Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus Paperback – July 3, 2012

I was privileged to attend a Making Disciples workshop with Sherry Weddell and her team in 2007. These workshops were the basis for the book, and I was interested to see how the ideas presented in the workshop have been refined over the years and laid out in the book. She brings a huge amount of insight and years of experience to her presentation, which is to say that the book is not simply intelligent, but wise. Overall, the material in Forming Intentional Disciples is excellent and, without exaggeration, some of the most helpful, practical material I have come across in a long time.Orthodox Christian readers of the book should not be put off because it is by a Roman Catholic author and written for a (mostly) Catholic audience. Almost everything Ms Weddell says is applicable in an Orthodox context with very little tweaking. And the grim situation she describes--of the numbers of Catholics leaving that Church, the poor retention rates among Catholic converts, and the low levels of genuine, authentic, intentional discipleship--are just as much realities in the Orthodox Church as they are in the Catholic. Alas, people are not breaking down our doors to get in to receive our blessing. The book helps to explain why that might be so and what we can do about it.There is immense value in the question which Ms Weddell and her team began to ask a few years ago, and which she describes in the book: "Could you briefly describe to me your lived relationship with God to this point in your life?" Of course, we Orthodox are just as reluctant as our Catholic brethren to ask such a question; it just isn't something we talk about. It's a question we (might) discuss only with our Spiritual Father (provided, of course, we actually have one and use him to talk about such things), and provided that our Spiritual Father/Confessor thinks to ask us something along these lines. Even for a Priest to begin to ask the question in the context of Confession can yield a lot of insight into the spiritual maturity of individuals, as well as his congregation as a whole, especially if he has a good grasp of the stages of discipleship that Ms Weddell lays out in the latter chapters of the book.For this reason alone, Orthodox Priests can use the book as a tool for discerning the spiritual maturity of their congregations. That can give real insight, and a thoughtful pastor might discover that he has made certain assumptions about the maturity of his congregation that don't hold up under examination, and he might change how he preaches, teaches, and structures programs in his parish so that he can better present Christ in ways that are commensurate with the maturity of his congregation, that is, in ways they can actually hear and understand and respond to. Church school teachers, catechists and others who work to form the faith of others in the Church can learn to adjust their material and presentation in more accessible ways, as well.This is important because, sad though it be, most of our congregants are at very early, passive stages of spiritual development. Many of our regular church attenders are cultural Christians with little or no Orthodox practice or observance outside of attending Liturgy on Sunday morning. And few of them are disciples, for whom Christ is central to their lives to the point that the Gospel guides their thoughts and actions. (All of this is explained in the book.)I will not repeat what other reviewers have said (and to this point, all the reviews have been very positive), beyond noting that I think they're right and the book is a real gem for beginning the work of parish renewal. I would just add a few thoughts specifically for Orthodox readers, and God bless me if anybody else finds them helpful. (I'll return to a general note at the end.)Those who are involved with the Orthodox Christian Fellowship campus ministry and who know the oft-repeated statistic, that 60% of Orthodox college students leave the Faith, might find something useful in the section of chapter 1 entitled "Young Adults and Religious Change." (Forgive me, I'm working off the Kindle version and don't have page numbers to give you.)The material in chapter 2, "We Don't Know What Normal Is," is spot on for Orthodox, as well. Just put "Orthodox" where the word "Catholic" appears and you'll be amazed at how well Ms Weddell describes our reality. (In fact, just put "Orthodox" for "Catholic" everywhere in the rest of the book and it will apply.)Given how few intentional disciples there will be in a given Orthodox parish (statistically the number will be small), it may be imperative to create opportunities for them to get together regularly with intentional disciples from other parishes. Surely there are ways it could be done. But intentional disciples, as the books points out, need support, and if they don't find it, then sooner or later, they'll likely be gone. And clergy who are themselves intentional disciples, and who find themselves isolated and without support, are at great risk for burnout (and this is true of all clergy, not just Orthodox).Back to general comments.Why bother with buying and reading the book? As Ms Weddell says in chapter 2, "Cultivating Discipleship,""We have seen it happen over and over. The presence of a significant number of disciples changes everything: a parish's spiritual tone, energy level, attendance, bottom line, and what parishioners ask of their leaders. Disciples pray with passion. Disciples worship. Disciples love the church and serve her with energy and joy. Disciples give lavishly. Disciples hunger to learn more about their faith. Disciples fill every formation class in a parish or diocese. Disciples manifest charisms and discern vocations. They clamor to discern God's call because they long to live it. Disciples evangelize because they have really good news to share. Disciples share their faith with their children. Disciples care about the poor and issues of justice. Disciples take risks for the Kingdom of God."Who doesn't dream of being part of a congregation like that? (Would that I had not neglected the information I learned in the workshop and started implementing it sooner!)So, whether you're a Priest or not, if you are involved in church school education, catechesis, adult faith formation, outreach, evangelism, parish renewal, pastoral care, or any other faith-based ministry, I can assure you that you will learn something from Forming Intentional Disciples. Learn to ask the right questions, learn to listen well, learn the importance of relationship in spiritual formation, master the stages of discipleship. This is good stuff.Five stars and two thumbs up!

Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus by Sherry Weddell is the most important book I've read this year. That is not exaggeration or hyperbole, but a testament to the research, experience, and insight Weddell brings to the question of evangelization and catechesis in the Church today. Weddell's book is a synthesis of every deep conversation about catechesis and evangelization I've had with my local and national colleagues for the past four years.Weddell begins with a review of the data that should be familiar to all of us: decreasing Mass attendance, Catholics leaving the Church for Protestant communities, and a general "disengagement" from the life of the parish by many of the faithful. But she doesn't just leave us with cold, hard facts. Thanks to her work with parishes across the country Weddell is also able to weave compelling anecdotes that put a human face on the crisis. Most surprising to me were the number of people who have left the Catholic Church not because they were failing to moving closer to Christ but because, as they more fully embraced their call to discipleship, they had no one in their parishes to support them or who understood the sudden fire that had been lit in them. That the Church is losing both unengaged and highly motivated members -- leaking from both ends, as it were -- should alarm all of us.Weddell's overarching question in reviewing the data and stories is this: How many of our parishioners are truly disciples of Jesus Christ? How many are committed to living a life of faith in an intentional way? Her answer, based on conversations with pastors and parish staff across the country, is that about 5% of Catholics can be described as "intentional disciples." This is shockingly low. And unfortunately many of the leaders in our parishes are not included in that figure. Some of the most heartbreaking stories in the book are the anonymous parish leaders -- presumably DREs, youth ministers, and pastoral council members -- who describe themselves as having no active relationship with God.Thankfully Weddell doesn't tread old arguments by trying to place the blame for this crisis on any particular group within the Church. Rather, she identifies as a major contributing factor the lack of a "normal" understanding of what it means to be a disciple:"As we listened to the spiritual experiences of tens of thousands of Catholics, we began to grasp that many, if not a majority of, Catholics don't know what 'normal' Christianity looks like. I believe that one reason for this is the selective silence about the call to discipleship that pervades many parishes. Catholics have come to regard it as normal and deeply Catholic to not talk about the first journey - their relationship with God - except in confession or spiritual direction. This attitude is so pervasive in Catholic communities that we have started to call it the culture of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"Weddell also decries the poor sacramental preparation received by both children and candidates in the RCIA. Weddell delves into the Church's theology of grace to demonstrate that we are not preparing people to fruitfully receive the sacraments. A tendency to focus on the validity of the sacraments has blinded us to the need for the recipients to receive the grace and allow it to flourish in their lives. Quoting St. Thomas Aquinas and the Catechism of the Catholic Church Weddell skillfully indicates catechists who operate with a "the sacrament will take care of it" attitude towards the spiritual lives of those in their care.Weddell goes on to offer a framework for understanding the process by which a person becomes an authentic disciple of Jesus Christ. This was, for me, the most important part of the book, since it is the pivot on which evangelization and catechesis turn. Through her work with the Catherine of Siena Institute Weddell has identified these "thresholds" on the path to discipleship:1. Trust2. Curiosity3. Openness4. Seeking5. Intentional DiscipleshipEach describes the foundational attitude the individual must have before they are able to progress through the stage. Of course, this framework would be of little use without suggestions for how to guide individuals through this journey of faith. Fortunately, Weddell gives us some very concrete ways that we can walk with people at these different stages. Weddell challenges Church leaders to break the silence in our parishes concerning discipleship:"Until discipleship and conversion become a normative part of parish life, many [people] will walk in and out of our parishes untouched, and many Catholics who are disciples will continue to feel that they need to hide or minimize their newly awakened personal faith in front of other Catholics. The first thing that must be done is to deliberately and persistently break the code of silence if it is in place. The Catholic norm of silence about a relationship with God, about Jesus Christ and his story, about our own stories of following Christ, and about the need for everyone to decide whether or not he or she will follow as a disciple is stifling the emergence of a culture of discipleship and all that flows from it. One of the most powerful ways to challenge the silence is by making a safe place for others to talk about their own lived relationship with God."Weddell offers similar advice for each of the thresholds of discipleship; parish staffs would do well to read these chapters carefully and discuss how the suggestions might be implemented in their local communities.Forming Intentional Disciples is a book that has appeared at precisely the moment it is needed in the life of the Church. I am indebted to Sherry Weddell for her work in writing it, and I believe every bishop, pastor, evangelist, and catechetical leader should have a copy and study it carefully. I know I will be.

