new church life: jan uary / february 201 4
especially about women in the ministry and homosexuality, came up often in
the survey. This comment by one young adult represents what many others
were saying: “I [would be] more likely to be involved in church activities
if…women were equally involved in leadership and people of all sexual
orientations, genders, classes, races, etc., were welcomed as humans with
beautiful variety and gifts to give.”
I am not going to talk about policy or theology; I want to focus on the
mindset and the way General Church members talk about these topics. There
were young people who took the survey and said they see the Church as
hating homosexuals, and as being sexist
against women. From my experience,
neither of these is true of what General
Church people think, and certainly are not
what the Writings teach. So what I think is
so important to focus on is talking about
homosexuals without contempt, and being
clear that we do not condemn them to
hell, and on being willing to listen to and
participate in discussion about the sexes.
David Kinnaman got similar feedback
in his survey and I appreciated the way he
approached this issue: “Are we openly and
honestly talking about sexual issues in our
churches? Or are we hiding behind religious
pretenses, pushing people away who have
deep hurts and needs?”
If we can be open and talk about why
we do or don’t support these issues, that could go a long way toward having a
community where we understand and respect each other.
Invitation: 75% of the survey takers said they would be energized about
being involved in church activities. But many young adults also said they are
rarely asked to be involved and that they don’t feel that their ideas and personal
experiences are being valued by the Church.
Some commenters felt they were only being asked to be involved “to fill a
quota.” Young people said they really want to be personally invited to be part
of an event or service because of talents they have. They want the inviter to care
about them, and to want their perspective.
One young adult said: “I want to be welcome to bring some of myself to
the activity and not just fill a dictated slot.”
A big part of young people leaving is that they do not feel necessary to the
Church; the older people are more involved, wiser and wealthier, so there is
People in the Church
being judgmental
or discriminatory,
especially about
women in the
ministry and
homosexuality,
came up often
in the survey.
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