Why Most Young People Leave the Church

   The Barna Group [obviously stealing inspiration from the Uniting Church in Australia] have launched a few years of work focused on 'Next Generations' and this post follows up from one previous entry. There is paid material and resources on their website but also teaser and free material to get you thinking.
   A recent feature focused on 'why young people leave the church' and I do/don't agree with the emphasis transferred to our context here in Oz. This post introduces the topic and you can read all about it here

The article talks about:
#1 Churches seem over protective
   Many mainstream churches are still trying to create 'safe' communities for young people and risking irrelevance as life becomes complex or restricts 'risk taking' adolescents from exploring their values and connecting popular culture and the world they live in.
The article cites attitudes to media, music etc. It's more far reaching than this and relates to the narrow 'salvation' restriction of 'the gospel.'
#2 Teens and twenty somethings experience of church is shallow
Our faith, teaching and the nature of our Christian community does not relate to daily life clearly enough in ways that make sense of the connections.
#3 Churches come across as antagonistic to science
The struggle with 'answers' in our faith and a vocation in the sciences [or working with technology] in a culture still arguing about evolution v creation
#4 Young peoples experiences in relation to sexuality are often simplistic/judgemental
Expectations v he complexity of modern life... judgementalism... two standards...
#5 They wrestle with the exclusive nature of Christianity
Suspicious of anyone's 'truth claims' and have been raised in a climate of acceptance, openness and tolerance...
#6 The church feels unfriendly to those who doubt
Feeling unsafe and not finding places and people to explore with...

   The article questions the polarised responses of either ignoring the world of todays young adults or preferring to adopt their tastes, choices and expression at the exclusion of others. It questions hierarchical ways of focusing discipleship as preparing the next generation for church leadership. The opportunity exists for ministry and mission with young people that's multi-generational, more like the 'body' metaphor and is about the gifts and abilities, passions and questions of all...

OK, there's again much more to be said... but this is a start and I'll pick it up post holidays!!