1. 1. Jim Merhaut CoachingToConnect.com
2. 2. What well cover today The return to intergenerational awareness Biblical witness Generations Together Project Spotlight programs & approaches Resources
3. 3. Who is with us?
4. 4. Reflect: Who from another generation (older or younger) has helped you grow?
5. 5. Pitfalls of Age-Specific Grouping Why do we get a little crazy with our peers?
6. 6. 20th Century Developmental Theories Jean Piaget Cognitive Development Erik Erikson Psycho-social Development Lawrence Kohlberg Moral Development (boys) Carol Gilligan Moral Development (girls) James Fowler Faith Development Erik Erikson Carol Gilligan James Fowler
7. 7. Benefits of Intergenerationality Generativity & Mutuality (Erikson) Disequilibration (Piaget) Holding Environment (Kegan) Prayer Maturity (Holly Allen) Youth Ministry Works Better (Martinson, Black, Roberto) Support Assets (Search Institute)
8. 8. Biblical Witness to Intergenerationality
9. 9. Matthew 18:3 Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
10. 10. The Plural Body -1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you? Do you (Gk plural) not know that your (Gk plural and therefore collective) body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you (Gk plural)? Paul spells this out more explicitly in 1 Corinthians 12 - Body of Christ imagery.
11. 11. Holy Infant Church, Durham, North Carolina Lynn Sale
12. 12. Generations Together Caring Praying Learning Celebrating Serving
13. 13. Caring Across the Generations Signs of Affection/Support Expressions of Admiration Spending Time Together Hospitality 5/1 positive to negative ratio
14. 14. Spotlight Idea for Caring Best Parenting Practices Book Team of elders & someone with parenting expertise Workshop to recall best parenting principles and practices Develop a gift book Elders present it to each family at birth of first child
15. 15. Martin Seligman & Shelly Gable Active Constructive Responding Active Passive Constructive Destructive
16. 16. Praying Across the Generations Developing a prayer life Practicing rituals Blessing
17. 17. Spotlight Idea for Praying Intergenerational Meditation Gong Designate a gong/bell for this purpose. Use only at intergenerational gatherings. Introduce and teach a simple one-minute meditation practice. Sound the gong for integration moments. Process the integration in intergenerational groups.
18. 18. One Moment Meditation
19. 19. Learning Across the Generations Teach Scripture Teach Tradition Inform and Form Disciples
20. 20. Spotlight Idea for Learning Event-Centered Learning Congregational life is your curriculum Build learning & living around key events Imagine a total 52- week transformation
21. 21. Celebrating Across the Generations Its all about Sunday Whole community rituals Sacraments and/or milestones Church year feasts
22. 22. Spotlight Idea for Celebrating Reverse Trick or Treat Teach mutuality, a key intergenerational developmental task Children prep by making a small gift for adults Distribute during regular trick-or-treat or develop a church program for trick-or-treat Dont be afraid of the scary stuff
23. 23. Serving Across the Generations Mission to the poor Caring for creation Justice & Advocacy Local & Global
24. 24. Spotlight Idea for Serving Intergenerational VBS Service-Style Transform VBS into a family program Spend part of each day serving Spend part of each day reflecting/learning
25. 25. Resources www.intergenerationalfaith.com www.vibrantfaithathome.org www.genonministries.org www.fashioningfaith.org www.faithformationlearningexchange.net Generations Together by Amidei, Merhaut, Roberto Intergenerational Christian Formation by Allen & Ross Faithful Generations by John Mabry The Decades of Life by Donald Capps The Journal of Lifelong Faith, Lifelong Faith Associates
26. 26. Jim Merhaut www.CoachingToConnect.com