Foundational Books: Intergenerational Faith Formation
Becoming a Church of Lifelong Learners
John Roberto (Twenty-Third Publications, 2006)
Becoming a Church of Lifelong Learners presents the research, vision, and practices that provide a foundation for lifelong faith formation. The first chapter analyzes the social-cultural context and identifies important trends that are having an impact on faith formation today. Chapter two presents a vision of lifelong faith formation. Chapters three through six present the four essential practices that make lifelong faith formation a reality in parish life: 1) events-centered systematic curriculum for the whole parish community, 2) events-centered intergenerational learning, 3) household faith formation, and 4) collaborative and empowering leadership. This model of faith formation forms the basis for the Generations of Faith approach developed by the Center for Ministry Development.
The Church of All Ages: Generations Worshiping Together
Howard Vanderwell, editor (Alban Institute, 2008)
Many congregations today experience collisions between parents who want to spend time with their children and age-segregated church programming, as well as between the children worshiping in their pews and the increasing number of seniors in the same pew. Among the questions these congregations struggle to address are these: Should we try to hold the generations together when we worship? Is it even possible? Led by pastor and resource developer Howard Vanderwell, nine writers—pastors, teachers, worship planners, and others serving in specialized ministries—offer their reflections on issues congregational leaders need to address as they design their worship ministry. In addition, numerous sidebars illustrate the diversity of practices in the church today. Contributors do not propose easy answers or instant solutions. Rather, they guide readers as they craft ministries and practices that fit their own community, heritage, and history. Each chapter includes questions for reflection and group discussions, and an appendix provides guidelines for small group use. The thread that connects these varied contributions is the belief there is no greater privilege for Christians than worshiping God, and there is no better way to do that than as an intergenerational community in which all are important and all encourage and nurture the faith of the others.
Christian Education Journal: Intergenerational Ministry
Series 3, Volume 9.1, Spring 2012
There is great potential for faith development in intergenerational settings, but it is not always easy to know how to make this work for the benefit of all ages. The “Special Focus” of this issue of the journal looks at the potential, power, and promise of intergenerational ministry in the church.
- Our Future is Intergenerational - John Roberto
- Intergenerationality: Biblical and Theological Foundations - Allan G. Harkness
- Four Congregations that Practice Intergenerationality - Christine M. Ross
- Growing Disciples in Community - Kathleen Beagles
- Implementing Intergenerational Youth Ministry - Brenda Snailum
- Order from Biola University: http://journals.biola.edu/cej/volumes/9/issues/1
Creative Ways to Build Christian Community
Jeanne C. DeFazio and John P. Lathrop, editors (Wipf & Stock , 2013)
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Creative Ways to Build Christian Community is a very personal, practical response to the present and future prospect of isolation, a treasure trove of examples and suggestions about how to accomplish the Great Commission from community builders telling how, over the years and the ministries, they have implemented creative ways to build up churches and organizations to develop more intensive Christian fellowship and, thereby, create community.
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Faithful Generations: Effective Ministry across Generational Lines
John R. Mabry (Church Publishing, 2013)
Faithful Generations provides a hopeful and helpful guide to the different adult
generations alive today, discussing the events that formed them and the issues important
to them. Most importantly, it describes their spiritual distinctions - the particular needs,
gifts and concerns that drive these different generations. With a basic understanding of
how other generations think and what drives them spiritually, ministers and congregations
can not only avoid conflict, but also put those distinctions to work in order to minister
more effectively and create harmony in our religious communities. The book provides a lucid analysis of how beliefs, expectations and experience differ from one generationto the next, and clear-cut, practical and specific advice about how to use that analysis to facilitate communication, congregational harmony and spiritual direction.
generations alive today, discussing the events that formed them and the issues important
to them. Most importantly, it describes their spiritual distinctions - the particular needs,
gifts and concerns that drive these different generations. With a basic understanding of
how other generations think and what drives them spiritually, ministers and congregations
can not only avoid conflict, but also put those distinctions to work in order to minister
more effectively and create harmony in our religious communities. The book provides a lucid analysis of how beliefs, expectations and experience differ from one generationto the next, and clear-cut, practical and specific advice about how to use that analysis to facilitate communication, congregational harmony and spiritual direction.
Gen2Gen: Sharing Jesus Across the Generations
Richard Gentzler Jr., Melanie C Gordon, Craig Kennet Miller, and Abby Parker (GBOD - General Board of Discipleship, 2012) (www.gbod.org/gen2gen)
As a new generation of children emerges and the older adult population enters a period of explosive growth, it is time to turn our attention to how churches can effectively be in ministry across the generations. Gen2Gen: Sharing Jesus Across the Generations is a collection of articles about the newest trends and issues that are impacting individuals, families, churches, and communities. Develop by the staff at the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church, Gen2Gen will challenge you to create ministries that connect with the youngest and the oldest members of our society. The essays in the book are organized into the following categories: 1) Who Are We?, 2) Technology and the Church, 3) The Multi-World: Multi-ethnic/Multi-Cultural Aspects of Ministry in the 21st Century; and 4) The Multi-Generational Family.
