Much has been made recently of the differences between the generations, politically, culturally and financially. The issue was thrown into stark contrast by the EU Referendum. The breakdown of votes across the generations suggested that a majority of older people voting leave, while younger voters favoured remaining. This has led some young people to claim that their older fellow citizens had ‘stolen’ their future, by forcing them to leave the EU against their will.
This comment piece, in the Guardian, highlights this gap and points to a growing animosity between the young and old. If this gap does exist, then what are we as churches and individual Christians to do about it? Well, church communities are one of the few places in our society where old and young (and all in between) come together regularly and joyfully. Here are some thoughts on bridging that gap.
Don’t keep the generations apart
There is definitely a time and a place for age-appropriate groups and teaching, but there is no reason for this to be the only ministry your church offers. If we only meet together in our own groups – children, adults, young people, families – then we’re not a community at all, just a bunch of disparate groups that happen to use the same building. Increasing the amount of things that we do all together will help older and younger people mix a bit more naturally and, over time, start to appreciate the joys on knowing people of different ages.
Have youth leaders of various ages
The idea of being ‘too old for youth work’ is often bandied around, but it’s entirely false. It’s true that young people more naturally identify with youth leaders who are close to their age, but there are a whole range of roles that older leaders can fill. The extra experience and wisdom of older leaders is invaluable to young people as they make decisions about their life and what they believe. Youth workers in their 60s, 70s and 80s can fill the role of a grandparent – something that might be missing in the lives of teenagers. My grandparents, for example, had all died by the time I was 15, while other families might be fragmented by divorce or separation.
Involve young and old in serving
Working alongside people from different generations is valuable for everyone. Young people can make friends of different ages outside their family group, while older people can feel renewed by the friendship of the young. Experiences are shared while work is done, whether that’s helping with the crèche, serving coffee or being part of the welcome team.
Model constructive debate
We live in polarised times – our society seems to be tilting towards a point where you can only be friends with those who agree with you and you shun those who don’t. In our church communities, there is a wide range of opinions on many topics. If we are to help bridge a generation gap, then we need to make sure we find a place for constructive discussion, without retreating into groups made up of those who think the same way we do. This involves listening more than speaking, doing to others as we would want they do to us (Matthew 7:12) and loving our neighbours as ourselves.
If such a generation gap exists, then our church communities are prime places to overcome it. How are you bridging that gap? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!
Alex Taylor is part of the Youth Team for the Diocese of London, and is growing older by the day.