Jamie Coats | Rows of Sharon

I spent the last few days of January in Houston, Texas attending Forma‘s 18th Annual Conference. It was a jam-packed few days filled with excellent workshops, outstanding speakers, and (most importantly for me) a chance to network and learn from colleagues from across the United States (and beyond) about new ideas, joys, and struggles in the world of lifelong Christian formation in the Episcopal Church.

There have been several Forma members who have shared their perspective of the event that you can read, including Kyle Oliver of the Center for the Ministry of Teaching at Virginia Seminary who wrote about keynoter Brene Brown’s keynote. For those of you who are not familiar with Dr. Brown, it’s best to view her TED Talk regarding vulnerability. The best summary I can give of her amazing talk was what I put out on Twitter during the presentation (@rowsofsharonp). All her quotes:

I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for Christian formation.
If you want to form people with god you need to inspire them
fear + anxiety + shame = scarcity
The casualty of fear and scarcity is faith
We can be a place that doesn’t offer certainty but that offers love
Leading from scarcity moves people away.
How many of you have a gratitude practice?
how many of you incorporate gratitude practices into your ministry?
Knowledge is only rumor until you live it in your bones
Children need a place of belonging that is not school
It is our job – formation folk – is to accept ppl for who they are and offer a space to belong
I’ve never been asked to choose intellect over faith in the Episcopal Church
Shame only works when you feel you’re alone. Embrace empathy.
Our kids are desperate for boundaries.
Difference between entitlement and privilege is gratitude
Hopelessness + shame = violence. We need to cultivate hope and offer an alternative.