Catechesis

Catechesis (/ˌkætəˈkiːsɪs/; from Greek: κατήχησις, "instruction by word of mouth", generally "instruction")^[1]^[2] is basic Christian religious education of children and adults, often from a catechism book. It started as education of converts to Christianity, but as the religion became institutionalized, catechesis was used for education of members who had been baptized as infants. As defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 5 (quoting Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi tradendae, §18):

Catechesis is an education in the faith of children, young people and adults which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life.

In the Catholic Church, catechist is a term used of anyone engaged in religious formation and education, from the bishop to lay ecclesial ministers and clergy to volunteers at the local level. The primary catechists for children are their parents^[3] or communities.^[4] Protestant churches typically have Sunday School classes for educating children in religion, as well as adult classes for continuing education.

In ecclesiology, a catechumen (/ˌkætɪˈkjuːmən, -mɛn/; via Latin catechumenus from Greek κατηχούμενος katēkhoumenos, "one being instructed", from κατά kata, "down" and ἦχος ēkhos, "sound") is a person receiving instruction from a catechist in the principles of the Christian religion with a view to baptism. The title and practice is most often used by Anglican,^[5] Lutheran,^[6] Methodist,^[7] Orthodox, Reformed/Presbyterian,^[8] and Roman Catholic Christians.^[8] Ecumenical organisations such as the North American Association for the Catechumenate are helping across several denominations to "shape ministries with adult seekers involving an extended time of faith formation and a meaningful experience of adult baptism at Easter."^[9]^[10]

^ κατήχησις. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project
^ "catechesis". Online Etymology Dictionary.
^ Luther 1959, p. 342.
^ Manternach & Pfeifer 1991, p. 23.
^ "What is the Catechumenate?" (PDF). Anglican Church of Canada. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
^ "Journeying toward baptism: The catechumenate, an ancient rite of preparation, invigorates modern souls and churches". The Lutheran. Augsburg Fortress. 1999. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
^ Ku, Bonil (2010). A Catechumenate for the Korean Methodist Church. In order to produce a renewed catechumenal structure for Korean Methodism, adult catechumenal processes as well as baptismal theologies and rites are examined and analyzed from three principal sources: the first five centuries of the Christian church, and especially the mystagogical literature of the fourth century; the Roman Catholic Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults developed after the Second Vatican Council; and the United Methodist Church in the United States, both texts officially authorized by the denomination's General Conference and unofficial materials, among them resources for an adult catechumenate in the Come to the Waters series.
^ ^a ^b Witvliet, John D. (2000). "On the Importance of Appearance, the Catechumenate, and Appropriate Words of Greeting". Reformed Worship. Faith Alive Christian Resources. Retrieved 9 October 2015. New materials on "the catechumenate model" have been published by Mcnnonites, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and Methodists (see conference "Welcoming New Christians" on p. 48)
^ Stevens, John G.; Waschevski, Michael (16 December 2014). Rhythms of Worship: The Planning and Purpose of Liturgy. Presbyterian Publishing Corp. p. 49. ISBN 9780664260170. Through the North American Association for the Catechumenate, denominations as varied as Episcopalian, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Mennonite are working together to shape ministries with adult seekers involving an extended time of faith formation and a meaningful experience of adult baptism at Easter.
^ Yamane, David; MacMillen, Sarah; Culver, Kelly (1 January 2006). Real Stories of Christian Initiation. Liturgical Press. p. 136. ISBN 9780814618264. North American Association for the Catechumenate is an ecumenical organization which provides training and support for churches engaged in the process of baptismal conversion and making Christian disciples.

[1] κατήχησις. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project

[2] "catechesis". Online Etymology Dictionary.

[FOOTNOTELuther1959342-3] Luther 1959, p. 342.

[FOOTNOTEManternachPfeifer199123-4] Manternach & Pfeifer 1991, p. 23.

[5] "What is the Catechumenate?" (PDF). Anglican Church of Canada. Retrieved 9 October 2015.

[6] "Journeying toward baptism: The catechumenate, an ancient rite of preparation, invigorates modern souls and churches". The Lutheran. Augsburg Fortress. 1999. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2015.

[7] Ku, Bonil (2010). A Catechumenate for the Korean Methodist Church. In order to produce a renewed catechumenal structure for Korean Methodism, adult catechumenal processes as well as baptismal theologies and rites are examined and analyzed from three principal sources: the first five centuries of the Christian church, and especially the mystagogical literature of the fourth century; the Roman Catholic Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults developed after the Second Vatican Council; and the United Methodist Church in the United States, both texts officially authorized by the denomination's General Conference and unofficial materials, among them resources for an adult catechumenate in the Come to the Waters series.

[Witvliet-8] Witvliet, John D. (2000). "On the Importance of Appearance, the Catechumenate, and Appropriate Words of Greeting". Reformed Worship. Faith Alive Christian Resources. Retrieved 9 October 2015. New materials on "the catechumenate model" have been published by Mcnnonites, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and Methodists (see conference "Welcoming New Christians" on p. 48)

[StevensWaschevski2014-9] Stevens, John G.; Waschevski, Michael (16 December 2014). Rhythms of Worship: The Planning and Purpose of Liturgy. Presbyterian Publishing Corp. p. 49. ISBN 9780664260170. Through the North American Association for the Catechumenate, denominations as varied as Episcopalian, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Mennonite are working together to shape ministries with adult seekers involving an extended time of faith formation and a meaningful experience of adult baptism at Easter.

[YamaneMacMillen2006-10] Yamane, David; MacMillen, Sarah; Culver, Kelly (1 January 2006). Real Stories of Christian Initiation. Liturgical Press. p. 136. ISBN 9780814618264. North American Association for the Catechumenate is an ecumenical organization which provides training and support for churches engaged in the process of baptismal conversion and making Christian disciples.

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