Author and Bible scholar Marcus Borg invites us to join him in revisiting Christianity’s most fundamental questions: Who is God? What does salvation mean? What place does Jesus hold in contemporary Christian faith? In this five-session, faith-formation resource, participants enjoy the rare privilege of witnessing Marcus in dialogue with a small, diverse group of adults as they honestly — and sometimes painfully — confront the big questions and work together toward authentic answers. Each session includes a 10-minute presentation by Marcus Borg followed by interaction with the group. The program print resources are designed to help your small group “join the dialogue” in your own setting.

The study addresses fundamental questions that adults struggle with as faith matures. It can be used as a resource for personal reflection as well as small group experience.

An adult formation resource for those who seek a richer understanding of their faith and why they believe what they believe. Encouraging theological reflection personally and within a small group, Marcus Borg stimulates thoughtful and heartfelt conversation among his listeners. Following a 10-minute DVD of his initial teaching and listening to a small group interact together with him, your group will delve more deeply into the theme, becoming an extension of Borg’s small group. Participants become teachers for one another, following a model of adult learning that is personal, respectful and engaged.

What a refreshing and long over due resource. Finally an adult formation resource which respects the subject matter, the teacher and the learner! Borg’s 5 distinct topic selections   are provocative and challenging to the individual, while at the same time calling a small group of people to take a deeper look into the faith issues of their community. No leader guide! “Everyone gets everything”, what a wonderful way to model that no one person is the expert on the faith journey of others and celebrates that we are all teachers and learners together. The design of the 5- Session Study on “What it means to be a Christian” provides for a comfortable rhythmic and relaxed approach as participants explore the intriguing subject matter. The flexibility of time and the freedom “to build your own session” responds to the unique context of each community and the closing for each session emerges naturally from the content of the session itself. This resource is a must for anyone who is committed to bringing transformative faith formation experiences to adults and congregations.

For Immediate Release August 9, 2010
Contact: Bill Falvey, 917-373-8510, wfalvey@cpg.org
Church Publishing, 445 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Marcus Borg Addresses Why We Believe What We Believe

(New York, NY) – A newly released DVD-workbook resource by renowned theologian Marcus J. Borg provides a particularly rich and meaningful faith formation experience for adults, especially those seeking a deeper understanding of their faith and personal validation of why they believe what they believe.

Embracing an Adult Faith
Marcus Borg on What It Means to Be Christian
Workbook 978-1-60674-057-6 96 pgs $12.95
DVD 978-1-60674-058-3 $39.95  Morehouse Education Resources
**Review copies, interviews, and excerpts available on request. Media only, please.**

In this five-session resource, participants enjoy the rare privilege of witnessing Marcus Borg in actual dialogue via DVD with a small group of adults as they honestly - and sometimes painfully -  confront the big questions and work together toward authentic answers. Dr. Borg invites us into the discussion as he revisits the most fundamental questions of Christianity: Who is God? What does salvation mean? What place does Jesus hold in contemporary Christian faith?

Topics for the five sessions embrace God, Jesus, Salvation, Community, and Practice.  Each session includes a 10-minute video presentation by Marcus Borg followed by his interaction with the group. The program print resources help small groups enter the dialogue in their own setting. It also can be used as a resource for personal reflection.

The packaged DVD contains the video for the five sessions, while the participant’s workbook contains all the material needed for users as well as notes for a class leader. Leadership is designed to be shared among the group, following a model of adult learning that is personal, respectful, and engaging.
Sessions are flexibly designed for 1-2 hours in length and are expandable to more than 1 session per topic if desired. Four to seven options are offered for further exploration, making this an excellent resource for ongoing study, for groups preparing to reaffirm their faith, and for mature adults asking how faith relates to daily life and contemporary world issues.

Early users have been unanimously positive in their critiques:

“No leader guide! ‘Everyone gets everything’ – what a wonderful way to model that no one person is the expert on the faith journey of others and celebrates that we are all teachers and learners together. The design of the 5-Session Study on ‘What It Means to Be Christian’ provides for a comfortable rhythmic and relaxed approach as participants explore the intriguing subject matter. The flexibility of time and the freedom ‘to build your own session’ responds to the unique context of each community and the closing for each session emerges naturally from the content of the session itself. This resource is a must for anyone who is committed to bringing transformative faith formation experiences to adults and congregations.” – Ruth-Ann Collins, Adult Formation & Lifelong Learning Officer for the Episcopal Church

 “Embracing both head and heart, and unafraid to dwell in mystery, Borg and his friends create a comfortable and safe place for our own questions. The study guide encourages deep, meaningful engagement with the big questions about God, Jesus, Salvation, Practice, and Community. If the purpose of this new study is to form faithful followers of the way of Jesus, it has succeeded brilliantly! An especially important tool for use with those who share faith with children.” –Susan Thornton, Director of Christian Education, St. Mark Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, CA, and President, Presbyterian Association of Resource Centers
 
 “At a time when Christians seem increasingly to be ‘divided by a common language’ Embracing an Adult Faith offers us a new chance to engage in mature conversation about some of the central themes of contemporary Christian life: God, Jesus, Salvation, Practice, and Community. In the videos Marcus Borg’s reflection on each theme encourages his small group to speak from their own experiences, while the accompanying guide offers a variety of questions for individual reflection before meeting and for sparking lively group discussion. Those who use this series will be encouraged to dig deeply into their own understandings, reflect thoughtfully on their own lives as Christians, and listen respectfully to what others contribute to the conversation, a good model to embrace indeed.”  –Karen M. Meridith, Director of Education for Ministry, School of Theology at Sewanee

Marcus J. Borg is Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon.  Internationally known in both academic and church circles as a biblical scholar, preacher, and theologian, he was Hundere Chair of Religion and Culture in the Philosophy Department at Oregon State University until his retirement in 2007.  Described by The New York Times as “a leading figure in his generation of Jesus scholars,” he is a Fellow of the Jesus Seminar, former national chair of the Historical Jesus Section of the Society of Biblical Literature and co-chair of its International New Testament Program Committee, and past president of the Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars. 

Embracing An Adult Faith can be ordered through any Episcopal, religious, or secular bookstore; through any online bookseller, or direct from the publisher by calling 800-242-1918 or by visiting www.churchpublishing.org.
Morehouse Education Resources, based in Denver, CO, produces lectionary-based curriculum, faith formation programs, plus e-publishing resources and services.  It is an imprint of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, publisher of official worship materials, books, and music for the Episcopal Church, plus a multi-faceted publisher and supplier to the broader ecumenical marketplace.

Tear sheets and/or advance notice of publication is encouraged and appreciated.