Plenary Session: Gen Z and Resilient Discipleship

Gen Z is the largest American generation yet and becoming a cultural force in their own right. In many ways, the Christian community is unprepared to disciple Gen Z, yet they represent a huge opportunity for the Church. This session will give insight to what experiences are shaping the rising generations, what is important to them, and what do they want for their future? David will share data and insights on their views of Jesus, the Bible and living lives of impact.

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Breakout Session #1: Gen Z and the Role of Family

As we consider the exit of Millennials and Gen Zers from our institutional churches, several areas are open for exploration as to the cause. From a religious family perspective, one avenue of pursuit is to examine the mandate to pass on our faith to the next generation. The Intergenerational Faith Center at Oklahoma Christian was established to study families and intergenerational factors that assist in passing on our faith to our children and grandchildren. Data from an on-going national grandparent study will be discussed along with some practical suggestions given by survey participants. A handout and bibliography will accompany the session.

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Breakout Session #2: Gen Z and Meditation: An Exercise of Opportunity

Generation Z reports being less religious and less spiritual while experiencing much higher rates of emotional health problems than previous generations. Churches are uniquely positioned to help Gen Zers change these trends while also helping them thrive holistically by adopting meditation as a spiritual exercise. This class will present evidence highlighting religious/spiritual and emotional trends among Gen Z'ers while also providing attendees with information and inspiration to equip them with the spiritual exercise of meditation.

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Breakout Session #3: Gen Z and Their View of the Gospel

Gen Z are smart, educated, and curious. They are connected and care about the world around them. They are global citizens. They also have a deep sense of justice. All of those factors inform their view of the Gospel and Jesus. How do we, as spiritual leaders and mentors, interact effectively with the youth? How do we become more like Jesus and build a bridge of faith across generations?

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Breakout Session #1: Naming the Storm: Wilderness, a Dark Night of the Soul, or Deconstruction?

In today’s contemporary Christian culture there is much confusion around the spiritual struggle. Terms such as “deconstruction," "spiritual wilderness," and "dark night of the soul" are frequently utilized to describe a wide spectrum of experiences. How are these to be understood? How does each metaphor help to frame our experience? When are these helpful and what can we learn from a proper understanding of naming these? When are they dangerous and what should be cautioned against?

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Breakout Session #2: Gen Z: The Next Forty Years

In the Hebrew Bible, forty is a number that frequently appears as “a transitional marker, separating two distinct epochs in biblical narrative” (Michael Coogan, 2006). Be it forty days and forty nights, or forty years - what has been deemed “the typical length of a generation” (Coogan, 2006). As the mantle of leadership passes from one generation to another these transitions can often be marked by tension, competition, or even revolt; as true in biblical times as in our world today. While we might draw some comfort from the fact that such transitions are, historically, rarely smooth, how might we as a church learn from those that have come before us? What intergenerational understanding and connections might need to be forged today to ensure the health of the church tomorrow? Hear also from Gen Z as they consider the question, “What do you want the church to know about your generation?"

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Breakout Session #3: Gen Z and Youth Ministry

“Okay Houston, we have had a problem here” was the actual phrase spoken by Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert. The simple phrase, now part of our cultural narrative, set into action one of the most creative, incredible rescues of our time. Those who minister to Gen Z are faced with a similar dilemma. The methods we have historically used (we are really good at those methods) are not working; and we are beginning to realize it as, by one estimation, a million young people are walking away from Christianity each year. This could be the church’s finest hour of creativity and design. This class will explore a few of the possible solutions to the crisis we are currently facing.

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Plenary Session: Unburdening Generational Trauma through the Use of Memorial

Each generation inherits specific cultural burdens that are transferred to the successive generation. This class will look at the individual and collective definitions of trauma that create the framework for understanding how and why trauma is transmitted. We will use the framework of Internal Family Systems to provide language for the ancestral burdens of individualism, materialism, racism, and patriarchy. Ultimately, the class will attempt to provide a mechanism for unburdening the collective experiences of trauma through the utility of a cross-centered memorial.

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