One Church: Four Generations (1)

I've been eager to read more on multi-generational ministry since arriving in Effingham, where we minister to several generations, but are made up mostly of Builders and Boomers.  In his book, One Church; Four Generations, Gary McIntosh writes,

"At the beginning of the 1900s, when life expectancy was under fifty years, only three generations were interacting together in most situations.  [In the] twenty-first century, life expectancy is approaching eighty years, which means as least four, and perhaps five, generations are interacting together."

Scholars disagree as to how to break down these generations and what to call them, but McIntosh provides a good summary in his categories. They are:

• Builders (born prior to 1946)
  
• Boomers (1946-1964)
  
• Busters (born 1965-1983)
  
• Bridgers (1984-2002)
  

I'll post again on the role each generation plays in today's church and community.  I hope you will leave comments as to how you fit within these concepts.