Shutterstock
Most of our church technical teams are made up of Millennials with GenZ just entering the volunteer base. Yet church leadership is largely Boomer and GenX.
Generational shifts are nothing new, but this one happens to have experienced one of the biggest technological, communication, and cultural shifts in history. In fact, the change is so radical, that the topic comes up in most major ministry discussions—even though the oldest Millennials are now reaching their 40’s.
Generational shifts are nothing new, but this one happens to have experienced one of the biggest technological, communication, and cultural shifts in history.
We spoke with Daniel Homrich, principal of Motto MO, who helps corporations and organizations bridge generational paradigms.
Here’s what church technical professionals on both sides of the gap need to know:
A seminary degree isn’t as valued by Millennials and GenZ as it was by Boomers and GenX.
Twenty years ago, pastors played a vital role in explaining things to us. They had deeply studied things that most of the congregation had not. Translating Greek and Hebrew phrases to get to the heart of the meaning was an important skill.
But now that information is just a Google search away. Commentary, translations, and sermons streamed from noted teachers across the country are as accessible as the phone in our hands. This doesn’t make the teaching pastor role less important, but there is a difference in the value the generations place on the role. (Note that this isn’t just an issue for churches. Academia is grappling as well.)
So, what does that mean for the role of teaching pastors?
Homrich explains, “Take a dot painting. It used to be that we were just one of those dots and didn’t see the bigger picture. With the internet, you see all the dots. What happens when someone hasn’t explained to you what you are part of?”
Boomers are often fueled by a sense of duty. Millennials—and to a larger extent GenZ—require a sense of purpose.
Boomers are often fueled by a sense of duty. Millennials—and to a larger extent GenZ—require a sense of purpose.
Many Boomers and GenX members will serve simply because the church asks them to. They feel it is the right thing to do. But Millennials need the ability to relate to whoever they are ministering to. They need a strong why. GenZ will evaluate opportunities against all of the other ways that they can spend their time.
Homrich says, “Millennials more than any other have responded to social justice. Churches who want to engage Millennials need this as a real narrative. This carries on with GenZ. They can’t ignore social context given their exposure to an expanded world view.”
"Millennials more than any other have responded to social justice. Churches who want to engage Millennials need this as a real narrative. This carries on with GenZ." Daniel Homrich, principal of Motto MO
“If your world view is expanded and you feel like that you want a sense of purpose, well, the church can do something about that. The challenge is that the church doesn’t always feel like a safe place to explore that.”
There is a radical gap in how the generations view identity.
Boomers tend to have a strong sense of cultural identity, and GenXers tend to get their identity on more of an individual level.
But for Millennials and GenZ, much of their identity gets created in how people respond to them online.
Shutterstock
Homrich shares, “As a Millennial, I grew up with MySpace—which was sort of a poster of your life. GenZ grew up with Snapchat and Instagram. This is a huge shift, because you are always making a statement about your identity—which limits who you are to what you look like and what you say. That’s a massive shift.”
He continues, “Consider what a judgmental period high school is. Then think about what happens when that doesn’t turn off when you leave school. You are still judged. Even if you walk away from social media, someone might create a profile of you. So, you drop teens and 20-somethings—who at every generation are trying to figure out their identity—into a place where people are the most ‘judgy’ they ever are in life, and you have a generation being concerned 24/7 about their identity and how they fit in the world.”
Homrich continues, “Explosive church growth happens where there is the least amount of judgment—when we take in the poor and needy. Yet recently, we are known for ‘I won’t make you cake.' For a generation that is always concerned with being judged that’s a big deal. They need a safe place.”
There is a radical gap in how the generations view authority and leadership.
“Boomers respect the man at the pulpit. After all, he went to seminary. They did not,” says Homrich. “If the church wants to be influencers in the life of Millennials and GenZ, then they have to be relatable for those generations to connect with them. They won’t settle for Ken/Barbie. They need someone they relate to.”
“If the church wants to be influencers in the life of Millennials and GenZ, then they have to be relatable for those generations to connect with them. They won’t settle for Ken/Barbie. They need someone they relate to.” Daniel Homrich, principal of Motto MO
Homrich adds, “I know a youth pastor who has over 700 kids coming to his youth group, and he cries at every message. He takes it so sincerely. That’s a form of authentic relationship. They know he cares, and that level of vulnerability is what makes him an influencer. Boomers will often feel uncomfortable with that.”
Boomers—and to some extent GenX—were trained to hide iniquities so they can be okay, Homrich reports. "But Millennials and GenZ have watched House of Cards and they see it unfolding everywhere. Social media gives us unprecedented access and transparency. An illusion of perfection isn’t relatable. Churches [that] figure out how to do that will connect.”
