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Choices Within the Journey
Multigenerational Congregation
What is the essence of this choice?
The essence of this choice is to have a congregation that embraces various generations of offering programs, ministries, and activities through worship, discipleship, and fellowship that address the unique needs of various generations.
Generations may be defined for the purpose of these congregations in at least two ways.
- First, is a typical discussion on generations in North America according to when people were born.
One perspective on generations is that we have five distinguishable generations of people who were form in the period of around 1910 through 2000, with a sixth generation just now being born since the turn of the millennium.
That means that the trailing edge of currently living generations are in their nineties, and the leading edge is less than two years old.
The worship, discipleship, and fellowship needs of these generations are extremely different.
What was going on in the world and in the church when each generation developed their Christ-centric faith patterns was very different.
The various perspectives that can be represented within one congregation that has numerous generations present are overwhelming.
In the sociology of churching one of the things we know is that a congregation with three distinguishable generations present can with relative ease stretch to meet the worship, discipleship, and fellowship needs of these three generations.
However, as congregations age and find themselves embracing a fourth or fifth generation of people, the diversity required to have authentic ministry to each generation is more than many congregations can handle.
A fourth generation adds significant tension to the day-to-day life of the congregation.
A fifth generation may add regular open conflict, and even a split in the congregation that can involve a significant group of people—generally the younger generation or two—leaving the congregation.
- Second, is what happens to new immigrant groups in a given country. The first generation primarily speaks the language of the country or culture from which they emigrated. The second generation is bilingual, and the third generation primarily speaks the language of the new country.
In these situations with the second or third generation there can be conflict and the lack of the ability to speak authentically to the worship, discipleship, and fellowship needs of the second and third generation.
Therefore, congregations that are both multigenerational and multicultural are difficult faith communities to sustain.
This is a both/and approach that indicates that the congregation should:
- Pay the rent with older generations.
- Allow the pastor, newer, younger leaders, and other leaders with vision, energy, and skills, to focus on younger generations.
Who ought to consider this choice?
Congregations in situations where there is an opportunity to reach multiple generations of people ought to consider this choice.
Situations when three or more generations are present within a congregation. But some congregation may try to ignore this diversity.
Multi-tenure congregations are a subset of this choice.
Multi-socioeconomic congregations are a subset of this choice.
Often the diverse generations have separate worship services, do some programs, ministries, and activities together, and seek to have intergenerational and inter-tenure fellowships on a regular basis.
Offer worship services geared to the learning styles and cultural preference of each generation. Often this is a move from one or two identical worship services on Sunday mornings to three or more diverse worship experiences every weekend.
Older generations will tend to continue to attend the congregation because many of their needs are still being met.
What are strategic change and transition issues to address?
It will be important to incrementally assimilate the newer, younger, emerging leaders into the formal leadership roles of the congregation.
Diversity is empowered by the multiple generations, and the diversity or programs, ministries, and activities that emerge. Congregations who figure out how to benefit from the cacophony of sounds and qualities that emerge from generational diversity will be faith communities of great beauty and joy.
Harmony is achieved through two different types of spiritual and fellowship gatherings.
- First, are ones that are intergenerational in nature.
Regularly these congregations need to be intentionally building relationships between the various generations through face-to-face worship experiences that have representatives from all generations participating in worship and sharing elements of their worship style.
Experiences of worship or fellowship that gather the various generations together must happen monthly.
About three times per year these ought to be experience of sufficient scope where every active participant in the congregation who can is urged to be a part.
- Second, are inter-tenure fellowship experiences. New people may be clueless as to the dynamics of an inter-generational congregation, unless they are intentionally brought into the fold through fellowship, assimilation, and orientation activities.
In many congregational situations inter-tenure issues are even more difficult to bring harmony around than are inter-generational issues.
What are essential resources to have available to embrace this choice?
Readiness, including a sense of urgency. A commitment to diversity in the style and content of worship, learning, fellowship, and mission and ministry.
Case studies to observe and from which to learn. Discover and dialogue with congregation who have made this choice at least five years ago is essential.
Knowledge of the strategic actions called for by this choice.
- Tolerance for the viewpoints and approaches to spirituality and Christian growth of the various generations.
- Understanding of the generational similarities and differences.
A vision incorporated into a future story of the congregation’s potential.
A minimum critical mass of leadership. A commitment to having people from each of the generations involved in all aspects of management and governance of the congregation.
Faithful, effective, and innovative actions.
Coaching from a coach for congregational leadership.
Does this choice fit your congregation? If you think the answer is "yes," click the Next button underneath It fits. If you're not sure, or you think the answer is probably "no," click the Next button underneath Look further to select another option from the full list of choices.
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