What percentage of people at your churches are under age 35?

[ButterflyBlood]

I ask because it's easily a majority at mine, in fact even all the pastors are, but I know this is quite rare. I was talking with another 20something woman who goes to a Lutheran seminary who's been invited to preach this summer during a special series the lead pastor wants a variety of people preaching besides him (we are not Lutheran either but we have a huge variety of people from all sorts of denominational backgrounds), and she was talking about how she preached in some Lutheran church earlier this month but doesn't want to reuse any of her sermons from then because "they were written for all the old people" and joked about how that church was mostly just people over 60. I'm wondering if there are any people my age at more traditional churches, from my experience it's actually quite rare.

On a side and somewhat related note, a comment I once heard from a girl in the lobby: "Seriously, we are totally the best looking church ever."

[unc70]

1. At least half I would estimate at my church

A little difficult to estimate because different functions attract differing demographics.

This is a large United Methodist church in a university town that also has a strong Wesley Foundation and 6 other UMC churches. At a traditional 11:00 service, we probably have 100-200+ college students.

Very active high school age youth group, strong Sunday school for younger kids. Don't see that many youth at main services except in one of three youth choirs.

Fairly strong at all age groups and interests. I think this is fairly typical for UMC in NC. Seems true for many smaller churches I know, limited by population trends by locale.

[xmas74]

5. Our UMC here in my small college town in Missouri is similar, though

not as large a population. They are attempting to build a strong Wesley Foundation on campus, offering activities numerous times weekly. The youth groups and the children's groups are big draws here too.

I wouldn't say the majority are under 35 but I would say that they are under 45. Families are joining our church regularly and there is quite a bit of growth.

[woodsprite]

2. About 1/4 or less.

We're a small Presby church in a historic area. I think our whole congregation numbers in the 160s.

[ButterflyBlood]

4. That's actually a lot higher than I'd expect for that type of church

unless by "historic area" you mean somewhere urban.

[woodsprite]

7. I'd say it's mostly mid to upper middle class

mainly white area (Historic New Castle, DE). Probably the age groups we're missing the most is the 50-65 yr old group and the teens.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. We have only a couple of younger people and kids at our church. (Although I am

40, I would get lumped in with the "younger" crowd at this point. Most of the congregation in our tiny UCC church are seniors.)

[kwassa]

6. Families with young children are the core demographic to the future of a church.

I am at a church where the new rector managed, through sheer ineptitude, kill off a thriving children's program. There was a subsequent large drop-off in both membership and pledges, dropping the operating budget by about a third. This rector is a brilliant preacher, but has no concept of church leadership or management.

We have a young child and are about to re-locate to another church because of the lack of services.

Most of the mainline denominations are declining in total numbers, and the average age is rising. Without young families brought into the church, the church will age itself out of existence.

[xmas74]

8. The church I attend with my child has done a fantastic job

of growing it's children's/youth program within the past few years. Ten years ago there was next to nothing, now there are activities almost every night of the week for kids.

With the growth of the program there have been a number of new families joining the congregation. I chose the church for that reason-the children's/youth programs. Without them we would have found a different church home.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. I'd say about 1/4 are under 35

There's a very active 20s-30s group.

[Hometown Prophet]

10. Not many, unless you count kids

I have gone to younger, "hipper" churches in the past... Of course, I was younger then.... Now those churches don't work for me as well. It's not as much about the age of the people as it is the message (which is probably a reflection of the congregation).

[ButterflyBlood]

11. What's your issue with the messages?

I'll admit the sermons at mine can be kind of young adult-oriented but there's usually something for everyone, and since they don't follow a lectionary like more traditional churches the speaker can talk about whatever they want, meaning more freedom in topics and personal insight. But I imagine many aren't too fond of the "college lecture" style of sermon, complete with people taking notes from the PowerPoint slides.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. There's a hazard in lacking a lectionary

The hazard is that the preacher will just talk about his pet topics and not cover the whole of Christianity.

That's where you get your preachers who harp on abortion, gay issues, and patriotic militarism.

(I know your minister doesn't do that, but it's a real hazard, especially if you have a theologically unsophisticated congregation.)

In a church that follows the Common Lectionary (mostly Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran), today's Epistle reading was from Acts, the episode in which Philip meets the Ethiopian eunuch. Now neither non-Jews nor eunuchs were not allowed to enter the temple, but God tells Philip to go talk him. He turns out to be trying to understand a passage from Isaiah, which Philip explains for him. The eunuch then asks to be baptized.

That story would be a real challenge for someone who is against sexual minorities. It's one of the stories in Acts that breaks traditional taboos.

Even if the preacher chooses to preach on one of the other lessons instead, the congregation still hears it.

The Common Lectionary takes you through all four Gospels over a period of three years.