Interesting Blog Thought

I usually do not blog more than once during a day, however, I came across an interesting blog site. It has to do with our Assemblies of God Fellowship's election of a new General Superintendent in August. You can follow the discussion and even participate with your own comments. Go to http://www.futureag.blogspot.com/ The dialogue taking place in most cases has been fabulous. The moderators are not allowing inappropriate comments to be posted.

One of the commentors made the following thoughts. Myself, being 56 years old, found it interesting. I think the anonymous writer did some good parsing of generational issues. Unfortunately, he left himself unamed. The individual did reveal that he was 50 years old. He or she wrote:

1. Information control—Older generations are content with a top-down approach to information dissemination; Younger generations value instant access to information (including background information on GS candidates).


2. Theology—Older generations are committed to systematic/dogmatic theological formations; Younger generations value biblical/narrative theology and are comfortable with mystery and paradox.

3. Change—Older generations are vested in status quo denominational systems; Younger generations prize innovation, change—even disequilibrium.

4. Size—Older generations equate bigger with better; Younger generations are committed to smaller more mobile systems.


5. Institution—Older generations believe in institutions; Younger generations are distrusting of institutions.


6. Diversity—Older generations have been content with all-male, all-Anglo leadership; Younger generations value diversity—gender, race, socio-economy.

7. Education—Older generations viewed higher-education with suspicion; Younger generations value training—formal and informal, technical and professional.


8. Collaboration—Older generations looked internally for resources and support; Younger generations look externally to best practices from the marketplace and other church groups.

I have to agree with the above. However, I have been taking steps to avoid being caught in the trap of being unable or unwilling to adapt and change by spending a great deal of my time with youth and twenty-somethings. It is amazing what they can teach you, if we are willing to listen and learn from them.