earticle

영어

As Korean society enters the realm of a 'super-aged' society, the study of faith formation and transformation for the aged has become an urgent task for Christian education in the Korean church. However, the reality is that current Christian education for older adults in the Korean church does not adequately address ongoing faith formation and transformation across the lifespan. From this perspective, this study critically analyzes the current curriculum for older adults in the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK), 'The Words and Eternal Youth', in light of Donald Capps' 10 decades of life theory and Charles Foster's eventful education theory. The study identified Capps' and Foster's understanding of the characteristics of faith formation in older adults as life-cycle faith continuity, life events as faith resources, community memory and interaction, and older faith as an integrated self. Based on these findings, four Christian educational tasks and practices for facilitating faith formation in later life were suggested: 1) educating the aged on faith formation as a lifelong pilgrimage; 2) life-reflective education utilizing the diverse life experiences of the aged as core resources; 3) educational ministry integrating intergenerational and age-specific faith formation; and 4) building a specialized ministry team for older adult congregations. I hope that this study will help the Korean church recognize the older generation as ongoing, growing witnesses to the faith granted to the faith community, and that their memories and reflections on their faithful lives will become a common heritage and future hope for the church.