1. Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
Generate 2019 Chris Barnett
Overview
Intergenerationality
Intergenerationality and Children & Families Ministry
A Quick Word on Worship

2. Intergenerational Ministry (Children & Families) UCA Synod of Victas
Encouraging healthy ministry with children and their families
Providing effective educational resourcing for ministry with children and their families
Consultancy
Advocacy
Resourcing
Training

3. Intergenerational is not just a fad or a good idea…
An intentionally intergenerational environment
is more likely to encourage and sustain
lifelong discipleship
for all ages

4. Intergenerational is…
Not just about children, its about people of all ages
Not primarily about what we do, its about who we are
Not something that just happens, it requires intentionality

5. Intergenerational – A Definition
“Two or more different age groups…together learning, growing, living in faith through in-common experiences, parallel learning, contributive occasions, and interactive sharing” - James White

6. Intergenerational ministry – Some Definitions
“Two or more different age groups…together learning, growing, living in faith through in-common experiences, parallel learning, contributive occasions, and interactive sharing” - James White
“Intentional intergenerational strategies…encourage interpersonal interactions across generational boundaries…sense of mutuality and respect is encouraged between participants” – Alan Harkness

7. intergenerational connections
Intergenerational ministry – A Culture change
Generational
– default position age-based cohorts, sometimes we do things together
Intergenerational
– default position all ages together, sometimes we do things separately
A key is developing
intergenerational connections -

8. What do we mean by “intergenerational”?
Distinguishing between
Mono-,
Multi-,
Cross-
and Inter-generational

9. Making some distinctions Mono-cultural/generational
Multi-cultural/generational
Cross-cultural/generational
Inter-cultural/generational
Ref. The United Church of Canada

10. Multi-generational Tolerance, Live Alongside
Superficial and polite interaction
Cross-generational Some sharing, listening, learning
Little individual/collective transformation
Inter-generational Comprehensive mutuality, equality & reciprocity
Individual/collective transformation more likely

11. Being Intergenerational
Intentional intergenerational relationships are marked by
Mutuality (all benefit)
Equality (all are valued equally)
Reciprocity (all give and receive)

12. Time for a Pause
How are we going so far?
What’s buzzing around in your head?

13. What do we mean by Children & Families Ministry? To…For…With
Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
What do we mean by Children & Families Ministry?
To…For…With
Children…Children & (their) Families

14. What do we mean by Children & Families Ministry? To…For…With
Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
What do we mean by Children & Families Ministry?
To…For…With
Children…Children & (their) Families
What does this currently include in your context?

15. The role of Children & Families ministry leadership
Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
The role of Children & Families ministry leadership
is to intentionally…
Resource and rally the whole church community toward developing a culture of intergenerationality
Identify & initiate opportunities for intergenerational engagement
Support & sustain intergenerational endeavours across the whole church
Equip & empower leaders, children and their families for intergenerational engagement

16. is encouraged between participants” Alan Harkness
Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
Genuine intergenerationality involves intentionality with regard to…
Who we are: Attitudes, values and beliefs
What we do: Behaviours, activities and interactions
How we lead: Curating, cultivating and modelling
“Intentional intergenerational strategies…encourage interpersonal interactions across generational boundaries…sense of mutuality and respect
is encouraged between participants” Alan Harkness

17. Involves change from something to something else
Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
A quick word on change…
Involves change from something to something else
Involves knowing where we are & where we want to go
Involves intentional discussion, discernment and decision

18. Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
A quick word on change…
Important to address broader aspects in relation to …
Culture
Change
Processes
…as well as the specifics of the area under consideration

19. Genuine intergenerationality involves intentionality with regard to…
Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
Genuine intergenerationality involves intentionality with regard to…
Who we are: Attitudes, values and beliefs
What we do: Behaviours, activities and interactions
How we lead: Curating, cultivating and modelling
When your Children and Families ministry is more intergenerational, what will you see?

20. Children listening to adults, adults listening to children
Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
When your Children and Families ministry is more intergenerational, what will you see?
Children listening to adults, adults listening to children
Children learning from adults, adults from children
Children leading adults, adults leading children
Children and adults “with-ing”
Genuine engagement between generations

21. Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
Intergenerationality…
A core value
An attitude/disposition
A philosophy of ministry
Encompassing all aspects of our life together

22. Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
Caring
Praying
Learning
Celebrating
Serving
Ref. Generations Together

23. Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
Choose one area out of Caring, Praying, Learning, Serving (or a specific activity/program of your church)

24. Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
Choose one area out of Caring, Praying, Learning, Serving (or a specific activity/program of your church).
2. Explore together how this area could be more
intergenerational in your church.

25. Multi-age Multi-ability Multi-sensory Multi-intelligence
A quick word on worship
Multi-Age Worship principles foundational to Intergenerational Worship
Multi-age
Multi-ability
Multi-sensory
Multi-intelligence

26. A quick word on worship What , then, is intergenerational worship ?
= Multi-Age with an intergenerational overlay
Multi-age, Multi-ability, Multi-sensory, Multi-intelligence
Facilitating, hosting and celebrating the shared life and connections of all and any generations together

27. Team Up! A quick word on worship Involve a number of different people,
representing a range of generations,
in various aspects of the service
Having a multi-generational “team” of at least two people lead (eg. prayers, bible readings, songs) in worship…
Provides intergenerational interaction in preparation
Models intergenerational engagement in worship
Demonstrates value/ethos of intentional intergenerationality
Promotes opportunities for encouragement and affirmation

28. Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
What has surprised/challenged/excited about today?
What’s one thing you might do personally as a consequence of this session?
What might be next for your context and intergenerational ministry?

29. Intergenerational is…
Not just about children, its about people of all ages
Not primarily about what we do, its about who we are
Not something that just happens, it requires intentionality

30. Being Intergenerational
Intentional intergenerational relationships are marked by
Mutuality (all benefit)
Equality (all are valued equally)
Reciprocity (all give and receive)

31. is encouraged between participants” Alan Harkness
Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
Genuine intergenerationality involves intentionality with regard to…
Who we are: Attitudes, values and beliefs
What we do: Behaviours, activities and interactions
How we lead: Curating, cultivating and modelling
“Intentional intergenerational strategies…encourage interpersonal interactions across generational boundaries…sense of mutuality and respect
is encouraged between participants” Alan Harkness

32. Intentionally Intergenerational Children & Families Ministry
Generate 2019 Chris Barnett
Overview
Intergenerationality
Intergenerationality and Children & Families Ministry
A Quick Word on Worship