One of the ever present sources of angst is the catechism curriculum and the constant need to invent new resources to teach the same old stuff. Lutherans seem to have an epidemic of self-loathing when it comes to what we do to prepare our young people for first communion or confirmation. A friend sent me this link to an article on the reform of confirmation. You can read it for yourself. I know nothing of the source but suffice it to say it was being read in the Augsburg Fortress offices and the President of AF liked it a lot. Not so much for me. Let me just pick on one point...
According to the author, we can improve confirmation [instruction] if we acknowledge -- without fear that even teenagers are capable theologians when given the opportunity... and that your students will not be prepared for life because they have prepackaged answers to the hot topic questions but because you are willing to ask questions for which you do not have the answers...
That would certainly seem to preclude use of the Catechism (a book which teaches through the use of questions and answers -- prepackaged ones from nearly 500 years ago!). It would also seem that the purpose of instruction is not to impart knowledge [answers] but rather to teach them to think for themselves. Now I would agree that thinking for themselves is a good end but without the tools you have placed within them (the knowledge of Scripture and the Catechism, the use of the hymnal, and an understanding of the way of worship in the liturgy), I cannot for the life of me figure out how they are supposed to think for themselves.
The author concludes with the question Did the hair on the back of your neck stand up? My goodness, she is psychic! How did she know her words were doing just that? I once thought alone the lines of this author -- don't teach the children, just lead them and show them how to think them through for themselves. Thank goodness a concerned mentor had the sense to tell me to stick with the catechism first and see if they learn to the use the tools before handing them a rough piece of wood to make something of.
It would seem that this is exactly the wrong thing -- to give our kids permission to explore on their own without warning them of the dangers or giving them the tools to help them arrive at the right destination. Memorized answers are no substitute for well thought out answers but if we could get there on our own God would have no need for His Word or the Spirit which enlightens us with respect to the Word. Before you think them through, memorized answers give you the framework to make the jump between question and answer.
BTW, since Augsburg Fortress press is drowning in red ink and had to let go curriculum writers and editors due because the sales of adult faith formation resources have been disappointing... [their own words]... maybe it could have something to do with the screwy ideas about what constitutes faith formation resources.... ya think? 
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