Congregations with a significant proportion of young adults share distinctive traits. For churches seeking to engage these individuals, Perry Chang shares some “do’s” and “don’ts” drawn from a Faith Communities Today study.
This article was originally published on May 7, 2014. The content remains relevant, so we are reposting for all who may have missed it.
The emerging consensus of research regarding young adults shows a growing percentage of this age group is not connected with any religion, although many younger Americans express an interest in spirituality. This reality raises concerns about young adult participation in religious communities.
How are faith communities with a significant proportion of young adults distinctive? A Faith Communities Today research project has been studying congregations of all faiths across America that are doing an exceptional job of engaging young adults. A congregation is considered to have significant young adult participation if 21% or more of its participants are 18 to 34 years of age. Across all faiths, a total of only 16% of all congregations have such young adult involvement.
The findings identify some best practices for congregations that wish to attract and engage young adults. These can be summarized in a dozen “do’s” and four “don’ts.”
Congregations should:
- Offer a high-quality worship experience that is contemporary in style or refashion traditional worship in new ways.
- Start a new congregation or young-adult-only worship group within an existing congregation, or move an existing congregation to a new location.
- Prioritize metropolitan areas and communities near university campuses.
- Allow people to bring coffee to worship.
- Provide food.
- Be intentional about reaching out to young adults.
- Form friendships with young adults.
- Involve young adults in leadership.
- Sponsor activities that mix socializing with theological reflection.
- Apply theological principles to everyday-life issues that young adults face.
- Figure out how to connect with the different types of young adults — whether they are still in school or starting careers, single or married, with or without children. These groups cannot just be lumped together without some facilitating rationale.
- Figure out how to connect with young adults who are aging out of the category in their mid- to late-30s.
Congregations should NOT:
- Be theologically doctrinaire.
- Insist that people wear dresses or suits and ties to worship.
- Expect growth in the number of members or total giving.
- Expect young adults to sign up for long-term committee work.
Summary findings of Best Young Adult Practices for Churches is available from Faith Communities Today.
Related Resources:
- Lessons on Engaging Young Adults Effectively by Asa J. Lee
- Millennials, Social Media, and the Church by Martin Davis
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