Passing on faith requires walking alongside young people in their questions
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We’ve all heard the statistics: younger adults are less likely to attend and join congregations than the generations before them. Churches often want to see more young people in the pews, but it’s difficult to know where to start. Should we scrap traditional music to reach Gen Z? What programs are attracting people to the multi-site megachurch that just opened a new location in our town? While we ponder these questions, here’s another one: what if the starting point isn’t finding the right program? What if the starting point is making room for more questions? In our young adult years, we begin wrestling with big questions. We long for clarity as it relates to our identity, vocation, relationships and spirituality. Teachings we have inherited feel inadequate. Some people begin traveling the world and experiencing other cultures and other religious perspectives. We may not fully appreciate the profound ways that young adults are longing for a safe space to ask meaningful questions like these: How do I make sense of God in a world filled with oppression, violence and suffering? How should I think about other religious worldviews considering the claims Christians make about Jesus? If I am a Christian, am I allowed to have doubts? Congregations might feel the impulse to respond with doctrinal bootcamps to equip people with the “right answers.” But making room is less about doubling down on certainty and more about walking alongside our friends as they search for wisdom and a deeper connection with God. It’s been said that we cannot argue people into the truth. Instead, we love them into it. We make room for young adults by loving them and their questions. When they feel safe enough to ask big, courageous questions, and we love them for it, they will see that Christianity — at its core — is not a set of metaphysical principles. At the center of Christian faith is a person, Jesus Christ. He makes room for them — and so do we. |
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| Traditional measurements don’t capture the whole story of young adults and faith. The reality is much more hopeful, say researchers at Springtide Research Institute.
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| By Kari Koshiol and Kevin Singer
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| Members of Generation Z haven’t given up on faith, but they need something different from the religion of their parents.
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| Iskali was created by a 19-year-old to support other young adults in the church. More than a decade later, it offers faith formation, mentorship, scholarships and other opportunities for a new generation to grow in Christ.
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| Sharing stories — and listening deeply to one another — is at the heart of a new research initiative that seeks to help churches launch ministries to attract young adults. |
By Dori Baker and Tobin Belzer |
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| An academic at Kentucky’s Asbury University reflects on the connection that students were seeking in the 16-day spiritual event that captured the world’s attention. |
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| The answer is yes, but if churches want young folks to return, they must repair the harm done by the religious right, says the woman who gave the Young People’s Address to the UMC. |
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I had a great conversation recently with two 20-somethings. They both grew up involved in church. I hadn’t spoken to them in a while, but I’ve known them and their families for many years. One of them reached out to me on social media and the three of us set up a Zoom call.
I was struck by the wide range of their questions. They wanted to know how to understand certain parts of the Bible. They had questions about fundamental tenets of Christian faith. They struggled with how to embrace the particularities of Christian faith in a religiously pluralistic world. I’m sure they did not walk away with settled answers by the end of the conversation. But they appreciated having their questions taken seriously and being treated hospitably.
Making room for questions is not a gimmick or a flashy program. It’s love. That’s a good place to start.
You can always reach me and the Alban Weekly team at alban@duke.edu. Until next week, keep leading! |
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| Editor Alban at Duke Divinity School |
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