The updated Catechism for the Moravian Church in America was introduced in 2021. Researched and developed by the Interprovincial Faith & Order Commission, the updated catechism is intended to be a summary of the Christian faith, to be used for the instruction of confirmands and new members of the Moravian Church. This catechism is not a curriculum, but can be used within a confirmation class, Sunday school, classes for new members, and as a reference tool.
To make that use easier – and to expand on the lessons taught through the catechism – a team of educators, pastors and writers came together to develop the new Companion to the Moravian Catechism.
This Companion is designed to be used alongside the Moravian Catechism. It dovetails with the framework and sequence of that document and is not to be used as a stand-alone piece. While the primary focus of many of the suggested activities, discussions, and supplemental resources are aimed at middle/senior high confirmation classes, the team also included options for engaging adults who may be encountering the catechism in a small group or inquirers/new members setting. Teachers and facilitators are encouraged to select the options that best meet the needs, maturity, interests, and learning styles of the classes they teach.
The Lesson Activities and Engagements in the Companion are divided into “Doing,” “Seeing” and “Hearing” in an attempt to diversify the approach and offer the teacher/facilitator a menu of suitable options from which to choose.
The Companion also includes “Digging Deeper” sections providing additional resources worth further exploration. These include supplemental online videos, discussions, books, other curricula and activities that might enhance your group time. The “Adult Discussions” sections offer conversation starters for adult studies and/or new member classes.
Throughout the Companion, each section is identified with the related page numbers in the Moravian Catechism. The resource recommends that instructors first share the desired content from the Moravian Catechism then, if desired, select from the various optional activities in each section of the Companion to the Catechism.
Using the Companion
This new resource is an interactive PDF that follows the flow of the catechism book. In addition to the activities shared, the Companion also includes links to additional resources, videos, useful websites and more. Worksheets, images and activities are also provided as part of the Companion.
The Companion is available as a free download from the “Resources” section of Moravian.org. Instructions for requesting the download can be found on the web page. Printed editions of the Companion will also be available for purchase from the IBOC.
Companion team
This companion was developed by representatives from both the Northern and Southern Provinces: Christian Educators Marie Couts, Evie Blum and Jami Vandock; the Revs. Christy Clore, Derek French, Dan Miller, John G. Rights, Rick Sides, and Linda Wisser, and the Rev. Dr. Otto Dreydoppel. The team met in person several times and completed the work through conference calls and e-mail.
The initial concept for a catechism companion grew out of a conversation between the Marie Couts and Beth Hayes, now retired Resource Director for the Southern Province. Following Beth’s retirement, Christy Clore joined with Marie, serving respectively as Southern Province and Northern Province project coordinators.
“Truly a team-effort, the process and format were decided upon by the writing team whose intent was to make the catechism as engaging as possible for students and as user-friendly for instructors,” explains Marie. “Through the creativity of the team, original activities were developed for specific portions of the catechism, with emphasis on addressing a variety of learning styles through the optional activities.
“It is the hope and prayer of the writing team that this companion piece will further strengthen the confirmand’s understanding of the Moravian Catechism and help prepare them to make their personal profession of faith,” says Marie.
Find the new Companion to the Moravian Catechism here.
