An Examination of Generations

Transcription

1 A MULTI-GENERATIONAL CHURCH An Examination of Generations The following charts have been adapted from these resources: Peter Menconi. The Intergenerational Church: Understanding Congregations from WWII to (Littleton, CO: Mt. Sage Publishing, 2010). Gary L. McIntosh, One Church, Four Generations: Understanding and Reaching All Ages in Your Church. (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2002).

2 GI Generation Events Culture Values Family Experience Worldview WW1, the Titanic sinking, the Great depression Radio was king; major inventions were the automobile, the airplane Family/Community Basic, less materialistic Traditional, Nuclear Good guy/bad guy view of the world Patriotism can almost seem to be their primary religion Civic minded, sacrificing for their country Community

3 GI (cont.) Spirituality - Church members - Involved - Pastors/Ministers are paid professionals employed to do church (preaching, teaching, winning others, marrying, baptizing, etc.) - Traditional, predictable worship services - Committed to foreign missions - Perceive/view the rest of the world as pagans

4 Silent Generation Events Culture Values Family Experience Worldview War, Great Depression, New Deal, Rise on Corporations, Space Age Radio transitioned to black and white TV Transistor Radio Seeds of Rock of Roll Adaptability, Loyalty, Conformity, Diligence Silents are a low-risk generation Desire to keep to peace Traditional, Nuclear Very similar to the worldview of GI Generation

5 Silents (cont.) Spirituality - Place great importance on being lifelong learners - Enjoy authoritative teaching/preaching - Often quite reserved about sharing details of their own spiritual lives - Generally committed to church as a significant institution

6 Baby Boomer Generation Events Culture Values Family Experience Worldview Assassination of JFK, Civil Rights, Vietnam War, Sexual Revolution, Cold War/Russia, Space Travel Television began to radically change the culture Music began to affect/impact the culture greatly! Great shift in the culture throughout the 70 s Competitive, Self-actualization, Success, Education, Anti-war, anti-government Disintegrating Began to transition from a modern worldview to a postmodern worldview Counterculture movement

7 Boomers (cont.) Spirituality -abandoned the traditional forms -a group of boomers that never left the church, they are known as loyalists and have a high level of commitment to both their denomination and local assembly -Boomers favor activism! Thus, they want to be involved, consulted in the church and its ministries.

8 Generation X Events Culture Values Family Experience Single Greatest Impact may have been divorce, Challenger disaster, Watergate, Energy Crisis Increase in Technology, Video Games, Television, Music Time over money! Balance, Diversity, Time Latch-key kids Worldview Postmodernism

9 Gen X (cont.) Spirituality - Absolute truth is foreign to this group - Organized religion can be perceived as a problem, not a source of salvation for the culture -Desire a genuine spiritual experience, not contrived - cafeteria religion is common among this group, Eclectic spirituality - Value true family relationships - Desire a church that addresses real needs

10 The Millennials Events Culture Values Family Experience Worldview Greatest impacts on this generation are 9/11 and the Columbine School shooting, Digital Media, child focused world Technology explosion, Entertainment explosion Individuality, Achievement, Civic Duty Merged families Postmodern, but a bit more serious and optimistic than Gen X

11 Millennials (cont.) Spirituality -God s unchanging truth is not absolute, but subject to each individual and their unique circumstances - Moral confusion with this group - Pluralistic view of God and of the working of God in our lives - Desire authentic, real and genuine church - Reject any/ all programs that do not genuinely draw us closer to God - Reject fighting in the church

12 WHAT CAN WE DO? Suggestions for us as a body of believers to consider as we interact between generations:

13 1.There is a humbling perspective and an enormous sense of responsibility as we view ourselves not just in relation to our own generation but in the progression of God's people through the ages spanning from one generation to the next. I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; (2 Tim. 1:3)

14 2. Those of the younger generation must be committed to follow those who are godly and faithful from the older generation. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, (2 Tim. 3:10)

15 3. The older generation must lead the younger, not through presumption, position or privilege, but by example and Biblical instruction. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2Tim. 3:14-15)

16 4. Younger adults can, and where fitting should, lead (be examples for) older adults. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1 Tim. 4:12)

17 5. There are obvious and important differences among younger adults and older adults, these differences cannot be ignored. We need to note these differences and respond with appreciation and honor for one another. These relationships ought to be approached in a manner similar to family relationships.

