Re-Thinking the Way the Church Does Ministry

This is the third in a series of blog entries on the changes I believe the church must make if it is to effectively minister to the millennial generation.  In my opinion, the church must move away from generational ministry.  That might mean taking the lock off the women's guild closet in the kitchen, the men's club sharing their sacred smoker and the giving all access to the church youth room. 

The first church that I served in youth ministry had four kitchen.  Granted, it was a large church with a variety of church ministries that included a large parish school, but I learned early on their were lines of demarcation when it came to the kitchens.  First off, their was the school kitchen that was off limits because of local board of health restrictions.  Then there was the guild kitchen, ruled over by the women and the men's club kitchen were testosterone, smoke and barbecue sauce reigned.  Finally there was the parish kitchen where even the youth group was welcomed.  That church and its kitchens might have been the ultimate in terms of turf protection. 

If you are thinking things have changed, I would encourage you to look at the announcement that usually accompany your church worship folder.  Almost everything is compartmentalized: children's ministry, youth ministry, women's ministry and men's ministry.  Maybe your church has a young adult group, senior citizens ministry or music ministry.  And each ministry has its turf.  The thing is, every group has it's audience and that is who they appeal to.  It also means a lot of inward focus. 

If mainline churches are to survive over the next twenty years they must change the way they view ministry.  We must move away from generational ministry and move toward cross-generational ministry.  The legacy of faith must be passed from the older adults to the youth.  Parents with young children must hear from the empty nesters that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Older couples must mentor young couples in secrets to having a successful marriage.  The torch of faith must be past on not just from one generation to the next, but across gender and cultural lines.