• What is the Book of Faith Initiative?
• What's happening in our synod with Book of Faith?
• Where can I learn more?

What is the Book of Faith Initiative?

The "Book of Faith" is the Bible.

The Book of Faith Initiative is a five-year drive in the ELCA to challenge and encourage congregations and individual Lutherans:
     • to become more deeply grounded in the Word of God
     • to study the scriptures and become more biblically literate
     • to encounter the living Christ in those scriptures
     • and to let the scriptures shape and form our faith.

The Book of Faith Initiative is not a specific Bible Study program. While the church, with the help of Augsburg-Fortress Publishing House, is producing some helpful materials, these are secondary and optional.

Pastor Mark Gravrock is the Montana Synod's Advocate for the Book of Faith.  His role is:
     • to interpret this initiative
     • to help our congregations and members to catch its vision
     • to encourage congregations to become Book-of-Faith congregations
     • and to help equip teachers - especially lay teachers - to work with others in their churches.

What’s happening in our synod with Book of Faith?

1. During February and March, 2009, Mark will be traveling the synod introducing the Book of Faith Initiative for congregational leaders and other interested folks.  At these three-hour sessions you’ll learn about Book of Faith, try out some Bible study together, and consider some first steps for getting involved.  These sessions are free, thanks to a grant from the ELCA.

Here is the newly-revised Book of Faith itinerary, posted and printable.

2. We’ll begin to discover who are some of the gifted teachers in our synod, and gather samples of helpful Bible studies to share with the synod.

3. Later in 2009, we’ll offer six-hour teacher-training courses in several locations throughout the synod.

4. After that, who knows?  We’ll all be pooling ideas and encouragement by then, and we’ll see what the Spirit cooks up in our synod.

Where can I learn more?

1. For the ELCA’s main website for the Book of Faith:
     http://www.bookoffaith.org/default.aspx

2. For Augsburg-Fortress resources:
     http://www.bookoffaith.org/bof_new/foundational_resources.aspx

3. If you’re interested in joining the Montana Synod’s Book of Faith conversation group, for sharing ideas and encouragement:
     http://bookoffaith.ning.com/group/montanasynod

4. For the website of the Northern Rockies Institute of Theology (NRIT), who will be helping us with scheduling and resources:       http://www.nrit.org/

5. To contact Mark Gravrock directly, email: amhrang@gmail.com