18 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; 2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. (1 Tim. 5:1-2) That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. (Titus 2:2-8)

19 6. There is great potential, because of our relationship with Christ, for genuine and influential personal relationships between generations, potentially relationships even closer than biological family relationships.

20 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Tim. 1:2) To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (2 Tim. 1:2) Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. 2:1) To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. (Titus 1:4)

21 7. Not only are the older to care for the younger, but there comes a time when the direction of care-giving is reversed and it is appropriate for the younger generation to take care of the older. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. (1 Tim. 5:4)

22 8. Faith should be and often is passed from generation to generation. This does not happen by accident but through real, intentional life on life interaction of the older generation to the younger and vice versa. When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. (2 Tim. 1:5)

23 9. We should not only think about receiving the truths of Scripture from the generation ahead of us, but also of passing it to the generation that follows us. It is imperative that they are equipped to pass it on to another generation who will pass it on to another. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (2 Tim. 2:2) Adapted from

24 What will your impact on the next generation be?

25 GI & SILENT BABY BOOMERS GENERATION X MILLENNIALS BIRTH YEARS / CURRENT AGE / # 63 million/50 million 80 Million 51 Million 75 Million The Greatest Generation / The Me Generation, Moral Authority Gen X, Xers Generation Y, Gen Y, Generation OTHER NAMES INFLUENCERS CORE VALUES ATTRIBUTES Forgotten Generation Korean War, Great Depression, New Deal, Rise on Corporations, Space Age, Raised by parents that just survived the Great Depression. Experience hard times while growing up which were followed by times of prosperity. Adhere to rules Conformers/Conformity Contributing to the collective good is important Dedication/Sacrifice Delayed Reward Discipline Committed to company Competent Confident Conservative Dedication Doing more with less Ethical Fiscally prudent Hard-working Historical viewpoint Honor Civil Rights, Vietnam War, Sexual Revolution, Cold War/Russia, Space Travel Highest divorce rate and 2 nd marriages in history. Greedy, materialistic and ambitious Anti war Anti government Anything is possible Equal rights Equal opportunities Extremely loyal to their children Ability to handle a crisis Ambitious Anti-extabishmentism Challenge Authority Competent Competitive Consensus Leadership Consumerism Ethical Good communication skills Idealism Watergate, Energy Crisis, Dual Income families and single parents, First Generation of Latchkey Kids, Y2K, Activism, End of Cold War, increase divorce rate. Having to take care of themselves early; watching their politicians lie and their parents get laid off. Balance Diversity Entrepreneurial Fun High Educated High job expectations Adaptable Angry but don t know why Antiestablishment mentality Big Gap with boomers Can change Crave independence Confident Competent Ethical Flexible Focus on results Next Digital Media, child focused world, school shootings, terrorist attacks, AIDS, 9/11 terrorist attacks. Typically grew up as children of divorce. Hope to be the next generation & to turn around all the wrong. More sheltered than any other generation. Kept busy as kids. First generation of children with schedules. Achievement Avid consumers Civic Duty Confidence Diversity Extreme fun Fun! Ambitious but not entirely focused. At ease in teams Attached to their gadgets & parents Best educated confident Diversity Focused Multiculturalism Have not lived without computers Eager to spend money Fiercely Independent Focus in children/family

26 FAMILY EXPERIENCE Traditional Nuclear Disintegrating Latch-key kids Merged families VALUE Family/Community Success Time Individuality WORK ETHIC Dedicated Driven Balance Work smarter and with greater output, not work longer hours Ambitious What s next? TECHNOLOGY Adapted Acquired Assimilated Integral ENTITLEMENT Seniority Experience Merit Contribution BUSINESS FOCUS Quality Long Hours Productivity Contribution WORK ETHIC AND VALUES Adhere to rules Dedicated work ethic Challenge authority Crusading causes Care less about advancement than about work/life balance Believe that because of technology, they can work flexibly anytime, anyplace and that they should be evaluated on work product-not how, when or where they got it done. PREFERRED WORK ENVIRONMEN T Conservative Hierarchal Flat organizational hierarchy Democratic Functional, Positive, Fun Efficient Fast paced and flexible Collaborative Achievement-oriented Highly creative Positive WORK IS An obligation A Long Term Career An exciting adventure A Career Work and then Retire A difficult challenge A contract Just a job A means to an end Fulfillment Flexible Work Arrangements Chart adapted from: Peter Menconi. The Intergenerational Church: Understanding Congregations from WWII to (Littleton, CO: Mt. Sage Publishing, 2010).