Week of May 16th
“God’s Mission and Generations: God Doesn’t have any Grandchildren, Just Children””
Sermon Noodles
The Generational Landscape of America and Congregational Life
The GI Generation: born 1901 to 1927 (the youngest of which is 94 years old today)
Came of age during the sharpest rise in formal education ever recorded. Lived through WWI 1914-1918, the "Roaring Twenties," and the Great Depression. Fought in and won WWII. Characteristics include personal responsibility, hard work, self-sacrifice, financial prudence, and commitment to institutions.
Famous people: Lucile Ball, John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Rosa Parks, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Elizabeth II, Lyndon B. Johnson, Mother Theresa.
The Silent Generation: born 1928 to 1945 (age 76 to 93)
This generation seeks comfort, financial security, and values loyalty. Also known as "Traditionalists," this generational cohort is called "silent" because the dominant cultural motif of parenting included "children should be seen and not heard." A generation of professionals, this cohort is hardworking and excels in perseverance having survived the Great Depression as children, experienced WWII, and survived the polio scare of the 1950s, which was the most feared virus of the 20th century.
Famous people: Joe Biden, Sophia Loren, John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor, Muhammad Ali, Janis Joplin, Martin Luther King Jr, Barbra Streisand, Pope Francis.
The Baby Boomers: born 1946 to 1964 (age 57 to 75)
Baby Boomers have a strong work ethic, are disciplined and focused. They were the largest generational cohort of 77 million strong after WWII, hence the name "Baby Boomers." The Boomers came of age during massive advances in the middle class that included "spending money" for adolescents and led to the rise of rock n roll, fashion for teens, and mobility outside the home due to access to the automobile. Also known as the "Me Generation," the Baby Boomers experienced the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the sexual revolution. In 1970 when Boomers were between the ages of 6- 24, the median price of a new car was $3,500, and the median price of a home was $17,000. The Baby Boomers have the highest divorce rate of any generational cohort.
Famous people: John Elway, George W. and Laura Bush, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama, Donald Trump, Madonna, George Clooney, Elton John, Meryl Streep, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Dolly Parton, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson, and Michael Jordan.
Generation X: born 1965 to 1980 (age 41 to 56)
Also known as the Baby Busters or the Latchkey Generation (due to coming home to an empty house after school because both parents worked outside the home), Generation X is known for their reluctance to be labeled (hence Gen "X"). Gen X is independent (many of their parents divorced), entrepreneurial, and flexible. They value work-life balance. The events of the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, Watergate, and environmental degradation have led this cohort to be powerful critical thinkers. Gen Xis also self-reliant and came of age during the birth of the personal computer.
Famous people: Julia Roberts, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Tiger Woods, J.K. Rowling, Leonardo DiCaprio, Shania Twain, Lance Armstrong, Nicole Kidman, Tom Brady, Elon Musk, Kate Winslet, Linus Torvalds (inventor of Linux operating system).
Millennials: born 1981 to 1996 (age 25 to 40)
Millennials are the largest generational cohort in American history, knocking off the Baby Boomers at 80 million strong. They came of age during the digital revolution. Think internet-which began its global rise around 1989. Millennials are "native" with computers, cell phones, and social media. Millennials can be skeptical of institutions and challenge hierarchy and the status quo. They value relationships and community more than any generation since the GI and Silent Generations. Millennials are adaptable, open to change, are free-thinking and creative. They have a passion for learning, value social interactions in the workplace, and are receptive to feedback and recognition. The Millennials are the least connected to congregational life of all the previous generations and twice as unaffiliated as the Baby Boomers; they are the largest generational cohort to express "None of the above" when asked about religious preference.
Famous people: Taylor Swift, Roger Federer, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans (Captain America), Britney Spears, Mark Zuckerberg, Serena Williams, Michael Phelps, Drew Lock.
Generation Z: born 1997 to 2009 (age 12 to 24)
Generation Z appears to be independent, entrepreneurial, tech-savvy, and competitive. They are less tolerant of authoritarian environments, embrace change easily, and expect to work with modern technology. They are also known as "The Selfie Generation." Gen Z can use their phone for entertainment and connect with friends and professional contacts.
One of the most famous Gen Z people would be Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
Generation Alpha: born 2009 to current day (age 12 and under)
What will Generation Alpha be known for? How will COVID-19 shape the future of this generation?
The most famous Generation Alpha person for Westview is Anika Buer.
Gallup Poll: church membership by generation and percent decline in last twenty years:
Silent/Traditionalists: 66% (-11%)
Baby Boomers: 58% (-9%)
Gen X: 50% (-12%)
Millennials: 36% (n/a)
By region:
East 44% (-25)
South 58% (-16)
Midwest 54% (-18)
West 38% (-19)
By Political Party:
Republican 65% (-9)
Democrat 46% (-25)
Independent 41% (-18)
Points to Ponder
Why is it essential to understand generational cohorts? Because people born in certain cohorts have the same characteristics and behaviors. They each have unique social forces that shape them such as segregation, rock n roll, war, and technological developments such as the cell phone.
For the first time in human history, we have seven(!) generations in the church and that makes congregational life complicated. The different generations have different cultural tastes in music and have different experiences of technology, for example.
Question: when is the right time to take the focus off the founders of a congregation and their children, and devote time and resources to the next generation?
It is said, "God doesn't have any grandchildren, just children." Each congregation is responsible for handing down the faith in culturally appropriate and relevant ways to the next generation.
Dr. Dan's bonus question: What technological achievement has changed American life more than any other achievement in the last 52 years?