Looking for Millennials, Part Two
Two months ago, I offered some insights from the work of William Sachs and Michael Bos [1] on the ways in which churches can knowingly or unknowingly distance themselves from young adults. These researchers also point toward some distinctive values that congregations might focus on to remain open to young adults. Naturally, not all young adults are the same, but Sachs and Bos identify major trends, encouraging churches to realign in the following ways:
Churches need to shift from expressions of faith as a static belief toward understanding faith as a dynamic journey. Allowing for multiple voices to be heard and creating the space for the discovery of a living faith to be found offers young adults a place to engage.
Established churches can often spend a lot of time on buildings, budgets, and the number of bottoms in seats. Rather than focusing on institutional concerns, churches need to attend to promoting a living, flourishing community of faith. The institutional needs are secondary to the lively questions of faith, culture, society, and life.
Sachs and Bos acknowledge the importance of politics; however, they note that politics (liberal or conservative) married to faith is deadly. Young adults pursue faith and spirituality for meaning and understanding about life—not to align with a particular political vision.
Being open about tough questions really matters to young adults. Possessing great certitude about faith and life suggests inauthenticity. For young adults, faith that does not entertain questions will not have answers.
These observations suggest that church leaders need to cultivate an uneasiness with the status quo that may exist within our congregations. Although there are many people who are seeking spiritual meaning for their lives, they may never really consider the one place where spiritual meaning and a vision for the holy is actually the supposed house specialty!
Bos and Sachs challenge their readers by suggesting that “we should have a holy discontent that God can use us to do more for more people.” It is a challenge worth hearing!
May God bless you as you lead in your community of faith!
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[1] William L. Sachs and Michael S. Bos. A Church Beyond Belief: The Search for Belonging and the Religious Future (Morehouse Publishing, 2014).
