With a little effort, we can all make a big difference in the spiritual lives of children.
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Raise your generational IQ
How can we let Gen Z push the church to be a better and more faithful expression of God’s kingdom for our times?
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What about the children?
The last two years left a deep impression on all of us. How can we heal the bodies, minds and souls of the most vulnerable among us?
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Engaging youth and young adults through innovative ministry
If you’re like me, you’ve read a lot about generational differences in participation in religious communities. These differences mean that congregations are having to find creative and diverse ways of engaging younger generations in ministry and service. In this edition…
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A Church for Our Grandchildren
What kind of church will we hand over to our children and grandchildren? The answer will largely depend upon the kind of leaders we train for the church in our time. And chief among those leaders are the pastors who…
Read MoreChurch for the Under-Forty Crowd: Attracting Younger Adults to Congregational Life
On the cubicle where she works all day, Abby has pinned a picture of a church. Where many would keep a photo of family members or beloved pets, Abby has an image of a brownstone building on the Cambridge Common,…
Read MoreResurrected Lives: Relational Evangelism with Young Adults
A November 2009 issue of The Week featured a story, “Losing our religion,” that focused on the rapidly growing numbers of the religiously unaffiliated in the United States, the so called Nones, and asked if organized religion is fading. Younger…
Read MoreValuing the Resources of the Young
We often disregard the important assets that adults under forty can offer us. In the denominational church, leadership positions are given to people who prove themselves in some way. Usually they’re people who have a great deal of influence, time,…
Read MoreClergy by the Numbers: Statistics Show It’s Not a Youthful Picture
The numbers of young mainline clergy have declined dramatically in recent decades. The table on page 9 provides a snapshot of age distributions of today’s mainline clergy, and it’s not a youthful picture. The numbers can’t be explained away by…
Read MoreViews from Seminary: Why Theological Education Needs Young Pastors
One of the greatest challenges facing religious institutions today is solving the looming clergy shortage. This means finding ways to attract—and keep—theological students who will make a lasting commitment to serve their denomination. As educators and institutions continue in their…
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