Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community, and Worship

"One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts." ―Psalm 145:4

Most churches and faith communities segment their ministries by age and generation. In some congregations, people may never interact with those of other ages. But it was not always so. Throughout biblical tradition and the majority of history, communities of faith included people of all ages together in corporate worship, education, and ministry. The church was not just multigenerational; it was intergenerational, with the whole church together as one family and people of all ages learning from one another in common life.

The process of becoming Christlike does not happen alone, and intergenerational faith communities are designed for Christian formation. All generations are gifted parts of the body, and churches need all the parts. In this comprehensive text, Holly Allen, Christine Lawton, and Cory Seibel offer a complete framework for intentional intergenerational Christian formation. They provide the theoretical foundations for intergenerationality, showing how learning and spiritual formation are better accomplished through intergenerational contexts. Then the authors give concrete guidance for intergenerational praxis on how worship, learning, community, and service can all be achieved intergenerationally. Case studies of intergenerational congregations provide models for how a culture of intergenerationality can be created in local churches.

This second edition has been revised and updated throughout with new empirical research, intergenerational spiritual practices, and Gen Z realities, with fresh stories of intergenerational formation both in the US and around the world. Discover theriches of intergenerational ministry, and let all generations commend the works of God to one another.

Holly Catterton Allen (PhD, Talbot) served as professor of Christian ministries and family science at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. She was the founding director of InterGenerate, an international biennial conference for those who are passionate about intergenerational ministry. She is the author of Forming Resilient Children.

Christine Lawton (PhD, St. Louis University) is a lifelong Christian educator who has served as youth and family minister in various churches, teacher in Christian schools, and professor/director of the Christian education program at Concordia University Irvine. She is the author of several Bible studies and Sunday school curriculum resources. She lives in Washington State.

Cory Seibel (PhD, Pretoria) is a pastor at Central Baptist Church in Edmonton, Alberta. He also serves as an online tutor for Ridley College in Australia and as a research fellow with the University of the Free State in South Africa. He edited The Generative Church and Engage All Generations and chairs the InterGenerate conference leadership team.

Jason Santos is associate pastor of youth mission and ministry at University Presbyterian Church, Seattle, Washington. While a doctoral student at Princeton Seminary he mentored seminary students on youth ministry and Christian education, taught youth ministry courses, and spoke regularly to young people, youth workers and pastors across the country. He was awarded the Timothy Scholar Fellowship for Research of Youth Culture. Jason has worked in hands-on ministry at churches in London, Chicago, and Bonn, Germany. He is the author of A Community Called Taizé A Story of Prayer, Worship and Reconciliation.