Journal: Journal of Discipleship and Family Ministry
Volume: JDFM 03:2 (Spring 2013)
Article: The Benefits Of Intergenerality
Author: Holly Catterton Allen

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JDFM 3:2 (Spring 2013) p. 16

The Benefits Of Intergenerality1

Holly Catterton Allen

And

Christine Lawton Ross

Holly Catterton Allen (Ph.D. Talbot School of Theology) serves as the director of the Child and Family Services Program and as a professor of Biblical Studies at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. She spends much of her time researching, writing, and speaking at conferences in both secular and Christian settings. Since children’s spiritual development is currently a hot topic, the research she is doing is sought after by parents, the educational establishment, social workers, and churches. Her current writing project on children’s spirituality is tentatively titled Ten Ways to Nurture Children’s Spiritual Formation.

“When generations collide, the ensuing conflict reminds everyone, Church is not just about me. Who knew that church could be the cure to narcissism?”

Chad Hall, “All in the Family Is Now Grey’s Anatomy”

This article supports the basic premise that intergenerational faith experiences uniquely nurture spiritual growth and development in both adults and children. We must clarify here that we are not recommending that all activities of a faith community be conducted with all ages present. There are powerful, valid and important reasons to gather by age or stage or interest; spiritual growth and development can and indeed does happen when teens gather separately, when the seniors meet for mutual support and care, and when the preschoolers join together and learn. We are rather proposing that frequent and regular cross-generational opportunities for worship, learning, outreach, service and fellowship offer distinctive spiritual benefits and blessings.

When Christine asked her research interviewees why they believed intergenerational faith formation was a valid church ministry model, the most common response was that it is scriptural. Intergenerationality enables the whole church to benefit from each individual’s God-given gifts and enables believers to fully live out being the body of Christ and the family of faith. Among the many benefits for both adults and children are a sense of belonging, support for troubled families, better use of resources, character growth and sharing each other’s spiritual journeys. Additionally, this article will highlight special benefits for particular age cohorts—children, teens, emerging adults, young adults, middle adults and older adults.

Belonging

“Belongingness” is the third in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.2 After physiological nee...

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