Cultural Diversity Among the Different Generations

My co-worker and friend Michael Walden describes the suburban city we live in as “Lily-white Rockford.”  The culture of our congregation at Rockford United Methodist Church (RUMC) definitely mirrors the community around it.  

Being a Caucasian faith community does not make RUMC a mono-cultural faith community.  Livemore (2009) points out, “And few issues are challenging the pastors with whom I speak throughout the United States as much as that of how to deal with the passionate differences between the generational cultures within their churches…The challenges created by the cultural differences among various generational groups can equal some of those created by various socioethnic groups” (29).  Livemore (2009) uses the popular generational categories of Builders/Traditionalists – born before 1946, Boomers – born 1946 to 1965, Gen Xers – born 1965 to 1979, and Millennials – born 1980 or later (104-105). 

RUMC, like most congregations that are over 160 years old, has more than its fair share Builders.  It also has a large group of Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millenials.  In my three year tenure at RUMC I have witnessed numerous conflicts that were driven my cultural differences between the various generations. 

The Danger of the Single Story and Generational Diversity

Adichie (2009) states, “The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete.  They make one story become the only story.”  Livemore (2009) tells a story of Gen Ex pastor who described the the Boomer’s at his church this way, “They’re lifeless.  They just go through the motions, following the order of service, waiting for the service to get out so they can get on with their lives” (168).  I have heard similar remarks concerning the many Builders who attend our traditional service.  Likewise, I have heard comments about how the younger generations and their contemporary worship style are disrespectful.

Single stories abound when generations critique each other.  I believe the discrimination among the ages is a huge problem partly because age discrimination is seldom recognized and addressed in our society.  Churches regularly create events solely for specific generations and the community never bats an eyelash.  The backlash for doing something similar based on ethnicity would make news headlines.  

A lack of empathy and a failure to see the differing views of people of different ages as cultural diversity is the biggest challenge facing RUMC today.  Many of our congregants allow a negative feeling about one aspect of a different generational to define the Other.  Learning to recognize the cultural diversity between the generations and learning to empathize with the Other are key beginning steps towards Cultural Intelligence, and more importantly, towards loving unity in Christ.

Adichie, C.N. (November 2009). Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html

Livemore, D.A. (2009). Cultural intelligence: Improving your CQ to engage our multicultural world. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.