Our Future is Intergenerational

Abstract

Christian congregations across the United States are rediscovering the importance of intergenerational faith formation and relationship building and making it a defining characteristic of their community life. This rediscovery comes at a time when research is finding the enduring importance of intergenerational relationships in the church community upon the faith life and church involvement of young adults. It also comes at a time when churches are questioning their overreliance on age-specific programming to the detriment of intergenerational relationships and experiences in the faith community. This article focuses on the blessings and benefits of being intentionally intergenerational and provides strategies and examples for strengthening intergenerational practices in faith formation.