A Gospel for All Generations

1. A Gospel for All Generations With Phil Jones & Cathy Cralle Jones From St. Paul’s Christian Church, Raleigh

2. St. Paul’s Christian Church Sunday School – Intergenerational Workshop July 26, 2009

3. Vision without Actionis a DAYDREAM Action without Vision Is a NIGHTMARE

4. Leadership in the Mainline Church

5. Three Factors • Change in American Culture • Organizational Obsolescence • Fear and Inward “Anxieties”

6. THE CHALLENGE • In order to effectively lead in the church today, it is essential to understand that this is the first time in its two thousand year history that the church has had to minister to five or more generations simultaneously. Richard Hamm, Recreating the Church: Leadership for the Postmodern Age (2007)

7. Who are “They?” • The Builders (b. 1925 – 1945) • The Boomers (b. 1946 - 1964) • The Busters (b. 1965 – 1983) • The Millennials (b. since 1984)

8. The Builders(1925-1946) • Built the country as we know it economically, morally, and religiously • Value stability, loyalty and dependability • Frustrated by change and lack of others “taking-the-baton”

9. The Boomers(1946-1964) • Grew up amid the upheavals of the 1960’s • Shift in gender roles and family expectations • Revolted against “authorities” (earliest “drop-outs” from church) • Influences: T.V., computers, “sex-drugs-and rock and roll” • Came back but then “slipped out” of church after raising children • Interested in “power” (how it functions & operates) • Wealthiest generation in American history

10. The Busters(1965-1983) • Influences: AIDS, legalized abortion, Berlin Wall collapse, T.V. + video games, Challenger, Persian Gulf War I, music videos (MTV). • Family: Disillusioned by parents’ divorce, latch-key kids, delayed marriage (more likely to be non-generative), T.V. series “Friends;” • Disposition: tolerant of diversity, but value “change in jobs” over one “career,” “what’s the use” disposition (sometimes called ‘slackers’), “Friends,” • Church: even higher drop-out rate (or non-exposure rate), shorter attention spans,

11. The Millennials(b. since 1984) • Grew up day-cares and other institutional settings and with rapid technological changes, World Wide Web (Internet): Wired! • Worriers: grades, college, spouse, next best job, helath (staying fit), environment, terrorism • Even more tolerant of multiculturalism, global issues, other world religions but also disillusioned by scandals from govt., sports, church, etc.

12. The Disclaimer • “The goal of looking at each generation in greater detail is understanding that generation. A danger in such knowledge is labeling or making assumptions about individuals, stereotyping individual persons of a generation as all having the exact same characteristics. Each person, of all ages and generations, is uniquely created by God, with gifts and personality like no one else. Knowing generalities about generations should jump-start understanding to aid in building relationships among generations, not replace the time needed to get to know individuals.” Edward Hammett, Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60: Being Church for All Generations.

13. Breakout !(forming 4 groups) • Take 3-5 Minutes to reflect on the “Generational Descriptors” (from sheets provided) • Identify the Top Three descriptors for each age group (e.g. what resonates) • Share examples from personal or observed experience. • Identify One descriptor that doesn’t seem to apply (e.g. what irritates) • Again, share examples from personal or observed experience