Generations Together: Caring, Praying, Learning, Celebrating, and Serving Faithfully
Kathie Amidei, Jim Merhaut, and John Roberto (LifelongFaith Associates, 2014)
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Faith is transmitted from generation to generation in extended families and intergenerational congregations. Every congregation can discover its intergenerational heart and soul, and become an intentionally intergenerational community that nurtures the faith of all ages and equips them for living as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today. Generations Together presents the vision of a congregation that is becoming more intentionally intergenerational through its congregational life of caring, celebrating, learning, prayer, and serving. When a congregation commits itself to building a culture of intergenerationality through these five elements, each element becomes a sign of and instrument for the full experience of the Body of Christ by all ages and generations. Generations Together guides leaders in learning what this vision looks like in practice and how to guide a congregation in envisioning and designing projects and initiative to become more intentionally intergenerational. Chapters include: 1. Generations Together: A Vision of an Intergenerational Church, 2. Faith Development from Generation to Generation, The Journey to Intergenerationality: One Church’s Story, 4. Outcomes and Practices of Intergenerational Faith Formation, 5. A Toolkit for Becoming Intentionally Intergenerational, 6. Welcoming All: Intergenerational Faith Formation for People with Disabilities, and 7. Leadership for an Intergenerational Church.
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Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community and Worship
Holly Catterton Allen and Christine Lawton Ross (IVP Academic, 2012)
Most churches and faith communities segment their ministries by age and generation. The kids go to children’s church, the teens go to youth group. Worship services are geared toward different generational preferences, and small groups gather people at the same life stage, whether singles, young marrieds, parents or empty nesters. In some congregations, people may never interact with those of other ages.But it was not always so. Throughout biblical tradition and the majority of history, communities of faith included people of all ages together in corporate worship, education and ministry. The church was not just multigenerational; it was intergenerational, with the whole church together as one family and people of all ages learning from one another in common life. In this comprehensive text, Holly Allen and Christine Ross offer a complete framework for intentional intergenerational Christian formation. They provide the theoretical foundations for intergenerationality, showing how learning and spiritual formation are better accomplished through intergenerational contexts. It is not just elders teaching youth; learning also takes place when adults discover fresh insights from children. Then the authors give concrete guidance for intergenerational praxis on how worship, learning, community and service can all be achieved intergenerationally. Case studies of intergenerational congregations provide models for how a culture of intergenerationality can be created in local churches.
Intergenerational Faith Formation: All Ages Learning Together
Mariette Martineau, Joan Weber, and Leif Kehrwald (Twenty-Third Publications, 2008)
Written by the family and intergenerational faith formation team at the Center for Ministry Development, Intergenerational Faith Formation addresses the context and urgency for effective faith formation in the Church today, and in light of key principles for effective learning, makes a compelling case for intergenerational learning as one of the ways in which people can best learn and grow in faith. The book describes the necessary elements for multigenerational learning, and explores some of the practices of intergenerational faith formation in the church today.
Live, Learn, Pass It On!: The Practical Benefits of Generations Growing Together in Faith
Patty Meyers (Discipleship Resources/Upper Room Books, 2006)
Congregations are intergenerational, but many fail to make the most of the amazing gifts of generations learning together. Instead, peers are segmented from the whole to talk about faith and help each other grow spiritually, creating an unintentional disconnect within the congregation. Live, Learn, Pass It On! is written to help the church build on its greatest asset, people… as they pass on understandings of faith and discipleship to the next generations. “This books attempts to honor the God-given strengths and life experiences of people of every age and encourage them to use these for the good of others and to the glory of God,” writes Meyers. She provides a practical overview of multi-generational learning that includes models, stories, biblical and theological foundations on which to build an effective, holistic ministry for all in your congregation.
Living into Community: Cultivating Practices that Sustain Us
Christine D. Pohl (Eerdmans, 2012)
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In Living into Community Christine Pohl explores four specific Christian practices - gratitude, promise-keeping, truth-telling, and hospitality - that can counteract those destructive forces and help churches and individuals build and sustain vibrant communities. Drawing on a wealth of personal and professional experience and interacting with the biblical, historical, and moral traditions, Pohl thoughtfully discusses each practice, including its possible complications and deformations, and points to how these essential practices can be better cultivated within communities and families.
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The Spirituality of Community
Adele J. Gonzalez (Orbis Books, 2009)
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Adele Gonzalez provides a practical, spiritual vision of community in a real world where nothing is perfect and all are welcome. She helps us to realize that there can be no strangers in the Church and that we can all see the face of God not only in those we love but in those who get on our nerves.
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