Generations can find it difficult to understand and learn from each other--particularly when they need to work together on common ministries. These resources will help to promote communication and community between age groups in your congregation.

CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY : Generation Theory 

Generations of Faith: A Congregational Atlas (Book)
Carl Eeman, Author.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2002.
Carl Eeman applies Strauss and Howe's theory of generational types to the church. This book will help congregational and denominational leaders understand changes in American culture and how those changes impact the church.

The Multigenerational Congregation: Meeting the Leadership Challenge (Book)
Gilbert R. Rendle, Author.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2002.
To successfully serve many persons in the twenty-first century, multigenerational congregations must 1) understand their situations and assumptions and 2) develop new skills to capitalize on their potential for health.

One Church, Four Generations: Understanding and Reaching All Ages in Your Church (Book)
Gary L. McIntosh, Author.  Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2002.
Analyzing each generation’s religious characteristics, Gary McIntosh explains how the church can meet reach out to each generation as well as blend different generations.

Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation (Book)
Carol Howard Merritt, Author.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2007.
Carol Howard Merritt, a thirty-something pastor, describes how churches can provide a supportive place for young adults to nurture relationships and foster spiritual growth. She explains six avenues of ministry relevant to younger generations.

What NeXt?: Connecting Your Ministry with the Generation Formerly Known as X (Book)
Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress Press, 1999.
What NeXt? is a hands-on how-to for any congregation willing to stretch and grow by reaching out to a generation that is deeply spiritual but lives outside the traditional church box.

Bridging Divided Worlds: Generational Cultures in Congregations (Book)
Jackson W. Carroll, Wade Clark Roof, Authors.  San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2002.
While easy answers to intergenerational conflicts do not exist, congregations that learn to understand their type (inherited, blended, or generation-specific) can discern their drawbacks and opportunities and make appropriate choices.

Embracing Midlife: Congregations as Support Systems (Book)
Lynne M. Baab, Author.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 1999.
This book concentrates on people in the 35–55 age bracket, who are the chief workers in congregational life and often interested in delving deeply into spiritual issues.

The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy (Book)
William Strauss, Neil Howe, Authors.  New York, NY: Broadway Books, 1997.
The authors show that human history is cyclical, and that cycles of 80 to 100 years (the approximate life span of a human) are composed of four stages.

Gathering the Next Generation: Essays on the Formation and Ministry of GenX Priests (Book)
Nathan Humphrey, Author.  Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 2000.
While specifically a book about the Episcopal Church in the United States, it also offers valuable insights to other denominations struggling to define vision, ministry, and mission for the twenty-first century.

Generations: The History of America’s Future, 1584 to 2069 (Book)
William Strauss, Neil Howe, Authors.  New York, NY: William Morrow, 1991.
The authors’ insights on generational differences enable us 1) to better understand the different world views that influence congregational life and 2) to identify persons whose perspectives may be under-represented.

Virtual Faith: The Irreverent Spiritual Quest of Generation X (Book)
Tom Beaudoin, Author.  San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1998.
Offering an overview of the religious/spiritual nature of Gen X derived from pop culture, the book will help readers understand how Gen X perceives itself, and how this generation might successfully interface with the religion of today and tomorrow.