TX-NM Network Gathering: August 13–15, 2015
Generations and the Church
Bill Young
MCC Austin
Last updated: July 22, 2015 at 09:17
Bill Young: 1
Generations Theory
What I’d Like to Discuss
What is Generational Theory?
What is a generation?
The cohort hypothesis
Who are the living generations?
Why is it important?
Why does it matter to the church?
The Church for All People
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Generations Theory
Sources
William Strauss and Neil Howe. Generations: The History of
America’s Future, 1584 to 2069, William Morrow: New York, 1991.
William Strauss and Neil Howe. The Fourth Turning, Broadway
Books: New York, 1997.
William Strauss and Neil Howe. Millennials Rising: The Next
Great Generation, Random House: New York, 2000.
Rev. Karl Travis. “Encouraging Generosity in Difficult Times in the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),” 2010.
www.pensions.org/AvailableResources/BookletsandPublications/Documents/pub-506.pdf
and others. A reading list will be provided.
Bill Young: 3
Generations Theory
What is Generational Theory?
Created by historians William Strauss and Neil Howe, identifies a
recurring generational cycle in American history.
Attempts to be both explanatory and
predictive, in both historical and
sociological sense.
May be useful to churches with
multi-generational congregations, or who
are trying to attact multiple generations
to worship.
Rev. Karl Travis (First Presbyterian Church of Fort Worth) has
used generational theory to understand giving patterns in churches.
Bill Young: 4
Generations Theory
Becoming our Parents?
A long-standing belief is that one’s
viewpoint is largely a function of one’s
phase of life.
E.g., young folks in every era tend to
think alike; middle-aged folks think
alike; old folks think alike; etc.
Is it any wonder that we worry about becoming our mother /
father?
Bill Young: 5
Generations Theory
Aging in Place: Remaining Ourselves
Counterclaim: 60-year-olds today
don’t have the same mindset as
60-year-olds did 20 years ago; they have
the same mindset as 40-year-olds did 20
years ago. Why do you suppose that is?
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Generations Theory
Aging in Place: Remaining Ourselves
Counterclaim: 60-year-olds today
don’t have the same mindset as
60-year-olds did 20 years ago; they have
the same mindset as 40-year-olds did 20
years ago. Why do you suppose that is?
Because they’re the same people! You’re much more likely to be
similar to yourself 20 years ago than to someone 20 years ago who
was then 20 years older than you!
Maybe the generation you belong to is more determinative of your
viewpoint than your phase of life.
Bill Young: 7
Generations Theory
Generational Theory
Fundamental claims:
The era in which one is born affects the development of a
person’s worldview.
These are shaped in the first
decades of our lives by families,
friends, communities, significant
events.
Thus, folks in each cohort /
generation share certain common
value systems.
These “value systems” are
drivers of behavior and attitudes
and good predictors of behavior
and expectations.
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Generations Theory
Thought Experiment: The GI Generation
Consider the “GI Generation” born from 1901–1924. What do you
think would have shaped that generation’s worldview?
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Generations Theory
Thought Experiment: The GI Generation
Consider the “GI Generation” born from 1901–1924. What do you
think would have shaped that generation’s worldview?
World War I, the Great Depression,
the rise of Nazi Germany, ....
What effect might these events have
had on the worldview of the GI
Generation?
Bill Young: 10
Generations Theory
Thought Experiment: The GI Generation
Consider the “GI Generation” born from 1901–1924. What do you
think would have shaped that generation’s worldview?
World War I, the Great Depression,
the rise of Nazi Germany, ....
What effect might these events have
had on the worldview of the GI
Generation?
Sacrifice, patriotism, frugality, support for institutions, cooperative
spirit, ...
At what age did they acquire these values? Do you think they kept
those values as they aged?
