BOOMERS STEP ASIDE?

     Last week's edition of Newsweek magazine included a 2-page article at the very back, written by long-time columnist Anna Quindlen.  For 9 years, Anna has been writing "The Last Word" piece every other week for that magazine.  While I don't always agree with her, I have great respect for her writing and often feel challenged by her perspective.

     This last piece is titled "Stepping Aside."  Anna Quindlen has decided to leave her role writing for the magazine, and will further pursue her work as a novelist.  She makes reference to the baby-boom generation, and how this massive group of men and women take up more room than any other generation in American history.  One day, Anna's eldest son expressed his frustration for the bottleneck created by the boomers in almost every field, noting, "You guys just won't go."  So Anna has decided to make some room for the next generation of gifted writers, giving them a turn to shine.

     In contrast, as we approach the season of summer rock concerts, I read that 6 of last year's top-10-grossing tours were headlined by artists who are 50 years and older - such as Madonna, the Eagles, Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner.  We also see huge response to Elton John (62), Billy Joel (60), Bob Dylan (67), Bonnie Raitt(59), Paul McCartney (66), and Willy Nelson (76).  None of them seem to be stepping aside.

     As a person born in the heart of the Baby Boom, I find myself reflecting on what all this means for church leaders and church artists.  On the one hand, I see such gifted young people expressing their love for God through the arts and teaching.  They need opportunities to flourish and also to make mistakes (just as my generation did).  At the same time, those of us who are older are finally, I would hope, a little wiser and in many ways at the peak of our love for God and the church.  Should we still back away to make room?  Is it high time some of us stepped aside?  At what point do we focus on mentoring, writing, or other behind-the-scenes kind of ministry while the younger leaders take full ownership?  Are we in the way?

     I would love to know what you think about this. This summer I hope to do some deeper reflection on this particular season of life, and see if I can discern what God might be saying...

Published 11 May 2009 08:47 AM by Nancy Beach
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Comments

# Theosticles said on 11 May, 2009 03:24 PM
It is not for those at the top of their game to step aside to make room for the next generation. It is for those who want to take their place to actually knock them aside. That is the law of the jungle. No champion gets the crown handed to them. They must earn it. Don't even consider any other alternative. If they can't get there on their own, they don't deserve to be there in the first place. Giving it to them would only lessen the value of what 'it' is. Without struggle, there is no victory.
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# Tabitha said on 11 May, 2009 07:48 PM
I disagree with Theosticles' comment. When did "doing ministry" become a competition between generations? Think of it more as a relay team and you're passing the baton to the next member of your team to carry forward. (When have you ever seen runners fight over a baton???) The next generation and future generations lose if the baton is dropped by someone who thinks they can continue to run the race forever.
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# Tristan Mason said on 11 May, 2009 09:09 PM
As a 20-something, I understand Anna's son's frustration with "the bottleneck". But I don't see why our coming into our own as a generation should necessitate older generations' leaving. Scripture certainly doesn't seem to promote an us-or-them mentality. We don't rise up and push older generations out. Rather, they draw us up alongside themselves as their peers. As I disciple students in worship leading, I begin to let them lead and make decisions on their own---but I won't stop leading worship until God clearly calls me elsewhere. As our senior pastor disciples me in preaching/teaching, he begins to allow me to speak more often and have more independence---but he won't stop teaching until God calls him to something else. I think what is needed is open-mindedness, humility, and teamwork on all sides. And a note to my older friends: You must be willing to let us fail if you ever want to see progress. Sometimes we will fall hard, but at other times, the very thing you thought would be a disaster will end up being a thing of beauty used greatly by God. The goal is for those younger than us to grow into maturity in every way and become our peers in building up the body of Jesus. Maybe sometimes that does mean older generations stepping out of leadership... but more often, I think it means their intentionally discipling and humbly empowering us until God shows them their next step. Not a step out of ministry or leadership, but simply the *next* step, whatever that is.
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# Heather Douthit said on 11 May, 2009 10:33 PM
I find it difficult to think about stepping down at thirty-eight, but I just got officially "on-stage" a couple years ago. It took me a long time to find a place in a church because of narrow-mindedness in every generation. I was mentored by an organist who was nearly ninety when she passed away. My style was too "Jazzy" for her taste, and she scolded me on several occasions to stick to the traditional way the sheet music was written. When I changed churches, and attended a more "rock and roll" style of worship, my music was too "old fashioned" for that group of individuals. So where did I find my place? I am in a group of worship leaders that ranges in age from 17 to 51 years old. We play a mixture of styles of music, and everyone has a right to inject their own ideas. No one stepped out of place, they simply made another place for me to join in! In God's kingdom, everyone has a place at the table. You just have to find yours. It may be at a church across the world, or the one you have attended all your life. Bloom where you are planted, and allow others to do the same thing. Once you get into that special place, check yourself often. When you find yourself excluding others based on your own personal preference, or fear of being replaced, then you aren't blooming any more. You are dying, and definitely need to step aside. Then let God put you into soil where you can be useful again.
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# Deb Meyer said on 14 May, 2009 08:35 PM
I'm pretty sure King Solomon said it best: to everything there is a season. It seems that Paul trained Timothy to help him plant churches. Jesus taught his disciples, and obviously dedicated men and women have carried on the command to go and make disciples for over 2,000 years. I recently attended a retirement dinner for some educators who have given over 30 years of their lives to teaching children. As I looked around the room I was amazed at how young all the new teachers are these days. I believe at some point God will show those of us who are more seasoned (okay, older) when we need to step back from leadership roles and spend more time mentoring the next generation. Personally I believe God can use my gifts and talents in some way until the day I breath my last breath, but I've seen my roles change over the years. Theses days I get excited when I see gifted young teachers step out onto a stage in faith to share what God has been speaking into their hearts, or when I see the latest work from passionate young artists. There is more than enough work in ministry for all of us these days, it's just that our roles may change along the way.
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# Matt Roberson said on 18 May, 2009 08:22 AM
The difficulty with stepping aside is that we assume that for us to leave our "position" means that we are no longer needed, wanted, valued, etc. Not sure where this comes from other than pride. I'm 31 years old, and have the calling on my life to lead, and I would love the chance to lead, with seasoned veterans beside me to consult, counsel, mentor, encourage, exhort, and love me as I take on the challenge that God has laid out before me. Don't step aside because of your age, step aside because of obedience. If God is bringing someone else "up" in ministry, get so close to Him that you KNOW the answer to the hard questions - even if YOU are not a part of the answer. Easier said than done, but monumental in the life of Christ followers. Don't forget, Jesus left his earthly role at age 33!
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