What is Generations of Faith
for Byzantine Churches?

Generations of Faith for Byzantine Churches (GOF) is an intergenerational event-centered approach to faith formation for the whole parish.

The goal of the program is simple - to bring people of all ages in the parish together to learn and participate in all aspects of their faith together through:

• Divine Liturgy
• Church Year (feasts and seasons)
• The Mysteries
• Morality
• Social Justice

GOF is designed to:

• nurture the Christian identity of all parishioners for a lifetime
• re-engage all generations in participating in church life, especially Sunday Liturgy
• equips and supports families and adults, especially parents, to create a pattern of family faith sharing and a Christian way of life
• involve all of the generations in learning together
• transform the parish community into a community of lifelong learners

It is "Events-Centered" Faith Formation:

Focusing the content of faith formation on understanding the events of Church life and preparing all ages to participate actively in these events:

• Divine Liturgy
• Church Year feasts and seasons
• Mysteries
• Morality
• Social Justice

It is "Lifelong and Systematic" Faith Formation:

Fashioning a lifelong curriculum around the life and events of the Church that engages all ages and generations in faith formation throughout the entire life cycle:

• a common curriculum for the whole parish community
• Addressing the foundations of the faith for all ages and generations.
• Providing a five-year curriculum plan of Church events that is developmentally-appropriate and repeats every sixth year (spiraling curriculum)

This intergenerational learning program balances
affective, behavioral, and cognitive learning.

Each session promotes learning in three dimensions:

• "know-what": understanding the meaning of the event and its Scriptural, Doctrinal, and Theological foundation
• "know-why": appreciating and valuing the meaning and significance of the event for their lives as Byzantine Christians
• "know-how": acquiring the ability to participate competently in the event and to live its meaning in their lives as Byzantine Christians