What is Cross+Generational Ministry?

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What does “cross+gen” mean?
What do you mean by “generations”?
What is the difference between cross+generational, intergenerational, and multigenerational?
What is wrong with the old model of different ages going to their own Sunday school classes?
Why should we do it? What are the benefits of cross+generational ministry?
Where can we do cross+generational ministry?
What does Spirit & Truth Publishing provide to support cross+generational ministry?
What are some resources about cross+generational ministry?

What does “cross+gen” mean?

“Cross+Gen” is an abbreviated form of “cross+generational.” Cross+generational ministry is the work of faith formation that specifically focuses on building life-giving relationships between members of different generations.


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What do you mean by “generations”?

We use the term “generations” much like our culture does. A generation would be a collective term for all people born within a certain span of time. Some sociologists have taken to defining certain spans of times and naming them, such as the Greatest Generation, the Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, etc. While generational theory is a fascinating subject, our focus is just on people of different ages building relationships together.


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What is the difference between cross+generational, intergenerational, and multigenerational?

As we use the terms, cross+generational and intergenerational are synonyms. Both refer to the mixing of people of different ages together, building relationships. Often, the term “multigenerational” is used to refer to situations when people of different generations are in the same space, but are not necessarily interacting and building relationships. For example, a church service is multigenerational when children, youth, adults, and seniors are all sitting in the pews participating in worship. A church service is cross+generational (intergenerational) when those same people are sharing, working together, and learning from each other.


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What is wrong with the old model of different ages going to their own Sunday school classes?

Some will disagree with us, but we don’t necessarily believe that there is anything wrong with education or other experiences divided by ages. Connecting with people within your own age group can be a wonderful thing, and it also allows teachers to focus on the specific developmental levels of their students. However, so much of our world is divided by age that we are losing the richness and benefits people had when it was common to have three generations living in the same home. The young have much to learn from seniors and seniors have much to learn from the young, and this goes for all age groups. Some congregations have chosen to eliminate all age-level faith formation ministries and replace them with intergenerational ministries. Others have chosen to keep their traditional structure, and add extra opportunities (e.g. intergenerational mission trips) and/or added cross+generational elements to their worship service(s).


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Why should we do it? What are the benefits of cross+generational ministry?

The benefits of cross+generational ministry are many. In the book Generations Together (LifelongFaith Associates, 2014), Jim Merhaut says, “Five significant outcomes emerged from our survey of leaders in congregations engaged in intergenerational faith formation: (1) stronger families, (2) greater sense of community, (3) increased adult faith formation, (4) a safe learning environment, and (5) motivated learners.”[i] More information can be found on LifelongFaith’s website.


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Where can we do cross+generational ministry?

You can do cross+generational ministry anywhere! Christian education classes, worship services, service projects, mission trips, fellowship lunches, prayer groups, and more. Anywhere that people of different generations can interact is a cross+generational ministry opportunity. However, the most important place for faith formation, especially for children and youth, is the home.


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What does Spirit & Truth Publishing provide to support cross+generational ministry?

Currently, we offer several products for cross+generational ministry, most following either the Narrative Lectionary (NL) or Revised Common Lectionary (RCL).

We are also excited to begin introducing a new, ongoing project Learning Together. What makes Learning Together unique is that its primary focus is on flexibility. How?

  • Topic or theme: Each five-lesson unit is focused on a specific theme or topic and is independent of every other unit. You can choose one or more units to fit your interests, purposes, and time period.
  • Audience: Learning Together lessons are designed to be used with both intergenerational and elementary-age partipants.
  • Setting: Lessons can be used in traditional classrooms, rotation classrooms, or easily adapted to vacation Bible schools.

We hope to continue to expand our cross+generational offerings to support this important movement.


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What are some resources about cross+generational ministry?


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[i] Kathie Amidei, Jim Merhaut, and John Roberto, Generations Together: Caring, Praying, Learning, Celebrating & Serving Faithfully (LifelongFaith Associates: Naugatuck, CT, 2014) 83.