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Understanding Generational Differences and Connecting Generations at Grace Memorial Baptist Church

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Understanding Generational Differences and Connecting Generations at Grace Memorial Baptist Church UNDERSTANDING GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES AND CONNECTING GENERATIONS AT GRACE MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH MARILYN IRENE MCCORMICK B.Sc. Acadia University, 1977 B.Ed., Acadia University, 1978 MRE, Acadia University, 1981 Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Ministry Acadia Divinity College, Acadia University Spring Convocation 2016 © by MARILYN IRENE MCCORMICK 2016 This thesis by Marilyn Irene McCormick was defended successfully in an oral examination on 29 March 2016. The examining committee for the thesis was: Dr. Anna Robbins, Chair Dr. Marion Taylor, External Examiner Dr. Carol Anne Janzen, Internal Examiner Dr. Stephen McMullin, Supervisor Dr. John McNally, DMin Program Director This thesis is accepted in its present form by Acadia Divinity College, the Faculty of Theology of Acadia University, as satisfying the thesis requirements for the degree of Doctor of Ministry. ii I, Marilyn Irene McCormick, hereby grant permission to the University Librarian at Acadia University to provide copies of my thesis, upon request, on a non-profit basis. Marilyn Irene McCormick Author Dr. Stephen McMullin Supervisor 29 March 2016 Date iii CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................... iv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ............................................................................................. vi ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... vii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................. viii INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 Ministry Context ............................................................................................................2 Statement of Problem .....................................................................................................7 Statement of Purpose .....................................................................................................8 Basic Assumptions .........................................................................................................9 Definitions....................................................................................................................10 Delimitations ................................................................................................................10 Summary ......................................................................................................................11 Chapter 1. LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................12 Understanding Generations ..........................................................................................13 Defining Generations .............................................................................................13 Generations Today .................................................................................................15 Generations and the Church ...................................................................................22 Connecting Generations: Intergenerational Church Education and Ministry ..............27 Intergenerational Education in the Church ............................................................27 Theories in Support of Intergenerational Learning ................................................32 The Importance of Intergenerationality in the Church ..........................................34 Family Ministry Trend ...........................................................................................36 Connecting Generations: Models and Practice ............................................................39 Connecting Generations .........................................................................................39 Models for Connecting Generations ......................................................................42 Practical Activities to Connect Generations ..........................................................45 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................51 Chapter 2. BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS ...................................53 Generation in the Bible ................................................................................................54 The Triune God ............................................................................................................56 Old Testament ..............................................................................................................56 New Testament ............................................................................................................64 New Testament Images of the Church ...................................................................72 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................79 Chapter 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .....................................................................81 iv Chapter 4. RESEARCH RESULTS ...................................................................................92 Description of Participants ...........................................................................................93 Generational Differences .............................................................................................96 Style of Worship ....................................................................................................97 Congregational Connections ................................................................................102 Children and Youth Ministry ...............................................................................106 Governance and Baptist Identity ..........................................................................107 Missing Generations in the Church ............................................................................108 Intergenerational or Multi-Generational ....................................................................115 Conclusion .................................................................................................................119 Chapter 5. PRACTICAL PROJECT ................................................................................121 Journey to Easter ........................................................................................................122 The Five Stations .................................................................................................124 A Shared Meal .....................................................................................................127 Evaluation ............................................................................................................127 Intergenerational Worship Service ............................................................................130 Messy Church ............................................................................................................136 Conclusion .................................................................................................................143 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................145 Summary ....................................................................................................................145 Implications for Grace Memorial Church ..................................................................149 REFERENCE LIST (Works Cited) .................................................................................153 BIBLIOGRAPY (Works Consulted) ...............................................................................158 APPENDIX ......................................................................................................................160 v ILLUSTRATIONS Tables 1. Length of Time Attending Grace Memorial Ministry Context ................................94 2. Generational Divisions .............................................................................................96 3. Ranking of worship elements by means ..................................................................99 4. Generational comparison chart of mean for music in worship ..............................100 5. Generational comparison chart of means for top three ranked worship elements .101 6. Ranking of church activities by means ..................................................................106 7. Generational comparison chart of means for church governance and identity ......108 8. Age of Participants by Generation ........................................................................109 9. Age of Participants by 10 Year Age Span .............................................................110 Figures 1. Jesus' Faith-Family Teachings .................................................................................68 2. The bimodal nature of attendance at Grace Memorial .............................................95 vi ABSTRACT Many congregations struggle to attract and minister to all age groups. The various generations view church differently and this can create problems in many areas of church life. This thesis project studied one local church to find out what individuals of all ages value
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