In the mid-20th century many Anglican Church of Canada parishes joined their mainline and evangelical neighbours in creating tightly-focused programs for even the tiniest demographics. Now, many parishes are tearing down those walls between ages and stages, hoping to bind up scattered, sometimes shattering church communities.<\/p>\n
The 20th century craze to split the church into demographic segments was a profound departure from Judeo-Christian tradition. Jesus grew up in a Jewish community where the generations nurtured each other\u2019s faith \u201d\u201d in fact, young Jesus was so caught up learning from his elders at the temple in Jerusalem that he let Mary and Joseph start for home without him. The Apostle Paul mentored his spiritual son, Timothy, in ministry; he also instructed older men and women to be good examples and to mentor younger people in faith.<\/p>\n
Sadly, segmentation \u201d\u201c intended to keep kids, youth, young adults, or even seniors in church \u201d\u201c may cut off them off from each other and the worshiping life of the church. This leaves youth with \u201cno sense of what it means to be a mature adult Christian living out a life of faith in the Church,\u2019\u2019 writes the Rev. Valerie Michaelson, pastoral associate and Queen\u2019s Chaplain at St. James\u2019 Anglican Church, Kingston, Ont., in \u201cHow to Nurture Intergenerational Community in Your Church,\u201d\u009d posted on the Wycliffe College Institute of Evangelism website. It also deprives adults and seniors the opportunity to understand and mentor younger members of the church, say advocates of intergenerational ministry.<\/p>\n