Practicing Lectio Divina, Journaling, and Imaging Prayer Intergenerationally
Laren McCormack, Children’s Minister, White Station Church of Christ, Memphis, TN
For eight weeks in late 2016, a group of people ages 6 to 80 participated together in contemplative spiritual exercises. Each week this cross-generational group listened with each other via Lectio Divina, journaled and reflected individually, and participated together in imaging prayer. These intergenerational exercises were part of a qualitative research project; this conference presentation will summarize the project, share responses from the participants, and offer analysis of the spiritual impact of this eight-week process on all ages, but especially the children. The presentation will also address challenges of implementing this intergenerational project followed by open discussion regarding future uses and possibilities for practicing intergenerational spiritual disciplines. 

Principles and practices of intergenerational faith formation: Research findings from practitioners
John Roberto, Lifelong Faith Associates
Over the past 25 years a growing body of knowledge has been emerging from faith communities about the principles that guide intergenerational faith formation and the practices that make it effective - for the participants and for the whole faith community. This paper presents the results from a survey of practitioners and from the 2014 Symposium on Intergenerational Faith Formation sponsored by LifelongFaith Associates. The results from 2014 have been updated with a new survey of church leaders in the Spring of 2017.

How Age and Stage Ministry Has Hurt the Church and Why Intergenerational Ministry Provides a Cure
Jason Santos, Mission Coordinator for Christian Formation at the Presbyterian Mission Agency and National Director of UKirk Collegiate Ministries, Louisville, KY
There is a growing concern in our nation around the hemorrhaging of youth and young adults from our congregations. Perhaps, however, we shouldn’t be so surprised. For the last half-century, we’ve increasingly formed our children and youth through developmentally centered, peer-oriented ministry programs that removed them from the corporate life of the church. Recent research suggests that we might have taken the ages and stages model of ministry a little too far. This seminar explores the history of that trend through generational and identity formation theories that shed light on the problem and offer insight toward a more communal understand of discipleship which is most faithfully cultivated through intentional intergenerational spiritual formation.