Meet the Author
John R. Mabry is a pastor, spiritual director, musician, professor, and author. Since 1994, he has served Grace North Church (affiliated with the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, and are currently in-care with the United Church of Christ) in Berkeley, CA. Since 1999, he has been in private practice as a spiritual director, directing those of differing generations. Mabry teaches spiritual guidance, world religions, and comparative theology at John F. Kennedy University, Sofia University, Santa Clara University, and The Chaplaincy Institute. His previous books include Growing Into God: A Beginners Guide to Christian Mysticism (2012), Noticing the Divine: An Introduction to Interfaith Spiritual Guidance (2007), and Faith Styles: Ways People Believe (2006).
Book Basics
Faithful Generations: Effective Ministry Across Generational Lines offers unparalleled insight into the spiritual experiences of all living generations that have reached adulthood: Builders/G.I. Generation (b.1901-1924), Compassionate Generation/Silents (b.1925-1942), Transformative Generation/Baby Boomers (b.1943-1960), Authentic Generation/Generation X (b.1961-1980), and Connected Generation/Millenials (b.1981-2001). While plenty of excellent books explain generational differences and a small number suggest how such differences matter in the context of ministry, only Mabry (of the books I have read) crafts a rich blend of basic generational data framed within Strauss and Howe’s understanding of the cyclical nature of generational types; a realistic portrait of each generation built by combining how those within the generation perceive their own generation as well as how those from other generations view a given generation; a generational spirituality profile that considers how divinity is imaged, the generation’s dominant faith style (a framework Mabry developed in his earlier work: Faith Styles: Ways People Believe), and the generation’s spiritual gifts and prayer style; and a guide for how best each generation can approach ministry to the others. By relying on his own years as a spiritual director, pastor, and professor; drawing from widely accepted sociological data on generations; and suggesting how we can better understand and minister to and with those in other generations, Mabry has written an indispensable guide that should be on the “must read list” for all who are engaged in multi-generational ministry.
So What?
While almost all congregations include individuals from each of the living generations that have reached adulthood, many feature leadership bodies that are primarily composed of a single generation. Without an adequate understanding of how their work, especially related to creating and managing change, impacts those in other generations the default assumption will often be that all generations will share a similar perspective (and the perspective envisioned will be that of the leader’s own generation).
- In order to ensure that generational perspectives are valued, does your congregation seek to fashion its primary leadership body as well as standing boards and committees to include significant representation from each generation? If so, how clearly is this priority communicated? If not, how might this possibility best be surfaced for consideration?
- What training or other resources are provided to leaders in your congregation to aid them in their quest to better understanding cross-generational ministry?
John R. Mabry. Faithful Generations: Effective Ministry Across Generational Lines (Morehouse, 2013). ISBN: 9780819228208.