Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Department

Seminary

First Advisor

Darcy Hansen, DMin

Second Advisor

Jay Anderson, DMin

Third Advisor

Clifford Berger, DMin

Abstract

Many members of Generation Z, born in the mid-1990s to the early 2010s, have grown up amid digital saturation, social fragmentation, mental health challenges, and institutional distrust. At Holy Savior Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, many Gen Z participants seek deeper, more meaningful relationships beyond Sunday worship. This project addresses the concern expressed by these Gen Z members at Holy Savior.

This dissertation asserts that intergenerational ministry provides a theologically grounded, culturally responsive approach for engaging Gen Z in meaningful discipleship at Holy Savior Lutheran Church. By grounding this approach in Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Sanctorum Communio and Life Together, and contemporary research on intergenerational faith formation, it introduces and assesses Faith Fusion, a locally developed model that prioritizes collaborative, table-based discipleship over segmented programming.

Section One presents the cultural and congregational context for the project. Section Two surveys relevant literature on Gen Z and proposed solutions, including digital discipleship, mental health and emotional wellness, and vocational and purpose-centered discipleship. Section Three develops the theological framework, rooted in Bonhoeffer’s vision of the church as a relational, Christ-centered community. Section Four outlines Faith Fusion, a Sunday morning ministry in which people of all ages gather to share stories, explore Scripture, and engage with Luther’s Small Catechism. Section Five reports outcomes, highlighting a renewed sense of community, deeper intergenerational relationships, and Gen Z participants feeling heard and spiritually connected. Section Six explores practical applications and a broader ministry relevance.

Faith Fusion reclaims storytelling and shared presence as vital forms of discipleship and demonstrates how intergenerational ministry can strengthen the church’s witness. Ultimately, it offers Gen Z a genuine place to belong, grow, and live out their faith in community, inviting renewed vision for the church that inspires hope and connection across generations.

Download

Included in

Christianity Commons

Share

COinS