Generation X –
Considerations for Ministry
This paper was written and presented for the Costas
Consultation: The
Introduction. “Generation X” and “young adults” are terms
used to identify the generation born after the Baby Boomers, born between
1965-1979: 18-35 year olds. They are not
flocking to churches—especially liberal, white denominations like the United
Church of Christ (UCC).
The
usual approach to motivate churches to outreach to this generation is: “If your
congregation is alive in the year 2025, most of its governing board members
will be [Generation X].”1
This speculation fails to recognize that young adults have needs that
are not being met by the current 1950’s style church. It manipulates young adults into perpetuating
the church system that they already are fed up with and are not attending.
Generation
X is unique. And the average church in
the
Community/Diversity. Among all young adults I’ve met, universally
the number one reason to go to church is not God; it is community.2 When in the workplace, and often times in a
campus setting, there is a real sense of isolation and distance from
peers—making friends is hard. Outside of
the clubs and bars, there are few structured places for people to meet their
peers.
“Communities
that are formed based on common interests and background are effortless to
create. However, with increased
diversity of the population and the mobility of the people in this country, the
‘natural’ communities are harder to either find or form, resulting in many
individuals feeling isolated and alone.”3
Those
who have returned to or stayed in the church have found a place where
intentional community is being developed.
On the other hand, many young adults have left the church, because it
fails to be an intentional community, or fails to be the right kind of
intentional community in their eyes. The church does not foster or address the
issues of difference and diversity that are common in the experiences of
younger generations.
Empowerment. Young adults share a sense of overwhelming
stress. Whether it is the pressure of
standardized testing, college applications, or finding a decent job, we have
learned that we are responsible for our futures. But despite that responsibility, young adults
have never been empowered to take the controls.
Generation W—our parent’s generation—runs the political system of the
United States.4 Without
agency, without being empowered, young adults have had to find other ways to
seek fulfillment and independence. We are skeptical of authority figures that
attempt to control us.
Authority/Truth. Generation X is a skeptical group. We appreciate a space that allows us to
wrestle with our own relationship to the divine.5 The old methodology of being told what to
think is outdated and ineffective.6
“We naturally question the authority and guidance of our elders and of
society in general, which in our past have born little but false promises.”7 As a result, Generation X is not looking for
a new authority, or even a correct and reliable authority. We are looking for a place that honors and
lifts up the personal experiences of each community member. Meaning is derived from the expression and
conversation about individual experiences and perspectives.
Fulfillment. For the Baby Boomers, fulfillment came via
the perfect career, the pursuit thereof, or financial independence (which sometimes
is the criteria for the perfect career).8 Gen X children saw their parents grasp
frantically at these goals and fail to find fulfillment. We saw our parents or our friends’ parents
divorce; our perspective on “true love” has been affected accordingly. Generation X seeks fulfillment in new places:
relationships (romantic and friendship), spirituality (often over and
against organized religion) and in the combination of multiple pursuits (jobs,
hobbies, social activities and activism).
We are attempting to break away from the old paths of fulfillment, which
we have seen fail for the generation before us.
Technology. Pam Fickenscher claims the computer is the
biggest dividing factor between the generations.9 Generation X knows how to use a computer,
Generation W is still figuring out how to program the VCR. The computer has transformed communication
and the workplace. Young adults are a
more employable and also more expendable labor force. With email, chat rooms and the internet,
young adults can communicate across cultural, national and political
boundaries. With the added level of
anonymity, Generation X has begun to talk frankly and honestly about topics
their parents never could.
Sex/Relationships/Sexuality. Of the many topics that create stress for
young adults, arguably the most salient is sex and sexual relationships. The Fox show
Racial
Bias. It is
important for me to place the disclaimer on the present analysis. All of the books that I have reviewed, all
the information that has shaped my thoughts are coming from a middle-class,
white perspective. Most of the books
come from evangelical, fundamentalist traditions. As a consequence this analysis fails to take
into consideration the obvious differences of a minority/oppressed status. Non-white persons in the
It
is important to remember that the rather young experiment of desegregation in
the
Conclusion. The present analysis also fails to take into
more serious consideration the theological and ministerial applications of this
new generation. The first step in
applying these ideas to ministry is to uncover the ways in which the current
church community perpetuates the division among the generations. Second, the local church must not rely
exclusively on the research of books and reports, which by necessity utilize
broad, sweeping generalizations. Local
clergy and community members must reach out and talk with the people in their
communities, young and old alike. A
dialogue must be initiated, and the young must be empowered to shape and
control what their community will look like.
Notes
1
Net Results: “Involving More Young Adults,” a resource packet from 1995.
2
This observation comes from interviews with area students, church members and
other contacts. One-on-ones were
conducted by Gregory Morisse, October 2000 continuing through May, 2001.
3
Law, Eric, H. E. (1996). The Bush Was
Blazing But Not Consumed. Chalice
Press.
4
Cox, Kristoffer (1998). Gen X and God. Tekna Books.
5
Morisse, One-on-ones.
6
This observation comes from Pam Fickenscher in her presentation on The Spirit
Garage, a Gen X church in
7
Cox, Gen X and God.
8
Cox, Gen X and God.
9
Fickenscher, Evangelism Connections 2000.
10
Morisse, One-on-ones.