This article is part of a series on Intergenerational Formation Insights written after a literature review by the Roots & Wings: Intergenerational Formation Collective grant team in the spring of 2025.

Intergenerational Ministry: A Definition 

Intergenerational ministry intentionally brings two or more generations together in worship, service, learning, or sharing “in order to live out being the body of Christ to each other and the greater community” (“All Ages Becoming: Intergenerational Practice and the Formation of God’s People,” p. 58). To be truly intergenerational, the ministry must be characterized by reciprocity, mutuality, and the empowerment of all participants. 

It’s important to note in this definition that the presence of a particular age group is not essential, nor is a particular mode of being together. Practitioners and experts across the field of faith formation use slightly different wording to define intergenerational ministry, but the common, indispensable hallmarks are intentionality, positive cross-generational interactions, and mutuality. 

A Resource to Share

This four-minute video provides a summary of the concept of intergenerational ministry and what characterizes a healthy intergenerational church culture. It could be used to broaden your own thinking about intergenerationality, shared with others, or used in a group setting to spark conversation.  

Here are a few discussion questions to spark meaningful conversation for a vestry, committee, or group of volunteers: 

• What ministry silos exist in your church context?
• What aspects of church life in your context are multigenerational? Crossgenerational? Intergenerational?
• In what ways might intergenerational ministry be more chaotic? What value could there be in that chaos?
• Which characteristics of intergenerational culture are already present in your context (positive interactions, connectedness, interdependence, empowerment, accommodation)? Which are or might be most challenging?
• Wendy states, “Accommodation always requires empathy. And it often asks us to sacrifice or surrender. Which is, in fact, the way of Jesus.” In an individualistic and consumerist culture, how might we encourage accommodation within our contexts? 

Additional Resources 

Below you will find additional resources for exploring the concept of intergenerational church culture, ministry, formation, and worship. These might be used for your own learning or be helpful resources to share with congregational leaders. 

“All Ages Worship: Shifting Language & Why it Matters” by Miranda Hassett

• Publisher/Source: Building Faith 
• Description: The article discusses the idea of shifting from “family services” to “all ages worship” to create a more inclusive and engaging worship experience for people of all ages. 

“Beginners Guide to Intergenerational Ministry“

• Publisher/Source: The Effective Ministry Podcast
• Description: In this first podcast episode of a mini-series, Al James and Tim Beilharz discuss the concept, importance, and implementation of intergenerational ministry, emphasizing its role beyond youth and children’s ministry to foster a church community where all ages are actively engaged together. 

“Being An Intergenerational Church Resource Paper #1: Toward a Common Understanding“

• Publisher/Source: Uniting Church in Australia Assembly
• Description: This PDF provides a framework for fostering intergenerational relationships marked by mutuality, equality, and reciprocity, aiming to sustain lifelong discipleship for all ages. 

“Being An Intergenerational Church Resource Paper #2: Distinguishing Between Multi-, Cross-, and Inter-generational“

• Publisher/Source: Uniting Church in Australia Assembly
• Description: This PDF discusses the differences between being multi-, cross- and inter-generational and the implications of these definitions for intergenerational ministry.

“Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community, and Worship” by Holly Catterton Allen, Christine Lawton, and Cory L. Seibel (second edition)

• Publisher/Source: InterVarsity Press, 2023
• Description: This book is the primary text for anyone studying intergenerational ministry and formation, providing a theoretical framework and practical guidance based on research and case studies from across the U.S. and around the world.

Featured image is by Sung Jin Cho on Unsplash