This post is part of a weekly series based on Patrick Nachtigall's new book, Mosaic: A Journey Across the Church of God. You are invited to read the book along with me and contribute to the discussion in the comments.
Now that he's set the stage, Nachtigall goes on to explore some of challenges that we face, and he begins with one of the most obvious in the church today: The Generational Challenge. But, he goes beyond just framing it as a generational gap. Instead he sees it as a matter of "the Church is God is not being transmitted from one generation to another" (25). He makes the case that we are missing three generations: the Millenials, Generation X, and what might be a surprise to some, the Baby Boomers. The Greatest Generation still makes up the strongest core of our movement, but that center is aging and losing its influence.
Nachtigall's journey examining these realities begins in my backyard, Seattle. Here he interviews some senior Church of God saints who readily share their feelings of loss for our identity and community. Reading these stories I certainly feel the pain these ladies sense, a common expression by many older individuals in our churches. Then he heads to the International Youth Convention which provides a radical contrast to the perspectives and ministries of the older generation. IYC is, in my assessment, one of the most powerful national ministries that we have, but once kids return home (as they will again next week) will they truly have a place in their local congregations and in leadership? Nachtigall seems to ask the same questions.
To round out the journey examples are also shared from Uganda and the Dominican Republic, both places that seem to deliberately integrate young people into both the church of today and tomorrow.
This chapter provides a insightful overview and analysis of the generational challenge. Apart from the examples given, there still is little overwhelming evidence that we are doing everything we need to do in order to see the next generation carry the Church of God torch into the future. Many churches attempt to deal with this by creating specialized youth programs, but often these are silos isolated and insulated from the broader church. Nachtigall recognizes this inadequate approach when he states that "We are concerned about preserving our identity, but have we done enough to pursue those who will carry it on into the future" (46). I think the answer is a strong "no", certainly making this one of the greatest challenges we currently face.
Now that he's set the stage, Nachtigall goes on to explore some of challenges that we face, and he begins with one of the most obvious in the church today: The Generational Challenge. But, he goes beyond just framing it as a generational gap. Instead he sees it as a matter of "the Church is God is not being transmitted from one generation to another" (25). He makes the case that we are missing three generations: the Millenials, Generation X, and what might be a surprise to some, the Baby Boomers. The Greatest Generation still makes up the strongest core of our movement, but that center is aging and losing its influence.
Nachtigall's journey examining these realities begins in my backyard, Seattle. Here he interviews some senior Church of God saints who readily share their feelings of loss for our identity and community. Reading these stories I certainly feel the pain these ladies sense, a common expression by many older individuals in our churches. Then he heads to the International Youth Convention which provides a radical contrast to the perspectives and ministries of the older generation. IYC is, in my assessment, one of the most powerful national ministries that we have, but once kids return home (as they will again next week) will they truly have a place in their local congregations and in leadership? Nachtigall seems to ask the same questions.
To round out the journey examples are also shared from Uganda and the Dominican Republic, both places that seem to deliberately integrate young people into both the church of today and tomorrow.
This chapter provides a insightful overview and analysis of the generational challenge. Apart from the examples given, there still is little overwhelming evidence that we are doing everything we need to do in order to see the next generation carry the Church of God torch into the future. Many churches attempt to deal with this by creating specialized youth programs, but often these are silos isolated and insulated from the broader church. Nachtigall recognizes this inadequate approach when he states that "We are concerned about preserving our identity, but have we done enough to pursue those who will carry it on into the future" (46). I think the answer is a strong "no", certainly making this one of the greatest challenges we currently face.
5 comments:
It seems safe to say we do need to do more for those who will carry our DNA into the next generation, but I am not convinced the children/youth (God lov'em)have a monopoly to the key of the future. Dousing our youth in a cultural baptism is certainly no guarantee. It still comes back to that interrelatedness and inclusiveness that allows all generations to be part of the same diverse family. Could it be that the family that does church together, stays together?