Bill Young: 11
Generations Theory
Phases of Life
Each generation ages though the phases of life:
Youth: (age 0–21) Central role is dependence (growing,
learning, accepting protection and nurture, acquiring values)
Rising Adulthood: (age 22–43) Central role is activity
(working, starting families and livelihoods, serving institutions,
testing values)
Midlife: (age 44–65) Central role is leadership (parenting,
teaching, directing institutions, using values)
Elderhood: (age 66–87) Central role is stewardship
(supervising, mentoring, channeling endowments, passing on
values)
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Generations Theory
What is a Generation?
A “social generation” is the aggregate of all people born over a
span of roughly 20 years, about the length of one phase of life.
Represents roughly the birthdate of one cohort until coming of
age and having children of their own.
The start or end of any “generation” is (obviously) somewhat
arbitrary.
Often marked by significant cultural events.
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Generations Theory
The Living Generations
The following are the generations currently alive (according to
Strauss and Howe’s timeline):
GI Generation (born 1901–1924)
Silents (born 1925–1942)
Baby Boomers (born 1943–1960)
Gen X or 13ers (born 1961–1981)
Millennials or Gen Y (born 1982–2003)
Homeland or Gen Z (born 2003–????)
Others place the generational boundaries at other years.
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Generations Theory
Exercise 1
Gather into groups according to your “generation” (Boomers, Gen
X, Gen Y, etc.) Within your group answer the following questions:
1
What major events were formative for your generation?
2
Do you think that your generation has any distinctive traits?
If so, what are they?
3
What do you perceive to be significant differences between
your generation’s worldview and that of your parents?
4
What do you perceive to be significant differences between
your generation’s worldview and that of the following
generation (if there is one)?
Bill Young: 15
Generations Theory
Cycles of Generations
Strauss and Howe, in studying 15 generations in America
(1584–present) found a recurring cycle of four “types” of
generations:
Civic (Hero)
Adaptive (Artist)
Idealist (Prophet)
Reactive (Nomad)
These four types have repeated in the same order (with one
exception) throughout U.S. history.
Idealist (inner-focused) and Civic (outer-focused) generations are
dominant and Adaptive and Reactive generations are recessive.
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Generations Theory
Characteristics of Generations: Civic/Hero
Civics are a generation of institution builders.
Sense of identity comes from
belonging, not from within.
Strong trust of institutions
and collective action.
Fitting in is more important
than standing out.
Often the needs of the
group must supercede the
needs of the individual.
The G.I. Generation (b. 1901–1924) is a Civic generation.
Bill Young: 17
Generations Theory
Characteristics: Adaptive / Artist
Adaptives inherit the institutions of their parents and build on
them.
Generally smaller generation than
parents
Often seen as a “good” generation
Characterized by commitment.
Belong to a group, commit to it,
make contributions
Adopts and enlarges institutions
inherited from their parents.
The Silent Generation (b. 1925–1942) is a classic Adaptive
generation.
Bill Young: 18
Generations Theory
Characteristics: Idealist / Prophet
Idealists are more interested in individuals and values than in
institutions and traditions.
Idealists and visionaries,
better poets than engineers.
Identify comes from within.
Individuality is more
important than fitting in.
Have distate for institutions
in general.
Baby Boomers (b. 1943–1960) are a classic Idealist generation.
Bill Young: 19
Generations Theory
Characteristics: Reactive / Nomad
Reactive groups are more negative than other generational types.
Typically have far fewer
social restrictions than their
parents at the same age.
Tend to be independent
minded, progressive in
youth, become well
educated.
Distrust institutions, but
would like them to work.
Seen as a “bad” generation
trying to follow previous
generation into revolution,
but fail as society unravels
Gen X (b. 1961–1981) is a classic Reactive generation.
Bill Young: 20
Generations Theory
Living Generations
GI Generation (b. 1901–1924) Civic
Silents (b. 1925–1942) Adaptive
Boomers (b. 1943–1960) Idealist
13ers or Gen X (b. 1961–1981) Reactive
Millennial or Gen Y (b. 1982–2003)
Homeland (b. 2003–????)
According to this analysis, what should we expect to be the type of
the Millennial generation? Of the Homeland generation?
