Jan
5
2012

Leadership Reading List: The Millennials

An article by Matt Comments

I have written before about some of the generational struggles that are going on in churches and other organizations, and how there is a clash between the perceptions of arrogant impatience of the millenials and the boomer’s stubborn refusal to empower the next generation. While we know that the truth lies somewhere in between the generalizations, I think it is incredibly helpful to get a better understanding of just what makes the coming generation tick.

This is why I am grateful for Thom and Jess Rainer’s book The Millennials: Connecting to America’s Largest Generation. The book is a walk through of the results of a study on the older half (those born in 1980-1991) of the largest generation in this nation’s history. While the book is a little wordy, it is still a solid reference to help get a better understanding of who this generation is, what working with them looks like, and how to minister to them. Here are my biggest take aways from the book:

High Value on Family. This is a generation that seeks to keep connected with their family. Whereas past generations may keep in touch with their parents, the millennials are regularly connecting with their parents through many different mediums and seek to involve them in many of their important life decisions.
A Colorblind Generation. This is the most diverse generation in this nation’s history. Relationships with those of different races are not uncommon in this generation and many of the old stigmas are disappearing with this group. While this book is written by two white men (I would be interested in hearing views of those in a different demographic) the results of their study seem to point to the beginning of the end of racial division.
The Mediators. The millennials have grown weary of the shrill voices, the shouting, and the divisiveness of much of our society. They have a desire to bring people together for the betterment of the world as opposed to engaging in the politics of division. Thinking back to the 2008 presidential election it is no surprise that the millennials voted overwhelmingly for Barack Obama: the candidate that used a great deal of inclusive, hopeful language.
Checking Out of Religion. This is the concerning one for me. This generation has largely checked out of religion. According to the book, 13% of those studied viewed religion and spiritual matters with any degree of importance. Read that again, I dare you. That number is not about any one religion in particular, that is all religions combined. While they are not anti-religion, or hostile towards it, they have decided that it does not have any relevance for their life. Here are some quotes from the book that we need to be listening to:

Look, I wish we didn’t always have to look to the government for solutions and help, but where are we to look? The American family is in terrible shape, and churches are too busy fighting among themselves to make any difference. Is there any other place to turn?

-Rob

I did attend church for several months about three years ago. But the more I got to know people in the church, the more I heard about infighting and fussing. That made me notice how negative church people and preachers are in general. You know, it seems like every time I read about a Christian leader, he’s telling people what he’s against. It just all seems so negative.

-Tabitha

I’m not anti-church, but so much of what takes place in my parents’ church is just keeping the doors open. Pay the staff. Keep the building nice. And give 10% or more of the church’s income for someone else to do missions… but that’s plodding Christianity, it has no urgency about it. It’s more concerned about the people in the church than those outside the church. It breaks my heart that people are going to hell each day while so many churches have members who argue about Roberts Rules of Order, or which members will serve on the personnel committee. We just don’t have time for such foolishness.

-Leslie

The church is reaping what it has sown over the past few decades. The millennial generation is here, it is passionate, desires relationship, and wants to connect to something bigger and better than itself. It is tired of the squabbles over meaningless trivialities and is desperately searching for someone to step up and take the lead in making this world a better place.

What will you do, as a church leader, to reverse the trend? Maybe a better question is this: what are you, and your church, unwilling to do to reverse this trend? Don’t bother with the canned lines about not straying from orthodoxy… that is an understood. Answer honestly.

What are YOU, and YOUR church, unwilling to do when it comes to engaging the millennials?