It is the same thing with adding ANY new members. New people will change a congregation, in ways that are unpredictable. What people really want often is for new people to come in and fit in to the congregation as it exists. This is self-defeating.

Why must belonging lead to believing? People may work together from differing motives.

Yes, we are tribal, and define our tribes by common traits -- beliefs, dialects, etc. But this is a pluralistic age with no dominant world-view. Perhaps church members who work with others for the good of the community will find themselves following less dogmatic views.

It's the same with work groups, families, volunteer organizations. New young people change things. In nearly all ways, they change things for the better. One of the best ways is in challenging those of us who are already here to tell the story and make it live again.

Actually, I found the complete opposite to be true. Folks my age that have been coming in during the past 3-4 years really want to be a part of the parish. They come from different Christian backgrounds looking for more traditional means of worship. They are hungry to participate in the life of the church, planning committees, altar and liturgical guilds, the works. They want to be a part of what's already there, not to flip it on its head. I see more clergy do attempt to do that than any young person my age...

I think the key word here is "open-minded." I have only just started reading Diana Butler Bass's new book "Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening", but the bottom line is that the Church had better start paying a lot more attention to the folks like those in the book group, because they are the future of Christianity. Many of them may in fact be attracted to traditional means of worship, but what they will not put up with is a community that is more concerned with institutional maintenance and correct belief than with "trying to live out the love of God in practical, relevant, inclusive, and healing ways" (Butler Bass's words).

With all due respect, that sounds very New Age, and I think one of the most amusing things is seeing articles such as this that attempt to bottle young people into a category. How many have ever truly talked to those 20-30 years old? Has anyone here ever asked them what they believed? I'll tell you what, not even my own priests have. Not even my young adult priest. I guess they are afraid of my answers.

Personally, speaking as a 30-year-old myself, the important thing is to experience God; and as such, I'm especially drawn to the idea of theosis, and to prayer, worship, the sacraments, and yes, belief, as roads to that. I also think one of the biggest problems with American Christianity is the tendency to reduce it to only a few traits, when I'd rather see the church express more of the fullness of what the faith is capable of.

- Alex Scott

It's another article that grossly stereotypes. I just don't think any group, young people or others, are monolithic. Therefore, responding to the stereotyping is dangerous. It threatens to be divisive without even serving the supposed cause. Listening is always good. But if people are coming because they are having a great experience engaging in the Mystery, then you're going to change because ... why?

Cynthia, I think some author's true hidden purpose behind articles such as this is to spark a response. On the article itself is 40+ comments. I admit that I sometimes bite on these kinds of things. People need to learn, if they don't already know, that no group is monolithic, so I absolutely agree with you.

My favorite paragraph in the story is this one:
Welcoming young adults that fit the perfect church visitor mold is easy. You know the type church members long for: some magical newcomer who was raised in a perfect household, is married (not divorced), has a few kids, enjoys his well-paying job, and, of course, has orthodox unquestioning beliefs. Fewer and fewer young adults fit this image (if anyone ever did). To welcome young adults these days churches need to welcome the atheist, the single mom, the tattooed, the unemployed, and yes (of course!) even the same-sex couple.

While I think that, theologically, our church does a fairly good job of welcoming everyone, it only takes one or two disapproving looks or whispered conversations to propel folks who don't fit the mold out the door.

Do we welcome the single, tattooed young adult in jeans as warmly and enthusiastically as we welcome the well-dressed young couple with perfectly groomed children? If so, great! If not, why not? And, as I noted before, all it takes is one or two people looking disapprovingly at a newcomer to have them never come back.

I think the question should be uppermost in our minds each and ever day--How do we welcome and embrace ALL newcomers and welcome and embrace both the subtle and obvious changes that they will bring?

My experience is that we are better at welcoming newcomers than in serving them. Specifically, many parishes are happy to see new faces and will quickly try to pull people in to serve on committees, etc. But there's often a different level of access to clergy and other resources for those who have not been around for a long time. Indeed, some parishes will even quip about "making the A list." In short, as an organization, we tend to pull in resources as quickly as we lay hands on them, but we can be really bad about giving back. This conclusion has been supported by a number of studies, which state that perceived failures of pastoral care are one of the single biggest reasons people leave organized religion. That seems, too, to be one of the unfortunate outcomes of today's environment--clergy often spend little time getting to know their parishioners, but instead become the official "happy face" of the parish. Smile, shake hands, and on to the next....

Eric Bonetti

I do not entirely agree that adding new young adults to any congragation will totally change things. The church does need to become more open, these young adults seem to want an advanced form of Spiritiality, they want to see it! To experience it! To incorporate it! Most people I see at church now days exprience God in their hearts as more personal, individualistic, private. So yes, to merge these 2 is a big change! But a beautiful one. Taken in steps, involving the community, extending this outwards,and helping others will bring the church back to what it once was, more prophetic, even mystical.

[Editor's note: Thanks for the comment. Please sign your name next time.]

Diane Carter (added by ed.)

As a 21-year-old, I started attending church again after a three-year hiatus. One of the things I value is actually being given a little space, and not aggressively "welcomed" into a community. I'm a college student, and participate in some of our chaplaincy's programs as well; what I'm looking for when I go to church is a place to worship. I suspect in a year, once I've graduated, the situation will be different once again and I'll be looking for more community.

But please, above all, no special pizzazz or attempts to "be cool" or "get down to our level." Treat a 20-year-old like you'd treat a 40-year-old rather than a 15-year-old—that is to say, as a fellow adult—and you're instantly doing better than most people.

Dear A Facebook User - thanks for commenting - please sign your name next time.