What are some of the top global trends impacting the future of congregations? What are the implications of these trends for your congregation? What actions does your congregation need to take to respond to these trends and implications?
For the past four months I have been doing some reading on top global trends impacting the future of congregations. Last month I conducted four webinars that included 35 ministry leaders. We talked about these trends, and the implications and actions for congregations.
I invite you to join the dialogue and share your insights into additional trends, and other implications and actions we missed. Send your contribution to GBullard@TheColumbiaPartnership.org. Perhaps out of this we can develop additional trends to share at a future date.
A key request as you read these trends: Don’t shoot the messenger. I am reporting trends, sharing ideas about their implications for congregations, and suggesting actions congregations might need to take. I did not create the trends. In some cases I might not be promoting the trends. I am only saying these are trends we cannot ignore. I also realize several of these trends will challenge theological and ecclesiastical positions held by some North American congregations.
Global Trend One: Within 50 years the world population will surpass 10 billion.
Currently the world population is 6.6 billion. A significant pace of population growth will continue for the foreseeable future. Underneath this macro trend are thousands of specific trends.
One that stands out is the aging of world population. The senior adult population is increasing dramatically throughout the world. Especially in the developed or first world people are living much longer. This fact alone greatly increases world population. The traditional age of retirement is losing its significance. Second and third careers are becoming common as more people make mid-life changes in occupation.
In the developing or two-thirds world the birth rates have not slowed down as much as predicted. This drives the younger end of population growth, and is the part of population growth most often publicized.
A second specific trend revolves around the number of different active birth generations. Employers are seeing up to four birth generations represented in their employees. This presents challenges because of differing work ethics and value systems characteristic of each birth generation.
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