From All Nations Leadership Institute Class: Leading in a Diverse Church 4501 West 127th Street Alsip, IL 60803 http://allnationsleadershipinstitute.org 708-385-6020 Call Deb Strlek for course information

1. Bridging the Generation Gap
in Ministry
From All Nations Leadership Institute

2. What is a multi-generational church?
A multi-generational church is one where at
least three generations exist in harmony,
under one leadership head.

3. What are the attitudes, access and
relationships necessary for a multi-
generational church?

4. Attitudes, Access and Relationships
Attitudes
Access
Relationships

5. Attitudes, Access and Relationships
Attitudes
•Values and respects the other
•Seeks to serve the other
Access
•Has access to the same kinds of ministry
• Has opportunity to worship according to their preference
and in unity with the other
Relationships
•Cross-generational relationships exist
•Older generations disciple the one beneath them
•Younger generations teach the ones above them
•Each generation learns from the other

6. What does the Bible say about cross-
generational ministry?

7. Titus 2:4-5 shows an example of discipling through
the passing on of Christian values from the older
women to younger. The older women established a
household code that the younger women taught to
their children. This created a continuous learning
cycle .
The relationship between Jesus and His disciples,
as well as with Paul and Timothy also show
generational mentoring.
What the Bible says about cross-generational ministry

8. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your strength. These
commandments that I give you today are to be upon
your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk
about them when you sit at home and when you
walk along the road, when you lie down and when
you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and
bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the
doorframes of your houses and on your gates (Deut.
6:4-9, New International Version).
What the Bible says about cross-generational ministry

9. What is the biblical basis for a multi-
generational church?

10. Jesus gave us the Great Commission to “therefore
go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt 28:18,
New International Version). This is an inclusive
statement that encompasses everyone from all
generations.

11. O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words
of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I
will utter hidden things, things from of old--what
we have heard and known, what our fathers have
told us. We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy
deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he
has done (Ps. 78:1-4, New International Version,).

12. What are the different age spans in a
multi-generational church?

13. There are five generations: Seniors, Builders,
Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y.

14. Seniors • (B)1927-45
&
Builders • (S) <1926
Boomers • 1946-1964
Gen X • 1965-1983
Gen Y • 1984-2002
Generation Ranges
(Adapted from Whitesel, B. & Hunter K., 2000)

15. General Preferences:
Seniors and Builders

16. Seniors and Boomers
Seniors
(Before
1926)
&
Builders
(Born
1927 -45)

17. Seniors and Boomers
CHANGE
Like
stability,
constancy, Seniors
and and
minimal Builders
change

18. Seniors and Builders
LEARNING CHANGE
Prefer Like
lecture stability,
format constancy, Seniors
and and
minimal Builders
change

19. Seniors and Builders
LEGACY LEARNING CHANGE
Build the Prefer Like
Western lecture stability,
world into format constancy, Seniors
a safe and and
place minimal Builders
change

20. Seniors and Builders
CHURCH LEGACY LEARNING CHANGE
Need to Build the Prefer Like
be heard; Western lecture stability,
world into format constancy, Seniors
Like a safe and and
traditional place minimal Builders
hymns change
and
customs
(Adapted from Whitesel, B. & Hunter K., 2000)

21. General Preferences:
Boomers

22. Boomers
Boomers
(Born
1946-64)

23. Boomers
CHANGE
Like
experiment
ation; Seek
and find Boomers
more
efficient
ways to do
things

24. Boomers
LEARNING CHANGE
Prefer Like
participa- experiment
tion ation; Seek
format, and find Boomers
where more
questions efficient
are en- ways to do
couraged things

25. Boomers
LEGACY LEARNING CHANGE
Made the Prefer Like
world a participa- experiment
better tion ation; Seek
place format, and find Boomers
through where more
innovation, questions efficient
but not a are en- ways to do
safer place couraged things

26. Boomers
CHURCH LEGACY LEARNING CHANGE
Needs of Made the Prefer Like
congrega- world a participa- experiment
tion; better tion ation; Seek
Soft rock place format, and find Boomers
w/ through where more
choruses & innovation, questions efficient
some but not a are en- ways to do
media safer place couraged things
usage
(Adapted from Whitesel, B. & Hunter K., 2000)

27. General Preferences:
Gen X

28. Gen X
Gen X
(Born
1965-83)

29. Gen X
CHANGE
Radical
experi-
menting
Gen X
Combining
incompa-
tible
concepts

30. Gen X
LEARNING CHANGE
Socratic Radical
method; experi-
Questions menting
&
Gen X
dissent en- Combining
couraged incompa-
tible
concepts

31. Gen X
LEGACY LEARNING CHANGE
Saved the Socratic Radical
world from method; experi-
itself Questions menting
(pollution, &
Gen X
overpopula dissent en- Combining
tion, etc.) couraged incompa-
tible
concepts

32. Gen X
CHURCH LEGACY LEARNING CHANGE
Needs of Saved the Socratic Radical
the world from method; experi-
community itself Questions menting
like (pollution, &
Gen X
interactive/ overpopula dissent en- Combining
edgy tion, etc.) couraged incompa-
post- tible
modern concepts
rock
(Adapted from Whitesel, B. & Hunter K., 2000)

33. General Preferences:
Gen Y

34. Gen Y
Gen Y
(Born 1984-
2002)

35. Gen Y
CHANGE
Embrace
electronic
community
& com-
Gen Y
munication
for better
living

36. Gen Y
LEARNING CHANGE
Electronic Embrace
hyper electronic
Socratic community
method; & com-
Gen Y
active munication
confron- for better
tation, living
leading to
insight-

