Seeking Relevance in a Millennial Oriented Culture

Rev. Debra Griffis-Woodberry

Hearing the phrase “OK Boomer” irritates some people aged sixty and beyond.  Likewise, their children and grandchildren do not like to be dismissed with a simple utterance of, “Oh those millennials!”  One of the emerging questions amidst all of this is, “Do boomers have anything to offer the church in 2020 and beyond?”  Of course, the answer is, “Yes.”  We quickly repeat the familiar mantra declaring that everyone has value and worth and something to offer. 

There have always been generational divides. Today they seem especially sharp.   Maybe it is because in the United States we are living in such extreme polarization in many dimensions of life. This leads to increased ageism, sexism, and racism.  Additionally, the great theological divides among us place the church on fragile ground as we try to speak with relevance and hope. As always, the church must find her way to meaningful expressions in the present culture.

 The church has tried many approaches to embrace all ages and stages.  We have age-graded classes, gender and age defined units for missions, age related fellowship groups and on and on.  We also attempt intergenerational experiences in worship and study.  Yet another approach is adult groups that are topic or mission oriented.  

Often workshops, classes or books deal with the challenge of how to keep boomers and at the same time attract millennials.  One church recently closed temporarily in order to put in place a re-start that is millennial oriented and directed.  The boomers were encouraged to attend another church.   In many churches’ clergy find themselves hustling among several services each with a different style of worship and music.   

Another way to be church in 2020 is where the church culture has powerful synergy among its Christ followers.  Achieving this kind of synergy is difficult work. It requires listening and learning.   Consider several ideas to help build synergy rather than compartmentalization. 

  • Know that each voice is valuable. Builders, Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials and Gen Zers all have something to teach and something to learn.    

  • Learn to listen, so that you can listen to learn. 

  • For me to understand the words others speak, I may need to learn the language. For boomers that may mean learning the language and use of technology.

  • Learn from each other.  For example, Millennials can teach Boomers about the value of minimalism.  Some things can only be understood with the wisdom of reflection that comes with time.  Boomers understand some things only in looking back.  We were too busy doing and living them at the time to grasp meaning. Boomers sharing life lessons may be valuable to younger people. 

  • Powerful synergy comes when the church is focused not upon what entertains a particular group, but upon becoming and making disciples of Jesus Christ and joining God’s mission in the world.

Jesus said it well in the Beatitudes.  "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. Matthew 5:9 The Message.

Helen Renew