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generations

Changes in Attitude, Changes in Latitude, Changes in Gay Marriage

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There is a interesting set up graphs from the Pew Research group on the peoples perception/view of gay marriage categorized by groupings.

Some quick thoughts:

  • Not surprising that an overall divide of opinion is about half & half (graph 1)
  • Not surprised to see that the youngest generations are more in favor of a gay marriage (graph 2). Percentages have exceeded a majority which is interesting and also lends to a huge divide in values between a church’s viewpoint (graph 3).
  • Not surprising is the breakdown of the Christian faith categories. Though I might say that such a high differential between the Catholic and Mainline Protestant views & the Religiously Unaffiliated. Again, a huge values divide there (graph 3)
  • Was kinda surprised a more moderate voice in the Republican party didn’t bring the political viewpoint a little bit closer to the Democratic / Independent view (which are almost identical). Though a difference is expected, it was a huge divide there and is probably that hill many republican conservatives are willing to die, or live/campaign on (graph 4).
  • Graph 5 is probably right where I’d expect our culture. Conservatives & Liberals are riding their lines and are quite set in those. The Moderates might be like me, you’d favor it, but you are not sure that it is in the whole country’s interest to force it so you’d opt for a conservative/cautious approach. Some then are probably just good either way.

One thing was plugging at my thoughts reading this. An institution, like my church tribe, cannot survive with one or two generations of people apathy towards it. There needs to be some reconciliation that would bring some relational & passionate connection towards the Gen X’ers & Millennials, not to mention the generation after Millennials who are probably going to be more affirming, within the church so that it can survive a values divide. Tough call there as a theology could be debated on either side and the long tradition of the church leans against. Changing just because culture is shifting isn’t the most divine way to change, but it has done so for less than divine reasons before.. Tough call, but a call that needs to be made sometime soon or continue a slow death

We’re Not Young Anymore | Getting Real

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I was teaching a youth ministry seminar a few weeks back where mentioned Shane Claiborne as an example for a point to make. Within the crowd there was a young couple from Brazil who had spent the last few years in an African country (cannot remember exactly) doing medical & teenager mission work. Being the awesome presenter that I am.. haha! I asked them directly, ‘do you know who I am talking about?’ There response was “No” so I started off describing Shane as a “middle aged white guy like me” & then when on from there. Connie, was in the group and jumped on me about saying he was middle aged. My thoughts in saying that were, he & I are about the same age (he’s a few more days than a year younger than me), me at 36 about to be 37. The life expectancy of an American born today is almost 79.. For my birth years it is around 72. So if the middle age of 72 is 36 then I am classifiable as “middle aged.”

This was most sobering when I turned 35 and said to my wife, “I’m halfway to 40, wow!” Her response was, “No stupid, you’re halfway to 70. You were halfway to 40 when you were 20.” Me.. “Crap!”

Missy Buchanan has a piece on the Boomers not wanting to ‘age’ according to the preset age’ism of the church, posted in Ministry Matters. I think this paragraph is spot on in the problem trending problem.

According to Hanson, a primary key to understanding boomers is to realize that they are keenly interested in staying young and are likely to resist anything associated with aging, old, or senior. Just consider our culture, which sends a strong message that aging well is all about remaining young, active and healthy. It’s not surprising that an invitation to join a group called the Amazing Grays would be met with little interest by boomers. In fact, boomers would likely consider such a group as something for their parents or slightly-older counterparts, but not for them. It’s not that they intend to snub their older peers, it’s just that they don’t see themselves in this role.

It is no joke that we are so stuck trying to be young in our culture. Youth culture is a prevailing market place. Billions of dollars are spent on ways to remain ‘young’ and it has been that way for as long as I can remember (thinking of you Oil of Olay commercials, sorry just Olay now).  Adult parents are constantly trying to be “cool” (heck, adult youth leaders try to be “cool” all the time) and that is some mark of successful parenting. However, teen movies mock that trend, as teens many times do.

What is our problem with aging? The prospect of death that comes with aging? The idea that we might be our parents, whom we probably vowed never to be when we were younger?

Needless to say, as the church moves forward into the next decade plus it will need to figure out how to communicate to aging communities that doesn’t want to be older. Young adults probably don’t care for the monikers of “United Methodist Men / Women” (very established groups in my denominational tribe). The boomers probably don’t want to claim a “Young at Heart” (my local tribe). Millennials probably don’t want anything to do with our groups at all regardless of names.