Much appreciated

WHAT'S RIGHT, WHAT'S WRONG. What works, what doesn't. Sherry has the research, and the experiential knowledge to aid YOU in your efforts to rebuild the Catholic Church starting with yourself (where else would you start?) and then your local parish. Many people have left God and his Church (the Catholic Church)...and they aren't coming back. God has purged his Church. That's scary, really. So now is the time for rebuilding. One needs an effective framework to launch from, and THIS BOOK will provide it. Those who left, and those who never knew Jesus were not counting on God's infinite love, a deep personal love for EACH unrepeatable person. Sometimes just talking about this great love God has, can shatter the hardest of hearts. It is God's will that none should perish, but each should find everlasting life through Jesus Christ. God's invitation into the Kingdom requires a sober commitment supported through a dynamic Christian community. Maybe you don't care, or you mistakenly think all are saved, so little action is required. Back to sleep, this book is not for you. For those who have live hearts, and live minds, and know the local Catholic parish often fails the authentic needs of its' believers, but don't know where to start, get the Kindle edition of "Forming Intentional Disciples" and start today! Read, reflect, rethink, reorient, and re-evangelize. Yourself foremost. Patience. Then others. Pray constantly. God loves you, so what are you so worried about?

I could not put this book down! Wherever you may be on the path of faith, after reading this book you will want to progress into a deeper relationship with the Most Holy Trinity. The picture of the Church presented by the author is totally honest in the many failures of community and individual to be truly evangelised but is constantly tempered with hope and directions towards the turnaround necessary if we are to fulfil Christ's commands to go out and preach the Good News. It gives confidence that the most 'ordinary' Catholic can really be 'extraordinary' and accomplish the vocation of us all to share the Faith with others in whatever way our personal strengths lie. I wonder if the Holy Father has read this book! it mirrors so much of what he has been telling us we must do.

I had already read the book ns found it to be one of the best of its genre I had ever read. My order was for copies I wanted to give to friends.The author gives a clear presentation of the stages of conversion and faith development for the adult who is just discovering Christianity, and specifically Catholicism. For those who are familiar with the Cursillo movement, the stages parallel what happens to a person who moves from uNfamiliarity with its process to commitment to its lifestyle.

Although relating to the situation of the Catholic Church in the US I am sure there is a similar situation in the UK. So much of what is reported in the surveys rings true to me. I especially like the identification of a fundamental problem for Catholic parishes, which is that many (most) Cartholics have not really internalised their faith and as a result do not have a personal relationship with God in any meaningful sense. As a result parishes are shrinking and Catholics are leaving the Church.This book not only identifies the problem but gives good advice for all who are 'actively' involved in parish life and shows ways to help 'ordinary' Catholics to really want to be followers of Jesus Christ, to be 'intentional disciples'.