I realized later my comment was expressed out of our Western culture. I see age-group programming following marketing trends too much (we need more of the intergenerational approach). Having said that, Patrick was clear that some none western cultures, which might be family oriented, were nonetheless more established on seniority of leadership, which I tend to see as the larger problem.
My book hasn't arrived yet. For now I sit in the wings. I'll try to forge ahead with what you've offered.
I would concur that The Greatest Generation still holds most of the power. Power to keep out/or not accept the guitars and drums and volume; house churches; beer; earth tones; tech; and whatever else I've heard people my own age and younger complain about, or question me on why the church doesn't do or accept. There are few places I've witnessed personally or heard about from my colleagues that have passed power to Boomers, let alone younger generations. First Church in St Joe MI has passed it Boomers, but that is one of the few I know has. In the US I think you'd have to look to young churches to see the power shift. I'm an Xer at 34, with 10 years of ministry under my belt. But other than re-booting a church or planting; I don't personally see another option for me if I'm truly ready to steer a ship. I've tried to implant our DNA, as I see it, into students and young adults I've worked with. But often times I've only seen those "kids" "put in their place" by the church when they desire leadership, or a greater of involvement. Why would they stick around if they're not even heard, let alone able to express, give or experience God in the way they desire to?
I have seen DNA transfer in Guatemala. A Boomer pastor cleaned house of his leaders at some point and brought on young men to be his elders. I was 29 at the time, I remember thinking, "Nice, that would be great to have that much influence with my leader at that age. I think the youngest was 19, the oldest one of them was 26.
IYC: There has always been an underlying dread about it for me. That's really, really sad to say, since I agree with you about it being a great thing we do! But when youth come home and want to change the world, they can't even get the people that love them to change the church they return to, let alone the world around them. The results at best are sadness. At worst a "I guess that this God thing was just a phase." I take responsibility in those situations for my lack of: leadership boldness with the church, not adapting the youth programs more to accommodate their new found passion for _____ [back to my first lack of], not helping students understand that other people see the world and the church different and we have grapple with how that will play out for it to change.
I agree with the strong "no" as well with the question at the end or your post.
So how do we change that?
Am trying to understand Randy's comment. At 34 I wasn't waiting for someone to hand me the keys to everything, I was out there in a mission church trying to exert changes where I was the leader. As a retired senior now I dislike the loudness of so-called worship, but I have to wear earplugs and endure it or leave; so Randy does not make sense to me (all I want is to tune down the PA to hear the drums & noisemakers he wants). I would also suggest many seniors are far more tolerant and broad-based than the youngsters.
I understood very well Patrick's talk of handing off the power base, but it is also a little like the Jr Hi kid telling dad and mom he wants to run the family budget his way, when he doesn't even understand the bigger picture.
I serve on a staff in a rural Northeast Indiana church. We are a growing church with 6 full time pastors. Four of the six pastors are under 40. The two oldest pastors are over 50 and work with the two youngest generations in the church - Children and Junior High. The other four(I am one of them) are leading the adult ministries. (Our high school pastor also preaches periodically on Sunday mornings.) By the way, our church is over 100 years old.
I share this to say, that there is a healthy way to bring along the next generation of leaders. Every church, along with every pastor, must identify opportunities within their ministries to involve the younger generations. This does not mean we are "handing the keys" over to them. They need mature, forward thinking pastors, to disciple and mentor.
Too many pastors don't know how to do this effectively, or are afraid to do this.
We are moving into a new season at our church where we want to include more young people. We already have high school students a part of our worship band and twenty-somethings in our choir. We invite children to come up and pray for our offering, as well as junior and senior high students to serve in Sunday School, as door greeters, and at the guest center.
If young people feel as though they have ownership within the church, they will continue to attend church as they get older. Even more than that - they will continue to serve the church.
I guarantee that those churches who are dying, have already died, or have plateaued have not done this, nor have they thought of it as a priority for their future.
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