37. Gen Y
LEGACY LEARNING CHANGE
Wants to Electronic Embrace
be the hyper electronic
generation Socratic community
that method; & com-
Gen Y
plugged active munication
into confron- for better
everything tation, living
leading to
insight-

38. Gen Y
CHURCH LEGACY LEARNING CHANGE
Closely Wants to Electronic Embrace
connected be the hyper electronic
to one generation Socratic community
another; that method; & com-
Gen Y
post plugged active munication
modern & into confron- for better
edgy; high everything tation, living
media leading to
usage insight-
(Adapted from Whitesel, B. & Hunter K., 2000)

39. What causes conflict between the
generations?

40. TRADITION
People don’t always want to change traditions.
WORSHIP STYLE PREFERENCE
Congregants have a strong preference for a particular worship style.
SET IN WAYS
Don’t want to pass the baton or respect competency of next generation
COMMUNICATION STYLE
Style differs in preaching, teaching and small group.

41. What are the strategies to create a
multi-generational church?

42. • Let’s first review the basic framework for leading
in a diverse church.
• There are five indicators, which are perspective,
intentionality, adaptability, inclusivity and
communication.
• This framework represents the indicators you
need to consider in ministry regarding a person’s
cultural background.

43. Framework for Leading in a Diverse Church
Agape Love From Paron, J. (2008).
Perspective
Considering another’s
viewpoint as influenced by
cultural background, gender,
Communication race, socioeconomic level
Using communication
that respects,
PURPOSE Intentionality
Agape Love
Agape Love
supports, reaches,
and bridges diversity Access to Taking intentional steps
Reconciliation towards bringing the
with God body of Christ into
Inclusivity oneness, our purpose
Creating an environment
where all are included Adaptability
and have access to
reconciliation with God.
Adjusting to other people’s
ways that are different than
ours—Changing the method,
not the message
Agape Love

44. Strategies to create a healthy,
multi-generational church culture

45. Strategies for Producing a Healthy,
Multi-generational Church Culture
• Build support for genuine respect of different generational
Strategy 1 viewpoints
• Promote acceptance of different traditions and methodologies
Strategy 2 used by each generation
• Demonstrate understanding of strengths and balances in the
Strategy 3 generational diversity of a multi-generational church
• Create new terminology to delicately handle any potential
Strategy 4 discord
• Facilitate acceptance for multi-generational strategies as
Strategy 5 some of the ways to build a church and bridge diversity
Adapted from Whitesel, B. & Hunter, K. (2000). A House Divided. Strategies to
Bridge the Gap. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.

46. Strategy 1:
Build support for genuine respect of different
generational viewpoints
Understanding the Strategy
 You want to create an environment for love. When love
prevails, judgment ends, respect follows – (Matt. 22:37-
40, KJV).
 Part of love is accepting each other: what each feels, how
each behaves and why they respond in a certain way.
 We need to appreciate “that another culture’s software
program may run differently from ours…(Soong-Chan, R.,
2010).

47. Strategy 2:
Accepts that different traditions & methodologies
will be employed by each generation
Understanding the Strategy
 Church traditions are a way for people to express
their faith.
 Churches have many traditions. These traditions can
be historic and part of denominational heritage.
They can also reflect practices and perspectives
adapted from the past.
 All these are made in the face of changing social and
cultural circumstances.

48. Strategy 3:
Understands that there is strength and balance in
the generational diversity
Understanding the Strategy
 A church with one generation, doesn’t have the
richness and knowledge as one that is multi
generational.
 When the diversity of the Body comes together for
the purpose of the salvation message it supports
the Great Commission
 Last, each generation strengthens the other. Iron
sharpens iron.

49. Strategy 4:
Realizes that these intergenerational tensions will
require the creation of new terminology to
delicately handle any potential discord.
Understanding the Strategy
 Education must take place for a common
understanding.
 For example, recently the Lighthouse Church Junior
Armor Bearers put on a skit about hip hop. After
showing the negative side of hip hop, they showed
the positive, Christian aspect of it.
 They defined it in Christian terms.

50. Strategy 5:
Accepts the fact that a tri-generational strategy is
often the way to build a church and bridge
diversity.
Understanding the Strategy
 Many congregations are dwindling in size. Older
generations die and Boomers near or are at
retirement.
 Boomers are still the principal population in many
churches, and like Builders, don’t necessarily
welcome change. This pushes Gen X and Y out to
other churches, leaving an older population.
 Did you know that the average membership of
churches is under 100? Further, most decline after
40 years (Olson, D., 2008).

51. References
Carroll, J. & Roof, W. (2002). Bridging divided worlds: Generational
cultures in congregations. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Mead, M. (1970). Culture and commitment: A study of the generation
gap. Garden City, NY: Natural History Press.
Olson, D. (2008). The American church in crisis. Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan.
Paron, J. (2008). Framework for leading in a diverse church. Alsip, IL: All
Nations Leadership Institute.
Rah, S. (2010). Many colors: Cultural intelligence for a changing church.
Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers.
Whitesel, G. (2010). Church leaders MBA: Organizational behavior,
generational differences. Marrion, IN: Indiana Wesleyan University.
Whitesel, B. & Hunter K. (2000). A House Divided. Nashville, TN:
Abingdon Press.

52. “It is true that the continuity of all
cultures depends on the living
presence of at least three
generations” (Mead, 1970).

53. All Nations Leadership Institute
4501 West 127th Street
Alsip, IL 60803
http://allnationsleadershipinstitute.org
708-385-6020
Contact Pastor Deb Strlek for information about the
theology and urban ministerial leadership program.