In the last few years one of the hot contemporary phrases that has been used to express the need for change in our congregations has been, “This is no longer your grandfather’s church.” No doubt this is meant to express the rapid changes happening in our world and in our church. And I know that it is a way of saying that things are different now than they were back then. And indeed this is true. But I’m not sure that saying, “This is no longer your grandfather’s church,” is the best way to communicate these realities. I heard this phrase used once again recently, as a large group of Presbyterians shared table fellowship, lunch and conversation. The young pastor who repeated it seemed unmoved by the reality that the majority of people present were of an age to be grandparents.
I have been pastoring small congregations in mostly rural settings for the last 17 years. In the mountain culture churches I have pastored, intergenerational relationships are one of the most treasured gifts of the community of faith. Of the three baptisms that I have performed in the last six months in the small family church I serve, all three of these children have active grandparents in the congregation. Two of the three have an active great grandparent in the congregation. The young couples of these children all affirm the importance of intergenerational relationships in this congregation as one of the important reasons that they are a part.
I understand that there are dramatic technological and economic changes going on in our culture, especially for those churches who find themselves in central culture locations; especially in large, suburban contexts. I would just like to point out that this is far from the only context in which our churches do ministry. The numbers tell us that great portions of the Presbyterian family continue to do ministry in town and country settings. And I can tell you, out here – grandma and grandpa are still at the heart of church life. And quite honestly, that seems right and good to me. There is already enough ageism and death-denial going on in the dominant, American culture as it is.
The reason that I am writing about this trend is that tonight as I followed the usual routine of cooking dinner for my family while listening to our local NPR affiliate, I heard an interesting piece. It seems that the Democratic Party in Virginia is using the marketing phrase, “This is no longer your grandfather’s Virginia.” Now the truth is that I tend to vote Democrat. But this kind of language sounds a little too much like trying to pick a generational fight. We may want to consider this larger cultural context when deciding upon the language we choose to use in the church.
Besides, isn’t the whole point of those witnessing to the grace of Jesus Christ to emphasize and make clear that all people are welcome and all people have a place and all people belong to God? Surely there is a better way to name the changing realities of our world and church than by making grandpa wonder if he is really included.
Steve Willis is pastor at Virginia Presbyterian Church, Buchanan, Va., and the author of a forthcoming Alban Institute book, “Imagining the Small Church.”
