Guiding the Three-Generation Sunday School
Dave A. Goetz of Leadership magazine lists multigenerational emphasis as one of the top 10 trends in the church world. He quotes Lyle Schaller, who said of this trend, "The only agreement among generations in the church can be captured in the statement, ’I want to leave more hopeful than I came.’ Worship styles, theology, technology—all divide. Churches that do well unite around a common cause. Too often, though, to try to make everyone happy, many churches unite around, ’Let’s take care of each other.’"
This trend toward thinking of churchgoers as members of distinctive, and somewhat incompatible, generations affects all administrators in Christian education ministries.
What Schaller points out is that instead of following scriptural directives that admonish the older to guide the younger, the tendency is to become territorial and entrenched. Groups are not blending well. Leaders who are trying to keep everyone happy face the problem of bringing them all together for a common cause.
Gary L. McIntosh, author of Three Generations; Riding the Waves of Change in Your Church (Grand Rapids: Fleming Revell, 1995, reprint 97) categorizes these age demographic groups for us. He labels those born prior to 1946 as Builders. They make up the older strata of the church body. The second group, born between 1946 and 1964, he calls the Boomers. These people, who are a part of the largest single population group in history, comprise the middle strata of the body. By position and sheer numbers, they have perhaps the greatest influence level in the church. The last group, born after 1965, McIntosh labels Busters.
Each of these groups has experienced different life-shaping experiences. This results in each group’s having strong and often very different ideas of how the church should function.
In addition, each group has varying needs whether real or perceived. Hence the challenge to the church. Each church has the potential to rise to new heights of effectiveness or to become paralyzed by division.
Here are some ways you can ride the waves of change and meet the needs of various groups in your church.
Practice Mutual Understanding and Acceptance
The first step in accepting this challenge is to understand that grouping persons into categories is a socially constructed process. We must recognize the situation but not add to artificial divisions by putting too much emphasis on differences.
Then help the members of each group understand how they came to develop distinctive tastes and style. For example, knowing that older parents lived through the Great Depression of the thirties helps the "throw away" buster understand the closet full of useless stuff "we might need sometime."
Helping each group appreciate and understand one another’s needs is the secret to effective ministry. In essence, there is no reason for territorialism or unhealthy competition.
Recognize All Ministries Are Vital
Effective churches have a wide range of ministry opportunities, so persons of all ages and interests can actively participate. The church growth philosophy of the early eighties stated it correctly: You look for a legitimate need and find a way to meet it. The effectiveness of this has been well proved.
However, a common problem in a multiple ministries system is the overlap of time, space, workers, equipment, and audience. You can avoid conflicts by accepting this as normal and planning to make adaptations.
Use appropriate administrative techniques such as carefully planned meetings, calendar scheduling, and good communications. Most important is the willingness of all leaders to realize the need to share facilities and equipment, support other ministries, and work toward the common goal of reaching and discipling everyone within our circle of care.
Acknowledge No One Ministry Meets Every Need
In our culture, the "one-size-fits-all" menu of ministry is not generally accepted. Regardless how effective a class, organization, or small group may be, there will always be someone who wants or needs something else. If allowances are not made for this, we might lose that person forever.
Variety is the spice of life. The ice cream chains’ big step to success was offering 31 flavors. Living in a "what’s in it for me" culture causes people to expect some attention to their individual needs. In addition, they want opportunities to choose. Therefore, the effective church offers choices.
Practice Working Together
Every group leader must understand and work in accord with the principle of cooperation. Each group or ministry cannot have a time that is its alone. Ministries and groups have to exist and work together. Coexistence can be pleasant for everyone when our motives, ambitions, and goals are in harmony. We are all working together with Christ to the building up of His kingdom.
When we come to this level of cooperation, competition ceases and the good of the Kingdom overrides personal ambition. Then we can see the three generations work together as God intended. Paul gave Titus a plan to follow and explained that each generation has something the other generations need.
Instead of "choosing up sides" and playing spiritual tug-of-war, the multiple generations can be a great blessing to the local body. By following the apostles’ plan, each generation helps and is helped by the others. Together they can create the environment in which the lost are reached, nurtured, and discipled in any culture, in any millennium.
If you are interested in an E-mail idea exchange with other superintendents and C. E. administrators, E-mail your name and E-mail address to sstraining@ag.org.
