By the Rev Joan Ross, Lansdowne Presbyterian Church, Wairarapa
“But we’re all volunteers, what else do you need to know?” said one of the church elders when I sought council approval for taking two days of paid work-time to attend the Volunteering New Zealand Conference. What else did I need to know?
- How to assist people of different generations in working together?
- How do people in their teens to early 40s (Generations X and Y) get involved in community activities?
- How can we introduce our primary age children (iGen i.e. Internet Generation) to helping others?
- How to keep the borders of our church flexible and welcoming because people join churches over time and through relationships?
- How to further community relationships between our church and other local voluntary organisations?
Along the way I got some useful input on these questions from conference speakers and regular opportunity for reflection with other Presbyterian Church colleagues. Time well spent, thanks to Assembly Office initiative and sponsorship.
How to assist people of different generations in working together?
In recent years our church congregation has “youngered” by increasing the proportion of people less than 65 years of age. Most of the newcomers are in the “Baby Boomer” generation born from 1946 to 1964; they tend to be skilled professionals with long hours of work, who also place value on connecting with their adult children and older parents. Time is precious to them, perhaps being a higher currency than monetary offerings. Several are newly in positions of leadership in the church; we are in transition as a church council and as a congregation. This is all to the good, but we find that expectations and ways of doing things can vary strongly between the age-groups. Insights from the “generational alphabet” provided at the Volunteering Conference may help us understand and work with our differences, seeing them as strengths not obstacles.
“The Silent Generation” (currently aged over 65 years) tends to gather and build, placing strong value on civic participation, loyalty, courtesy and respect, consistency and routine. Minimal change is wanted, with due recognition given to achievements and tradition. People of this generation fundraise by group effort, get involved by way of rosters and committees, and serve long-term valuing the identity and belonging this signifies. Letters and telephones remain primary means of communication, an organisation’s buildings are the preferred place of meeting, and finances are handled with a view to conserving resources.
“Baby Boomers”, on the other hand, tend to place more emphasis on independent action within a team to which they contribute out of their particular skills and interests. Involvement may be on a project basis with short or specific time-frames. People of this generation want to see a return on their time and to know that what they do will make a difference; change is expected. Computer technology is a learned tool in communication, places of meeting can be more diverse including homes and cafes, and finances are handled with a view to spending resources.
Recently our church took part in fundraising for Turakina Maori Girls College. The APW/Women’s fellowship (aged late 60s to 90 years) decided collectively to provide morning tea after the Sunday service for two months in return for gold coin donations; over $300 was raised. A younger church member (Baby Boomer), a professional musician, offered to hold an afternoon concert for a note donation; over $200 was raised. The APW topped the final sum to $600.
If we aim to retain churches of more than one generation then we must find ways to work beyond the “first language” of our own generation. If not, the life of a congregation will be constrained by the lifespan of its members; it will die when they do. This challenge also confronts “Baby Boomers” with respect to younger adults and families in Generations X and Y.
How do people in their teens to early 40s (Generations X and Y) get involved in community activities?
The hard truth here is that a church with no Internet presence will probably be invisible to people in their teens through to early forties. Computer and mobile phone technology are primary channels of knowledge, doing work, interacting with family and friends, and getting involved in a local community. The good news is that these age-groups are concerned to be involved with issues and causes that personally connect to them and to their families. Establishing a balance between work and home life can be challenging, especially where family structures are loose or blended. Gens X and Y are more likely to respond where opportunities for community involvement enhance family life or help to develop skills. The younger age group in particular looks for flexibility in time, method and place; an entrepreneurial approach that fosters a high level of participation over a short period of time, with immediate feedback or results.
How can we introduce our primary age children (iGen i.e. Internet Generation) to helping others?
Our children aged 12 years and under are growing up with computer technology as extensions to their hands and minds. However, through schools, families and children are being invited to give of their time and energy physically and locally, for example in conservation and garden projects. In our congregations children can benefit from the mentoring of older people whose wisdom and life-skills can shape a realistic volunteer project where children can help another child or person, or the place where they live. Children primarily “do and feel”, so actions to help another person create in them feelings of worth and hopefulness. They also build followers of Jesus.
How to keep the borders of our church flexible and welcoming because people join churches over time and through relationships?
What do churches have in common with other community organisations? Volunteers!
However, when people consider voluntary work in their local community they may not immediately think of churches or of being part of a church. The vast majority of Baby Boomers and Generations X and Y operate outside of formal religious frameworks, but may view the cause or organisation they support as meaningful, expressive of their spirituality and values. Likewise, in our churches we encourage members of our congregations to be involved as volunteers, for example with Age Concern or a recycling project, recognising this as an expression of their Christian faith. Where are the meeting places, the projects that churches can contribute to in our local communities?
Do we think that the work of the church can only be done by members of the church? Or are there some activities in which we can warmly welcome volunteers to work with us? The twice yearly garage sale is one of those opportunities in our church; all hands are needed to collect, sort, sell, bank takings and clear up - after laughter, repartee, and meeting the public hungry for a bargain. Doors get opened for new people in all of this activity. Or working ecumenically, the annual “Room at the Inn” Christmas dinner provides a meal on Christmas Day for anyone in our town who wishes to be there. Churches make it happen, but it couldn’t happen with only church volunteers.
In conclusion, we could learn much from voluntary organisations that are reforming their structures, presentation and ways of working so that people who wish to be involved in their particular activity are clear about expectations, know they are supported in what they do, and are confident it will be on terms that fit in with their lives.