THE CHURCH :THE CHURCH


THE CHURCH FROM BELOW :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 2 THE CHURCH FROM BELOW The Church is a natural community It fulfills many socialization needs There is recognizable fellowship in the Church There is a sense of community which is foundational (not a luxury, but a necessity)


THE CHURCH FROM BELOW :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 3 THE CHURCH FROM BELOW The Church is a political community There are socially ordered relationships and patterns of authority and decision-making It is not a question of whether politics will exist in the Church; rather, it is only a question of the quality of the politics “Ol’ Boy” networks often are alive and well. This is not entirely negative, but can have some negative considerations There are positive considerations as well


SENIORS :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 4 SENIORS Birth Years: before 1926 Formative Factors World War I Great Depression Serious about faith, close relationship with God Appreciate stability Close family ties Rooted in community Generation least affected by stress Actively engaged in church, volunteer activities Part of the “Greatest Generation”


BUILDERS :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 5 BUILDERS Birth Years: 1927-1945 Formative Factors Great Depression World War II Cold War Appreciate stability Family, Community, Friends, Employment Not open to change- prefer predictability Emphasis on Duty, Obligation Part of the “Greatest Generation” Satisfaction found in “simple things”


BOOMERS :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 6 BOOMERS Birth Years: 1946-1964 Formative Factors Cold War 60s: Counter-Cultural Movement Vietnam Question authority (the establishment) Uncertain of the relevance of the church Curious mixture of laissez faire and utilitarianism Search for Excellence in all of life


BUSTERS :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 7 BUSTERS Birth Years: 1965-1983 Formative Factors: Watergate Vietnam Syndrome Inflation, Unemployment Age of “limitations” Question authority (Boomers are Establishment now!) First generation not to “have it better” Interested in process of growth, embrace change Disenchanted with “superficial stuff”- even in church! Interested in relationships, involvement Want options, not directions Feel abandoned, are disillusioned


MOSAICS/MILLENNIALS :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 8 MOSAICS/MILLENNIALS Birth Years: 1984-2002 Formative Factors End of Cold War MTV Age/Clinton Presidency Desert Storm The Digital Generation (non-linear thinking) High Levels of Stress/Anxiety Self-Reliant- and Skeptical! Interest in “spirituality” Believe in the Bible- but not in absolute truth! Brighter than previous generations (IQ) Relationships more important than achievement


GENERATIONAL VALUE SYSTEMS :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 9 GENERATIONAL VALUE SYSTEMS Key Factors in Generational Identity, per Strauss and Howe, The Fourth Turning, An American Prophecy A Common Location in History Common Beliefs Perceived Membership in a common generation


GENERATIONAL VALUE SYSTEMS :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 10 GENERATIONAL VALUE SYSTEMS “The major generational watershed, as far as religious beliefs and practices are concerned, is between those who in our research we call Pre-boomers (born prior to 1946) and those who have come after. Although Boomers (born 1946-1964) and Xers (born 1965-1979) differ in some respects, they are much more like each other than like Pre-boomers.” Jackson Caroll, Circuit Rider, 22:5


GENERATIONAL VALUE SYSTEMS :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 11 GENERATIONAL VALUE SYSTEMS G.I. Generation Value Cohort (pre-1946) Consumer Generation Value Cohort (post 1946) Deferred Pleasure vs. Instant Gratification Group vs. Individual Orientation Assumptions of Sameness vs. Difference Spirituality of Place vs. Spirituality of Pilgrimage Results: Bimodal Congregations, Gil Rendle, The Multigenerational Congregation


CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 12 CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS Currently, 75% of Americans are Caucasian By 2050, only 50% of Americans will be Caucasian The Hispanic population has overtaken African-Americans as the largest “minority” population In some areas of the country (e.g., parts of California), there is no longer a majority population Racial and Ethnic diversity- a fact of life 15-20% of population moves every year


CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 13 CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS


CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 14 CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS Contemporary American Beliefs: God helps those who help themselves, 81% All religions teach equally valid truths, 40% All people pray to the same G/god, 53% If you do enough good, you will go to heaven, 55% Jesus was not resurrected physically, 40% The Bible is not completely true in all it teaches, 34% The primary purpose of life is enjoyment, 58% Satan is not real, only a symbol of evil, 60% Whatever works is the only truth you can know, 32%>


THE CHURCH FROM BELOW :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 15 THE CHURCH FROM BELOW A community of common language: meanings, priorities, and values. This becomes conventional for the “In-Group” A community of Interpretation: Common meanings The difficulty of translation A community of memory and understanding: Characterized by an inner continuity and empathy among persons who have understood and relived the same events. It has a shared story.


THE CHURCH FROM BELOW :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 16 THE CHURCH FROM BELOW The Church is a community of action and belief: it espouses a mission or a purpose which can be expressed in many forms of action Evangelism Education Edification Worship


THE CHURCH FROM BELOW :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 17 THE CHURCH FROM BELOW A sociological description of church: the church is a body of persons who share some measure of common life, values, meaning, and loyalty. It has an historical continuity, identifiable by certain beliefs, ways of work, rites, outlooks, and feelings. It may be more; But it is at least the above.


THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 18 THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD The First Church: Orthodox Churches, the Roman Catholic Church; Protestant churches in Eastern Europe, Greece, Middle East, Ethiopia, South India The culture tolerates Christianity at best; in some instances, governments are openly antagonistic There is a certain reliance on the spiritual legacy of what has gone before. In some instances, this substitutes for vital Christianity There are examples (e.g., Poland, Russia) of a renewal of traditional Christian churches.


THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 19 THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD The Second Church: Western Europe, USA, Canada, Australia The “second church” is undergoing a time of serious crisis Malaise and apathy Ground for renewal (Pentecostalism, evangelical churches) The effect of materialism Breakdown in commitment Yet, a renewed interest in spirituality among young people


THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 20 THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD The Third Church: Central and South America, Africa, Asia A developing church, characterized by youth and activity In the stage of “early” commitment A simplicity and integrity to it A church of the poor Many forms of lay leadership prominent New relationships with the “second church” Legacy of Liberation Theology remains Pentecostalism is quite prominent


THE CHURCH & CULTURE :12/22/2008 Church and Sacraments 1 21 THE CHURCH & CULTURE Christ Against Culture Christ opposed to culture, either-or (Tertullian) The Christ of Culture Agreement, guiding civilization (Lib. Protestants) Christ Above Culture Synthetic (Aquinas)- affirming, transcending Christ and Culture in Paradox Duality, both obeyed (Luther) Christ Transforming Culture Antithesis, yes, but Christ converts men and cultures (Calvin)


THE CHURCH :THE CHURCH