Bill Young: 21
Generations Theory
Turnings: High
Along with the cycle of generations is a cycle of four social or
mood eras they call turnings.
They are precipiated by an alternating cycle of Secular Crises and
Spiritual Awakenings.
Crisis: Institutional life is destroyed and rebuilt in response to
a perceived threat to the nations survival. Civic authority
revives and institutions re-form.
High: Post-crisis era when institutions are strong and
individualism is weak.
Awakening: Institutions are attacked in the name of personal
and spiritual autonomy. As society reaches peak of public
progress, people tire of social discipline.
Unraveling: Institutions are weak and distrusted, while
individualism is strong and flourishing.
Bill Young: 22
Generations Theory
Past Crises and Awakenings
Mid 1700’s: First Great Awakening
Late 1700’s: American Revolution (Crisis)
Early 1800’s: Second Great Awakening
(Protestant Revival)
Mid 1800’s: American Civil War (Crisis)
Late 1800’s: Missionary Awakening
1929–1945: Great Depression, WWII
(Crisis)
1960–1980: Cultural Revolution
(Awakening)
2001–????: War on Terror + Economic
crisis
Bill Young: 23
Generations Theory
Lifecycle Diagonal
Social Moment
Spiritual
Awakening
Secular
Crisis
Elder
Year 0
Year 22
Year 44
Year 66
Adaptive
Idealist
Reactive
Civic
Idealist
Reactive
Civic
Adaptive
Age 66−87
Midlife
Age 44−65
Rising
Reactive
Civic
Adaptive
Idealist
Civic
Adaptive
Idealist
Reactive
Age 22−43
Youth
Age 0−21
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Generations Theory
Why This Cycle?
Each generation responds and
reacts to the generation of their
parents and grandparents, and For example,
the events those generations
precipitate.
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Generations Theory
Responses to Lifecycle: Idealist
According to Strauss and Howe, each generational type follows a
persistent life pattern.
An Idealist generation
grows up as increasingly indulged
youth after a secular crisis;
comes of age inspired by a spiritual
awakening;
fragments into narcissistic rising
adults;
cultivates principles as moralistic
midlifers;
emerges as visionary elders guiding
the next secular crisis.
Bill Young: 26
Generations Theory
Responses to Lifecycle: Reactive
A Reactive generation
grows up as unprotected and criticized
youth during a spiritual awakening;
matures into risk taking, alienated rising
adults;
mellows into pragmatic midlife leaders
during a secular crisis;
maintains respect (but less influence) as
reclusive elders.
Bill Young: 27
Generations Theory
Responses to Lifecycle: Civic
A Civic generation
grows up as increasingly protected
youth after a spiritual awakening;
comes of age overcoming a secular
crisis;
unifies into an herioc and achieving
cadre of rising adults;
sustains that image while building
institutions as powerful midlifers;
emerges as busy elders attacked by
the next spiritual awakening.
Bill Young: 28
Generations Theory
Responses to Lifecycle: Adaptive
An Adaptive generation
grows up as overprotected and
suffocated youths during a secular
crisis;
matures into risk-averse,
conformist rising adults;
produces indecisive midlife
arbitrator-leaders during a spiritual
awakening;
maintains influence (but less
respect) as sensitive elders.
Bill Young: 29
Generations Theory
Provisos
Clearly, not everyone in a “generation” is going to think and
act similarly.
Folks born near the boundaries form “cusp” generations that
may share characteristics with two generations.
The poor, people of color and GLBT folks may have very
different experiences than those that characterize “their”
generation.
Bill Young: 30
Generations Theory
Exercise 2
Gather again into your generational groups. Within your group
answer the following questions:
1
Identify your cohort and the type of your cohort (Idealist,
Reactive, Civic, Adaptive).
2
Do you think that Strauss and Howe’s characterization of your
generation is accurate? Why or why not?
3
Does the life pattern they outline ring true? Why or why not?
4
Does it still ring true for members of minority groups?
5
Now do the same for the generation of your parents.
6
Speculate how this all might be relevant to the church.
Bill Young: 31
Generations Theory