Inter-Generational Ministry

What is it?Inter-generational or intergenerational ministry, contrasts with age-specific ministry Religious ministry (Christian).Interaction between generations and different ages is the key to such ministry. defines inter-generational as ‘being or occurring between the generations’. Some authors refer to inter-generational as trans-generational, which more strictly means 'across' generations. Inter-generational ministry is :

• not intra-generational (within a generation), age-specific or peer-based ministry where a church is segregated according to chronological age. While even a Sunday School class has some 'relating between generations' (assuming the teacher is not a peer), the possibilities for generational connectedness are grossly limited.
• not multi-generational or all-age ministry (this is where several age groups are together, each in a peer-based way, with no interacting between the age-groups). For example, (a) a worship service with songs to appeal to every age group; (b) a bible study class, with material grossly simplified for the children present and excluding to adults or (c) an adult sermon, largely inaccessible to children forced to be present. These examples are not inter-generational ministries although many generations may be physically present.
• not family-ministry, where there is an emphasis on integrating and building traditional nuclear families, and reducing church programming in favour of facilitating relationships at home, isolated from the wider faith community. The nuclear
  
  
  
  family generally includes only two generations, and a wider 'relating' - with surrogate extended family in the congregation - characterises inter-generational ministry.

Inter-generational ministry is :

• a conscious relating across traditional boundaries of age and experience; Creation of community from that ‘between-ness’ and interaction and transcendence of age boundaries, characterised by 'interacting' between generations.
• a corporate expression of family-like community, with the organic unity of the family reflecting and embodying God’s model for church.
• an authentic expression of 'church' that cuts across all denominations and cultures.
• an integral part of community that cuts across all aspects of church life and mission - from worship to teaching to mission and outreach.

Evaluation
Advantages of inter-generational ministry include :

• (a) it is a Biblical model - particularly when the ministry is located within the family as per the 'relational' Hebrew model (Deut 6);
• (b) it avoids the 'isolation' of children/youth - particularly at the crucial stage when mature adult role models are more beneficial than peers;
• (c) it avoids the one-on-one situations where church child abuse is able to flourish. Age-segregated ministry increases the occasions when children are not with parents or the wider congregation, and adds to the possibility of 'abuse' within church circles (see )
• (d) it empowers the whole congregation to exercise their gifting and role (not just the youth pastor or Sunday School teacher);
• (e) it strengthens nuclear families and the role that they play in children's lives and integrates those with no family into the extended family of
  
  
  
  the church (sometimes literally 'adopting' children/youth into actual families).
• (f) it holds within it 'community' and 'family' and 'belonging' and 'acceptance' that are ingregidents for highly successful church growth in a post-modern world where 'relationships' are of increasing importance.
• (g) Studies show that children attending Sunday Schools and youth programs are less likely to continue church involvement, compared to those who attended worship with parents, and are integrated into a community (eg Mark de Vries “Family-Based Youth Ministry”, 2004). Those children who continue church involvement as adults often have a ‘nominal faith’ (eg George Barna “Transforming children into Spiritual Champions”, 2003).
• (h) In terms of religious education the 'socialisation' of children into the faith community is one important approach identified by Jack Seymour, and this involves connecting the children and family with the wider congregation.

Disadvantages of inter-generational ministry include :

• (a) its counter-cultural nature - with popular opinion being persuaded that the age-segregated, state-education system for children should translate into church communities;
• (b) its emphasis on community is challenging - in an individualstic age where 'community' has come to be associated with nothing more than sharing the same worship space - and keeping the youngest children out if they 'disturb' it;
• (c) the challenge it provides to 'meeting felt needs' - in an age where attracting people to church has often played on 'what you can get from it'; and the fact relating in inter-generational community includes 'what you can put into it'.
• (d) inter-generational ministry requires 'creative' solutions, that are flexible, and tailored to individual situations and people - and despite the post-modern world, the church is often looking for solutions that are applicable across the board.

These problems are largely ones of paradigm shift rather than inherent deficiency with inter-generational ministry. Inter-generational ministry holds within it unprecentated possibilities for church health and growth in the 21st century. See also youth ministry

Webliography

• is particularly dedicated to information concerning the church as inter-generational community, including the e-zine ChurchBaby. News.
• provides suggestions for 'multi-generational' worship form
• aims to equip congregations for inter-generational life with a lectionary-based resource for multi-age congregations available for purchase.
• abound on the topic with Blogspot collating some discussions of the paradigm shift.
• presents resources for the inclusion of children and youth as full participants in the regular worship life of a congregation.
• aims to spearhead a Christian education reform that restores parents as the primary faith teachers.
• has a vision for accomplishing the Great Commission through their households.
• FBYM began when Mark DeVries began to devise a system targeted at bringing families together within the church body.

References

• de Vries, Mark(2004) Family-Based Youth Ministry, IVP; Downers Grove, Illinois, ISBN : 0-8308-1396-9
• Barna, George (2003) Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, Regal, ISBN : 0-8307-3294-2
• Seymour, Jack and Miller Donald (eds) (1982) Contemporary Approaches Christian Education”, Abingdon Press

See Also

• Religious ministry (Christian)
• youth ministry