Customer Reviews

Bridging Divided Worlds: Generational Cultures in Congregations

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've read several books in the past couple of years about bridging the gap between the different generations, and I have to say that this one is the most useful. It's written from an objective point of view, and so gives powerful "snapshots" of different types of congregations and how they are dealing with the generation gaps---some successfully, some not.

Instead of reading about someone else's cookie-cutter "fix-it program," I got a lot of ideas and insights that might work in my own congregation. I highly recommend this book.

Jackson W. Carroll and Wade Clark Roof, Bridging Divided Worlds: Generational Cultures in Congregations

(San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003)

Reviewed by Darren Cronshaw

Bridging Divided Worlds grabbed my attention because one of the strengths of the church I was pastoring then I read it was its intergenerational diversity. Though we were not a large church and didn't have large groups of any one generation, there were no generational groups clearly absent. There were children who reminded us not to take life too seriously, a few youth who reminded us church needs to adapt to radically changing times, young adults with their eagerness to make a difference, adults working at raising families, building careers or struggling through life, and retirees with their wisdom, experience and loyalty. We brought a richness and diversity to one another, but there was also a tenuous diversity in approaches to faith, expectations about leadership and worship style preferences that can make for conflict.

Carroll and Roof give a basic introduction to generational groupings. They suggest generations carry particular ways of seeing the world - the lens through which its members see the world and act on it.. Major events during adolescent and early adult years shape a generation's outlook in subtle and enduring ways. The pre-boomers born prior to 1946 experienced the depression and so are sensitive to the perils of a precarious economy and concerned about unnecessary wastage. They saw and were bound together by the challenges of World War II. The boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) grew up experiencing the optimism of progress after World War II, the new-found freedom of the 1960s, and the disruption of the Vietnam War. For the next generation (Gen-X), surely one formative event is the September 11 tragedy which added feelings of unease to an already insecure generation. However, Carroll and Roof's treatment of generational differences was neither too precise nor profound.

Where their contribution was distinctive was in exploring how different generations relate in different congregations. It is not a book that comprehensively describes generational differences and how to focus church ministries to connect with particular generations. It is a congregational studies project that examines how different congregations deal with generational differences. Based on interviews, a large-scale survey, and case studies of a variety of congregations, they suggest three models of intergenerational relationships, each with their strengths and weaknesses:

* Inherited congregations (in which practices are guided by the past)

* Blended congregations (where practices honor inherited tradition but are also seeking to be attentive to generational diversity)

* Generation specific congregations (which are tailored to the needs of a particular generation).

The generational trends in congregations that the book describes helped me to understand, at the risk of generalizing, part of the reasons why in our church:

* young adults looked forward to discussing gospel themes in movies, while some older people wondered why we can't just start and stick with the Bible.

* some pre-boomers were happy to go home without morning tea, and some boomers came only for coffee after the coffee!

* the majority of Gen-Xers and many boomers were more interested in justice, compassion and inclusiveness than doctrine and denominational distinctives.

* one pre-boomer man had been putting envelopes in pigeon holes for two decades, while a new worship team leader (a Gen Xer) felt like it was someone else's job after 6 months in the role.

* young adults loved lots of instruments and sound gear on the platform, while pre-boomers were vocal about wanting the platform to be neat and tidy and clear of sound cords.

* many pre-boomers liked to know there would be a clear and predictable order and structure in services, while Gen Xers and some boomers liked spontaneity.

The 21st Century will pose more challenges for generational differences. With people living longer, three to four living generations are now having to learn to live together. The elder generations are becoming larger and more powerful than they were in the past, and the younger generations are changing quicker. Society's institutions need to learn to manage this multigenerational melting pot. Churches that grapple with the issues that Bridging Divided Worlds raises will be well-placed to celebrate rather than bemoan generational differences, and model what society needs - caring, sharing, and mentoring across all age groups.

Darren Cronshaw is a Baptist pastor who enjoys good books, great movies, long walks and quality Asian food. This review originally appeared Zadok Perspectives, No. 89 (Summer, 2005), p.27.