Understanding our culture

- Generational Characteristics

Differences between generations has always been an issue

The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and

love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the

servants of their households.

Attributed to Socrates

477 – 399 B.C.

Differences between generations has always been an issue

The faster the change the more acute the differences

Changes that might have taken three generations now take place in

one!

In business, the dominant, bossy and optimistic Boomers can’t

understand the seemingly disloyal, pessimistic Xers. We are currently

experiencing the biggest generation gap in history, between

Boomers and Xers.

Mind the Gap

Codrington & Grant-Marshall

Is this also true in the church?

The church has to realise that it finds itself in a unique time in

history .. Never before has there been such a communications

breakdown between generations.

Jason Gardner

Mend the Gap

Builders

(65 – 80)

Grew up during the war and immediately after

A period when things were hard and everybody “mucked in”

Builders

Sacrifice of self for others

Focus on group goals

Common values, ethics, (honesty, morality)

"We, Us, Pull together"

Loyal to the institution

Builders

Success-Family, Community

Leadership by command, follow directions

Resistant to change

Common religious heritage

Builders

Concerned about people

Financially- Save, Save, Save

Spiritually- "What can I do for God?”

Church - "How Can I help the church?"

Boomers

(48-65)

Classic Boomer

Upbringing:

Brought up in a time of hope and expectation – building a new future

Parents provided support and encouragement

Encouraged to “stand on own two feet”

Boomers

Positive - glass “half full” kind of people. Want to make it happen

Confident “know it all” attitude

Talkative, bossy, inquisitive, stylish, competitive

Workaholics (but looking to address this)

Fighting the ageing process!

Boomer Leaders

Like strategic thinking

To be involved in all decision making

To know the “How, When, Who and What”

Music of this generation reflects what they want to do:

Kick over the traces of the past

Do things in a new way

“We can do things better

- and make things right”

Queen – We are the championsQueen – We are the champions

BuildersBuilders& Boomers& Boomers

Does this “fit” the Boomers & Does this “fit” the Boomers & Builders you know?Builders you know?

Or you if you are a Builder or Or you if you are a Builder or Boomer?Boomer?

Gen X

(30 -48)

Most misunderstood generation

Classic Gen X’er

It's difficult to think of examples of any heroes for the Gen-Xers. Are

we a generation with a hero vacuum? Perhaps this explains many of the problems with our

society today.

Classic Gen X’er

Gen X

Grew up with uncertainty.

At home – divorce and family breakdown was increasing

More than 40% of Gen X are children of divorce

the first generation of “latch key kids”

Strong parenting was lacking

Got “things” but not “time”

Upbringing

Uncertainty in the work place

The promise that “if you work hard at school you’ll get a good job” was not fulfilled!

Saw their parents lose “jobs for life”

Uncertainty about leaders

Nixon resigns in ’74

Leaders in church, community & industry “exposed”

Gen X

Led to a feeling that there was no one they could trust.

Cynicism a strong trait

And an expectation that things would fall apart.

They work to live, are practical, easy going and “disturbingly money-minded.”

Their focus is to enjoy their family, personal time and hobbies. They do not commit themselves to their work, company or

country. They want – and expect – a higher standard of living than previous

generations.

“If you want loyalty buy a dog.”

Music is huge in their lives – the “window on their soul” and the language they use to express

themselves

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this lifeTry to make ends meetYou're a slave to money then you dieI'll take you down the only road I've ever been downYou know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet yeah,

No change, I can't changeI can't change, I can't changeBut I'm here in my mould, I am here in my mouldBut I'm a million different people from one day to the nextI can't change my mould No, no, no, no, no

The Verve - Bittersweet symphony

Every silver lining has a cloudAnd each piece of good fortune must be paid for by the poundI've become so cynical these days,I don't know how it started but it won't go awaySee the lines around my eyes,See the sarcasm in my smile,

You'd better smileSmile [x15]Cause that's all that you've got left,Your life's a mess, you've been cut adrift

Supernatural: Smile

Travis – Why does it always rain on Travis – Why does it always rain on me?me?

And it seems to me you lived your lifeLike a candle in the windNever knowing who to cling toWhen the rain set inAnd I would have liked to know youBut I was just a kidYour candle burned out long beforeYour legend ever did

Generation Y

Grew up with significant family support(pampered?)

Led to an expectation that whilst things might be hard in life, people would look

out for them (an unhelpful reliance?

Cynicism of the previous generation is replaced by an optimism.

Generation Y

They value teamwork and seek the input and affirmation of others. Part

of a no-person-left-behind generation, Generation Y is loyal, committed and wants to be included and involved.

Generation Y

Have a “big world” picture

-Care about the environment & injustice

-Willing to volunteer to make a difference

Generation Y

Craves attention in the form of feedback and guidance. They

appreciate being kept in the loop and seek frequent praise and

reassurance.

SClub 7: Don’t stop, never give upSClub 7: Don’t stop, never give up

What surprised you about the Generational Characteristics for Gen X

& Gen Y?

What helped you make sense of the way these generations think and act?

Builders & Boomers

or Gen X & Gen Y

Who will shape the future of the church

- And who will it be shaped round?

What we have looks like it is coming to an end

- it can’t be sustained as it is

Age 33Age 48

Age 65

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Column B

Gen Y

Boomers

Gen X

Numbers of Ministers by Age

“An older clergy will be unable to deliver the message for

young people, who will then not be energised to serve. The

church risks becoming essentially an institution for the

elderly to bond.”

Lynn Robertson

Sociology of Religion

Ministry of Word & Sacrament is not shaped for those under 48

One person is expected to “do it all”

Little sense of “Team”

Increasingly being driven by results

Frictions between generations to resolve

Limited support structures in place

Sunday worship is not shaped for those under 48

Too predictable & slow

Too much formality

Too little movement

Too little participation

Not a multi-sensory experience

Not directly relevant to life

Decision making structures are not shaped for those under 48

Interested in big picture not small detail

Opportunity to put in their ideas

Don’t want hemmed in by rules & regulations

Trust people to get on with it

Pastoral Care is not structured for those under 48

Involves unannounced house calls

Mainly provided by those over 60

Provides support mainly at times of bereavement or illness

Opportunities to be involved not structured for those under 48

A long term commitment expected

An expectation that you will “keep things going” without major

change

Those who’ve been around longest have most say

No real support structures – in fact criticism goes with the territory

How do we “reshape” church to engage those who are under 48?

Postmoderns aren’t interested in hearing a cognitive approach .. They desire to connect heart to heart not

head to head

Reaching people under 40 while keeping people under 60

Edward Hammett

Cross-cultural evangelism is not about changing the cultural clothing of an

explanation of Jesus’ death but finding which parts of the whole story are “good

news” within each culture and starting from these to explore the rest.”

Mission Shaped Evangelism

Steve Hollinghurst

Pointers on the way

Our faith needs to be real – people need to see that it “works”

What we talk and share about needs to be relevant to life

It takes time to earn trust

We are not alone in facing significant change

(and the pressures associated with that)

The church has constantly coped with change

and kept its core message that Jesus Christ is Lord