Underscore: What do Young Adults say About Millennials Leaving the Church? Do They Have Solutions?

February 03, 2015 ∙ by Anonymous ∙ in This Month's Issue

Underscore: What do Young Adults say About Millennials Leaving the Church? Do They Have Solutions?
Story by Debra McKinney Banks, Feature Image via iStock

In a 2012 study by the Pew Research Center’s Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 32 percent of Millennials were found to have no religious affiliation. Sadly, these numbers are also reflected in our ranks.

Student campus ministry leaders at Union College in Lincoln, Neb., worked with Rich Carlson, their vice president of spiritual life, to organize the 2014 Summit for Young Adult Retention and Involvement to discuss the issue. Backed by the North American Division (NAD) and joined by Debra Brill, NAD vice president for Ministries, 19 student representatives from Seventh-day Adventist universities and colleges met last October and deliberated over four related questions. (Visit weareausa.org/summit to read the summit summary.)

“The biggest outcome was the impression our church leadership left on the students,” Carlson says of the event. “[Debra] was in every session, took notes and talked to students in between sessions. By backing the whole event, the church showed that our young adults are a good investment.”

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Danielle Barnard (at right) represented Washington Adventist University, based in Takoma Park, Md., where she serves as prayer ministries leader. “The young adults were supported so well by the church,” she says of the summit.

“I left with good expectations that we were taken seriously.”

Carlson and Barnard report strides are being made on their campuses to incorporate the ideas and suggestions shared, especially with regard to what young adults can add to the church’s appeal and mission. “I was eager to come back and share the information I got ... with the other people I work with in campus ministry,” explains Barnard. “I felt impressed to be more intentional about praying for everyone on my campus.”

Carlson says he especially appreciated the student leaders who came forward at the end of the three days to share: “‘Here are our gifts. Here is what we can bring to the table.’ [The church] may look a little different when they get done with it, but it will still be God’s church and His mission.”

UNION MILLENNIALS SPEAK
The Visitor wanted to bring the discussion home to the Columbia Union. Staff posed versions of the summit questions to four young adults from churches around the mid-Atlantic. Click to the next page for their answers:

1. Why are Young Adults Leaving the Church?

Hannah Schaefer (24), a member at Ohio Conference’s Stillwater church in Vandalia, Ohio: “Adventists are narrow-minded and unwilling to change ... It seems that we look down on others who don’t know as much about Bible prophecy as we do. We need to be open to learning about what others believe and being more accepting of differences.”

Robert Fuller (32), of Chesapeake Conference’s Spencerville church in Silver Spring, Md.: “The desire seems to be, ‘Let’s preserve our church’s faith and doctrine,’ not ‘Let’s be on the cutting edge, find new ideas, be open to new avenues.’ I don’t see it in the top leadership of the church, and the perceived culture of the church leadership is looked upon by many youth as unmoving ... Many young adults don’t see the church as something useful, something good enough and ... worth the effort to stay.”

Sarah Betack (31), of Pennsylvania Conference’s Harrisburg First church in Harrisburg, Pa.: “In college, the church caters to that particular age group. Everything is centered around them. But, in the typical local church, everything is catered to the ages of the members at the church—usually older people who make up the bulk of the membership.”

Daamon Long (32), of Allegheny West Conference’s Beacon of Hope church in Columbus, Ohio: “Looking back at my personal experience, I don’t see enough men in the church, my church. The pastor is another big reason I still go. What he presents makes sense to me. He lives what he preaches. I’ve seen him be God’s hands and feet to the world. He shows his Christianity.”

Betack: “I’m convicted on my Adventist beliefs and feel strongly about them. I pretty much go for that reason, not so much because of the church itself. When I started signing up to do things, I began to feel more a part of the church, and it began to feel more like a family. ... It’s now not so much about what the church isn’t doing.”

3. What are You Willing to do to Make the Church Better?

Betack: “Churches need to be more interested in what [young adults] are doing and ... inviting them to activities and connecting them with someone else in their age group. I’d like to get involved in the already existing Bible studies that are going on ... and become part of the different committees, bettering them.”

Fuller: “I’d like to create a young adult group with an inclusive atmosphere, a place where we are accept- ing of all people, no matter their viewpoint. ... And, having consistency is key. Young adults tend to
look for stuff. The Washington, D.C., area has lots of choices—great pastors, cooler music—something different every weekend. And, they like to go to these venues because they might meet someone there. That’s not entirely bad. When you have a small core group that meets regularly, you can build on that.”

4. What Should the Church do to Keep Young Adults Engaged?

Fuller: “Too many programs separate the generations. There will always be a little discomfort with something, but the point is to worship, and I think we need to learn to worship together as much as possible. Each group should be willing to accommodate the other.”

Long: “If the head isn’t straight, the body can’t operate like it’s supposed to. Pastors need to share their struggles. If they are always coming across like they are perfect and got it all together, we can’t relate to them. Also, programs like Pathfinders are not realistic. They are earning badges and honors, but are they learning how to deal with real-life issues, like drugs and sexual addictions? They need to have real conversations and need the truth about life. We need to start being real with the next generation.”

Read these articles from the February 2015 Visitor!

Underscore: What do Young Adults say About Millennials Leaving the Church? Do They Have Solutions?

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