Intergenerational Catechesis

In this work the author moves away from youth-centered catechesis toward a catechetical method that gets at the heart of faith formation for ALL generations, storytelling. In the African-American storytelling tradition, both the storyteller and listener are important—they embody the story. What happens in the story exchange process is the discovery of connections. The author’s method of African-American storytelling, My Story-Your Story, brings to life the Christian story through our shared experiences. Intergenerational catechesis invites us to see ourselves and one another across time—through eyes that are young, middle-aged, and elderly. Based on an understanding of family, intergenerational catechesis moves away from the domestic church as a starting point for growing in faith to the community as a starting point. Where the domestic church focuses on those who live in the household, intergenerational catechesis focuses on everyone in the Church community: single persons, divorced persons, widows/widowers, teens, young adults, pre-school and elementary children, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. In highlighting our connections we are better able to see ourselves and one another differently. When we see ourselves and others transformed faith is revitalized.

Here the authors convincingly show that intergenerational faith formation, when done well, can be powerful, dramatic, even magical. Not only is there a place for intergenerational learning in parish faith formation, the authors believe there is a necessity for it. They show that intergenerational faith formation can help children, adolescents, and adults effectively identify with and integrate into the faith community because their learning and formation takes place in the context of communityall ages learning together. People will be looking for this one.

"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 the riches of intergenerational ministry, and let all generations commend the works of God to one another.

This invaluable resource offers planning processes and practical tools for fashioning and implementing a lifelong curriculum. Includes a CD-ROM with PowerPoint presentations for each chapter as well as worksheets and handouts.

A guide to help catechists find ways of integrating lectionary readings with existing curriculum-based materials for children; includes practical ideas, sample lesson plans and a catechist formation program.

The key in the Generations approach to faith formation is that it builds on the strengths of a parish's current catechetical program, while creating a lifelong faith formation plan and intergenerational learning programs that gather all the generations to learn together and nurture faith at home throughout the life cycle. The CD-ROM includes PowerPoint presentations for each chapter, along with articles by religious education theorists who have been instrumental in developing a new paradigm of lifelong faith formation. The book is ideal for parish pastoral and catechetical leaders, as well as university courses in religious education and pastoral ministry.

Popular author Bill Huebsch gives an overview of whole community catechesis and what it means. He then offers concrete suggestions for a step-by-step process (the nuts-and-bolts) for implementing this catechetical model. The appendices provide sample hand-outs, outlines for prayer and meetings, and organizational tools.