This document discusses faith development theories from several perspectives. It summarizes the stages of faith development according to James Fowler, John Westerhoff, and Brian McLaren. It also prompts reflection on an individual's own faith journey and how understanding faith development can shape ministry practices with children and youth.

1. Module Two:
Understanding Children & Young People
& Ministry Practice

2. What is faith?
Faith is…
Patterned knowing
(belief)
Patterned valuing
(commitment / devotion)
Patterned construction of meaning
(narrative / story)
James Fowler
Faith development

3. What is faith?
Faith is given
Faith grows
Faith is our perception of God’s grace
John Westerhoff
Faith development

4. What is faith?
We need not a new set of beliefs, but a new way of
believing, not simply new answers to the same old
questions, but a new set of questions.
Acknowledging how little we know is, I think, at the core
of mature faith. What we boast of as great faith may
merely be a boatload of indoctrination and
overconfidence.
Brian McLaren
Faith development

5. What is the story of your
faith?
Spend a few minutes thinking about how your faith has
grown over the years.
• How has what you believe changed?
• How has the pattern of your discipleship changed?
• How has prayer changed for you?
• How has your role in church changed?
• What is important to you in your faith today?
Faith development

6. What is faith development?
Faith development
Undifferentiated Faith 0–2 years Sensory and motor skills
Intuitive-Projective 2–7 years Imaginary / Fantasy
Mythic-Literal 7–12 years Is it real / black & white
Synthetic-Conventional 12+ years Conformity / relational
Individual-Reflective 21+ years Owning faith / examine
Conjunctive 35+ years Selfless / wisdom
Universalizing 45+ Openness / leaders
James Fowler

7. Experienced faith – feeling
(pre-school and early childhood)
Affiliative faith – belonging
(childhood and early adolescence)
Searching faith – questioning
(late adolescence)
Owned faith or matured faith
(early adulthood)
John Westerhoff
Faith development
What is faith development?

8. Faith development
What is faith development?
Simplicity
Dualistic, authority focused, easy answers
Complexity
Pragmatic, more independent, steps and techniques
Perplexity
Sceptical, rebellious, questions, protest
Harmony
Integral, mystic focused, contemplative, love
Return to Simplicity…
Brian McLaren

9. Faith development

10. Faith development

11. Why does faith
development matter?
Your children’s or youth work should be shaped by your
understanding of where the children or young people are in their
faith journey.
Where are you in your faith journey?
It’s hard to lead others where you haven’t been.
What will help your young people to grow in their faith?
Experiences, activities, conversations, relationships, openness…
Faith development

12. Module Two:
Understanding Children & Young People
& Ministry Practice