Hello dear readers.
I looked at the Winter 2008 issue of Interconnections today and the front page article is about growth through youth programs. So friends, I'm going to go into rant mode again.
Growth happens through ADULT PROGRAMMING, not Youth programs.
I know that there must be somebody out there who reads the studies on church growth. I know there is somebody out there who knows that the growth happens when there is substantive programs for adults (whether they have youth to bring or not).
I know that there has to be somebody out in UU-land who knows that all of this talk of children/youth and family programs leaves out those who are NEITHER. Where is the programming for them?
Singles ministry anyone? How about elder ministry? Empty-nesters? Partnered with no children? Don't these people exist in our churches? Where is the outreach to them?
Alright.....rant's over. Talk amongst yourselves.
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3 comments:
For what it's worth, I think you're setting up a false dilemma here.
A church with strong youth programs and strong intergenerational programs can also have strong adult programs.
Offering youth programs (which do a lot to keep parents and other family members attending churches) is something that can happen in cooperation with adult programs.
I would want to see more depth in adult programming for adults but the reality in many UU congregations is that most adults don't want anything beyond Sunday morning worship. For most adults, this is all the RE program they ever want.
A good example is the response to the UU sexuality education program know as "Our Whole Lives" that I've seen as a curriculum trainer for OWL.
It's very common for UU churches to offer this as a youth program.
Very few churches offer the adult OWL program.
The prevailing adult attitude is that adults don't see themselves as needing adult RE programs.
I agree with you on some points and disagree on others. Same with previous comment.
I agree with you that adult programming is a vital way to encourage church growth. Many people I know (including myself) have entered UU churches through small group ministry, and having diverse program options for newcomers is a great way to attract new members (the two churches I have belonged to have grown both in adult programming and membership in the past few years. I don't know if anyone has looked at cause-effect here. But regardless, small group ministry, caring community ministry, and great adult programs make for a much richer and full church life. I know my UU experience is limited to 2 churches, but in my experience most members are interested in at least some adult programming or connection to the church beyond sunday worship--especially if the offerings are good.)
On the other hand, I believe that youth are a vital part of our congregations, and many parents and families do come to church specifically for the kids...then later find they are also coming for themselves. I also think that children and youth are everyone's interest, and should be included as a central part of the community.
Personally, I think we need more intergenerational programming, more youth programs, AND more adult programs. It's not an either/or situation.
I think I had to do this the last time too, but I'm grateful that it has been pointed out to me.
Let me state for the record that I am not against youth programs.
In terms of GROWTH however, most of the studies have shown that whatever one thinks about the importance of youth and youth programs, you don't grow a church through youth programs. Churches are grown through adults and adult programming.
I am arguing that UUs are on a docked ship as long as they try to grow through youth programs. It ain't gonna happen.
So yes, it is true that many adults come to/come back to church because of their children. Those churches do no grow unless there is an adult education/enrichment program that keeps them there. That's why so many UU churches have huge church schools but are losing adult population; too much focus on the kiddies.
That's what my rant was about.
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