Thoughts Prompted by Rick Ufford-Chase

The post at Bill Tammeus' blog today included a great story that's relevant for us at St. Peter's, and for all churches seeking to survive the passing of the WWII-generation. Bill reports on the address given by Rick Ufford-Chase, the highest elected officer of the Presbyterian Church (USA):

...When he spoke in our sanctuary, he said that people older than him primarily have been devoted to the institutional church. Which is to say they are happy coming to worship on Sunday, singing in the choir, being on committees, teaching Sunday school and so forth.

"Maintaining the institution of church is not going to cut it for people my age," he said. "What young adults want to know is how will being a member of this church help me live my life more faithfully in the world."

His conclusion: "We have to disciple people again."

Like most Mainline churches, the Presbyterian denomination has been steadily losing members. And Rick thinks part of the reason is that we don't understand how to mentor and give responsibility to young adults.

"Our churches," he says, "are not invested in change at this point."

Clearly there is much about church that those of us who have been long-time members want to keep. But the question is whether we're wise enough to do that while at the same time moving toward new models of church that will meet the needs and desires of young people.

I don't think you throw out the core of what the church is to get there. But surely we can ask some hard questions about the need to maintain what has been in place for a long time. Why do we still do things that way? Is there a faithful and authentic way to do things differently?

I'm not sure what the future is for Mainline churches. But I'm glad people like Rick are deeply invested in that future and challenging not just Presbyterians but all people of faith to rethink the way we try to live out our faith.

My comments; I think most young adults are not even at a place of seeking to live "more faithfully in the world," but simply seeking some meaning outside of personal experience. Or reality may even be a step back, two generations of young people (X-ers and Millenials) unaware what the vague hunger in the corners of their hearts is for.

I think we all understand how to give responsibility to young adults. You give us responsibility. But that's scary, because we would change some things. The question is whether a congregation will pass the torch in time to have a shot at surviving (for the continuing work of Christ's realm of love). We're in the middle of that leap of faith here.

I have a sense of urgency about this; the window of opportunity is closing. In 10 or 15 years, X-ers' children will either have been introduced to meaningful church or not, and Millenials will have made a general decision about whether the church is willing to be a partner in our world-changing or not. I worry that the church is not moving fast enough. The longer the church waits to dive in, the less impact it will have. As I see it, Millenials (roughly born after 1980) in our early adulthood will have a pivotal influence on the trajectory of this human project. We're where the action is. We will remake our planet, our culture, our daily lives, and quite likely even the definition of being "human." Churches ought to work like mad to be involved in this process.

There's a long human tradition of each generation thinking it is somehow special, entrusted with cosmic responsibilites, when it is really just another step along the path. I may be guilty of that kind of thinking. But I suspect not, because of the internet. More about that, and my recent trip to Chicago, in my next post.