Faith Formation with Millennials
What do we know from research and practice about the religious and spiritual needs of the Millennial Generation and type of formation that will address their lives. Millennials seek congregations and faith formation that:
For strategies and ideas for "Faith Formation with Millennials" read the section from Chapter 4 of Faith Formation 2020, pages 151-161.
- offers community and spirituality in the context of a clearly defined faith tradition
- offers worship and faith formation that is visual and experiential
- responds to their needs for empowerment, leadership opportunities, responsibility, and accountability, as well as authenticity and accessibility
- strengthens their distinctive Christian identity so that they know who they are and what they believe, and are able to honestly encounter religious differences and understand people of other faiths
- provides opportunities for serving the surrounding community, “bringing the church to the community”
- engages them in studying the Bible and Christian tradition and applying it to life in an environment that promotes relationship building and encourages questioning
- engage them in creative uses of the history, traditions, and rituals of different Christian traditions for a more physically and visually oriented practice; and encouraging the development of ancient spiritual disciplines
For strategies and ideas for "Faith Formation with Millennials" read the section from Chapter 4 of Faith Formation 2020, pages 151-161.
Design Tools
- Best Practices in Young Adult Faith Formation - Lifelong Faith Journal
| best_practices_-_young_adult_faith_formation.pdf |
Practices & Approaches
- Faith Formation with Emerging Adults (research summary and congregational examples) - John Roberto
- Congregation that Get It (research and examples from congregations
- Cooking, Blogging, and Faith Formation - Joan Web
- The Latte Factor - Timothy Muldoon
| faith_formation_with_emerging_adults_-_roberto.pdf |
| congregations_that_get_it_-_young_adults.pdf |
| cooking_blogging_and_faith_formation_-_weber.pdf |
| the_latte_factor_-_muldoon.pdf |
Resources
- Flory, Richard W. and Donald E. Miller. Finding Faith: The Spiritual Quest of the Post-Boomer Generation. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2008.
- Glenn, Mike. In Real Time: Authentic Young Adult Ministry as It Happens. Nashville: B&H, 2009.
- Hayes, Mike. Googling God: The Religious Landscape of People in their 20s and 30s. New York: Paulist Press, 2007.
- Merritt, Carol Howard. Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation. Herndon: Alban Institute, 2007.
- Merritt, Carol Howard. Reframing Hope: VItal Ministry in a New Generation. Herndon: Alban Institute, 2010.
- Stetzer, Ed, and Richie Stanley, and Jason Hayes. Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them. Nashville: B&H, 2009.
Website Resource: Changing SEA: The Changing Spirituality of Emerging Adults Project (www.changingsea.org)
- Who Are Emerging Adults? An essay forum with 15 essays on a range of topics related to the lives of emerging adults, written by highly regarded scholars, which synthesize an array of academic articles, summarizing key points and making them accessible and useful for your ministry.
- What Churches Do Emerging Adults Like? An ethnographic investigation that explores: What kinds of churches do emerging adults attend? Why do they go? How involved are they? How do churches engage emerging adults in meaningful ways?
Websites: Examples of Congregational Approaches
20something (North Coast Church, Vista, CA): www.northcoastchurch.com http://northcoast20something.com
Church of the Apostles (Seattle, WA): www.apostleschurch.org
Contemporary Roman Catholics (CRC) (Holy Trinity Church, New York City): www.crcnyc.org
The Crossing (St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Boston, MA): www.thecrossingboston.org
Generation Axis, Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL): www.generationaxis.com
Kairos and Young Adult Ministry (Brentwood Baptist Church, Nashville, TN): www.brentwoodbaptist.com/karios
Marble Connection (Marble Collegiate Church, New York City): www.marblechurch.org/Programs/20sand30s/tabid/100/Default.aspx
Newsong Third Culture Community (Irvine, CA): www.newsong.net http://irvine.newsong.net/ministries/lifestage/youngadults
St. Lydia’s Dinner Church (New York City): www.stlydias.org
St. Vincent de Paul Church (San Francisco, CA): www.svdpsf.org/youngadults