Insight Three by George Bullard on the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey 2008. [Conducted by The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life at www.pewforum.org.]
Learning: "The survey finds that the number of people who say they are unaffiliated with any particular faith today (16.1%) is more than double the number who say they were not affiliated with any particular religion as children. Among Americans ages 18-29, one-in-four say they are not currently affiliated with any particular religion." [5]
Implications for Congregations: 1. What we have suspected appears to be true--some children who grow up in church wander away from faith practice in a local congregation by the time they are adults. 2. Twentysomethings are especially unchurched. Congregations continue to find it difficult to provide true and relevant ministry to this age group. 3. New congregations or new ministry initiatives by existing congregations may be the best way to speak into the spiritual seeking of twentysomethings.
Implications for Denominations: 1. It is likely that smaller membership congregations are particularly impacted by children moving away from faith practice through a congregation. Local denominational judicatories can provide supportive services to these congregations that support their ability to continue to attract twentysomethings. 2. Helping congregations prepare for ministry to thirtysomethings when many young adults are returning to active church participation should also be an initiative of denominations. 3. Obviously support services for new congregations and new ministry initiatives targeting twentysomethings should be part of the programmatic initiatives of denominations--perhaps in cooperation with persons involved in ministry to students in colleges and universities.
