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“At FTE, we believe God is speaking fresh and powerful things to the church, and some of the message sounds a lot like the message Samuel shared with Eli.” Dr. Trace Haythorn President, The Fund for Theological Education More Leadership InsightsGreat Awakening Movement |
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Great Awakening MovementDr. Trace Haythorn The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life Affiliation Study shows the volume and frequency of migration between, within and away from religions and Christian denominations is much higher than was thought. But the study does not posit reasons for these migrations. And where are young people in this reshaping of the landscape? At The Fund for Theological Education (FTE), we engage a diverse cross-section of young people. All could find themselves represented in the Pew study. They have interrogated their home traditions. While their parents and grandparents may have been discouraged from visiting congregational spaces for people of different faiths, this generation actively seeks to learn about those different from themselves. Christian Millennials are busting through barriers, crossing denominational boundaries and seeking justice in the ways they understand Jesus to have sought justice. They are not turning away from church. In fact, they seek a share of leadership in it. But for them serving as faithful church leaders is not about preserving the institution; it is about engaging in life-giving practices that make the world more like they believe God longs for it to be. They aim to be change agents. A great awakening is rolling across our land. We cannot —we must not— ignore this remarkable movement. A new generation of young leaders is stepping forward, redefining what church — and what society — will look like. From mainline to megachurch, we must welcome this movement toward a new way. While impulse may suggest we shore up old models that formed our generation, Millennials are building something new. We need to notice, name and nurture this. Recent studies characterizing the narcissism of Millennials have pointed in opposite directions as they have worked to understand this generation. Researcher Jean Twenge argues that this generation is perhaps the most narcissistic in a long time. Authors Kali H. Trzesniewski, M. Brent Donnellan, and Richard W. Robins find quite the opposite; they find no substantial evidence of an increase in narcissism among young people. At FTE, we find young people have deeply personal, passionate perspectives on issues and their role within them. Rejecting the cynicism that often characterizes other groups, Christian Millennials not only believe they can change the world, they sense a deep call to such work. The task of congregations, schools, and communities is to help cultivate these commitments as they take shape. Let's not be so distracted by statistics that we miss the bigger picture — but instead commit ourselves to living into the possibilities that are waiting to be born. That starts with giving young people the space, tools, financial resources and support to resist the cynicism and complacency of old paradigms and to recreate the justice-seeking, civic-shaping, joy-filled capacities of communities of faith. The next generation of leaders for the church is on the move. We may not know where they will pitch their tents, but it's our obligation to nurture and support them on their journey of faithful service.  |
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