Intergenerational or "Cross-Generational" - Thoughts by Debbie Streicher

We live in an age-segregated society. There is a time and a place for age appropriate activities, but there should also be a time and a place where we gather all the ages together for a learning opportunity. Statistics show that the church is the last place all 5 generations gather in today’s world.  In most congregations there is not a question as to whether or not all the ages should worship together. It is a given. But when it comes to “Sunday school” or “Christian education”, we struggle to gather all the ages together for learning opportunities. Many relate “Sunday school” to children and when teens and adults are asked to attend, they often opt out.

The church continues to be one of the few areas in our society where all ages come together. Do we provide opportunities for generations to gather together and learn from each other? 
I think most Christian educators have tried hosting events where all ages get involved. And I think most have learned that without support from the leadership and plenty of upfront publicity announcing the event, there is minimal attendance.
From my experience the most successful way to introduce programs where there are several generations present, is during certain times of the church year. Most people do not mind gathering during Advent for 4 weeks or even during Lent for 6 weeks. But please don’t ask us to be with other ages the rest of the year!
I believe we need to be intentional about inviting the elder and the child or the elder and the teen to be together. And we need to set expectations for feedback to share with others. We learn from one another and every setting is different.
Congregational size can also play a role in the success of a cross generational opportunity. In small congregations, there is not a question as to the ages being together. They are the family. Generations together is a given.
The challenge can be in larger congregations where age-segregated activities are the existing program. 
Suggestion: Ask people to name a person in their lives who has had an impact on them and whom they would consider to be a faith role model. My guess is they will not name someone their own age. It’s likely that the person named is from another generation and probably an older generation.
Providing opportunities for faith role modeling between the generations is needed.
So, why even try to get all the ages together?  It’s for our future. It’s for the generations to come.

Do we engage parents in meaningful ways and provide them with tools to nurture faith in the home?
I think it is a matter of helping parents realize that they can and should nurture faith in the home. I don’t think we, as Christian educators,  have been very good about giving them tools because we have been so busy planning the “programs” for ourselves or others to “teach”.  We expect parents to participate but have never really empowered them to do so.
How we got to this place in our history points us to the cause and effect of our ministries. When we provide Christian education programs and Sunday school for children but do not include parents, we create a drop-off syndrome. Implementing programs in the congregation without helping parents understand their crucial part as faith role models for their children is the cause, the drop-off syndrome is the effect.

We haven’t been very good at telling parents they truly are the number one faith role model for their children. Even I, as a young parent, felt the pastor or the Sunday school teacher was the only person who could teach my children about faith. A child needs multiple faith role models in their lives, but we, as parents are number one.
We greet parents with a smile and tell them what class room their child should go to and what teacher they have. We very rarely think to provide special opportunities for parents to gather, get to know one another, and form support groups. Providing opportunities for parents and children to learn together is key.

I believe this cause and effect has had a huge impact on our Sunday school programs and the way we do Christian education. We tend to point fingers at parents and complain about the situation we’ve gotten ourselves into. I suggest we come together in prayer for our children and their parents as well as our ministries.
Our children are a precious resource and the future of the church. Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate a parent’s role and empower them to join us and experience the joy of being a Christian educator. We know we love it! And can you imagine the end result for our ministries?

After all, when the Children of Israel were preparing to enter the Promised Land, God gave them a clear set of instructions on how to teach their children:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. — Deuteronomy 6:5-9