to consider, plan, and implement curriculum that reaches people of many perspectives and at every stage of development. Faith is developed as we struggle and celebrate, grow and change. Faith development is living our lives in accordance with our conscience. To that end, faith development for our congregation means everything we do together integrates to support and inspire:
- Ethical growth – internalizing enduring values like justice, equity, and compassion, and gaining tools to act on them in everyday life.
- Social growth – connecting with peers and people of all ages on a deeper level. Finding acceptance among people who see beyond the superficial.
- Spiritual growth – feeling a connection with the sacred within, among, and beyond us.
Faith development begins early and lasts a lifetime
