Learning Activities

Developing and Integrating the "Service" Dimension of Faith-Formation Programming

About the booklet's design

This booklet is most definitely "a work in progress". We are very open to input from those who utilize it.

This booklet is designed to be interactive - to draw out the perspectives of those who use it, as well as to provide perspectives and tools for them.

About the booklet's content
Part One: The Meaning of "Service"

This section invites the reader to explore what "service" means to her/him, and then to compare her/his perspectives with views of others.

Part Two: Assessing Students' Starting Point

This section offers some tools that can be used to assess what students understand by "service", what groups currently marginalized by our society they desire to connect with, and what social justice issues they feel drawn to address.

Part Three: Weaving Elements of Service into Various Aspects of Faith-Community Programs

This section offers some perspectives on how messages about service can be woven into a variety of elements of faith-formation programs (rather than operating as a completely distinct and isolated element).

Part Four: A Process of Learning and Action

This section outlines a series of steps currently used by some faith-communities to integrate learning-and-action on a social justice issue into their faith-formation programming. It also includes an article highlighting one of those efforts.

A publication of the Center for Service-Learning and Social Change. © August 18, 2005.

Kevin LaNave
Director
Center for Service-Learning and Social Change