Remaking the church for Boomers
Here come the baby boomers—and they want something
new at church.
I
found these notes today that are almost 30 years old and thought they’d make
the foundation of a good column. Then I realized that typing them up “as is” is
all I needed to do to make a column. Here’s a “blast from the past” on how to
remake the church for boomers—I wonder how we did?
1. Rock music.
This
is the generation raised on rock music—church must change their musical styles to
reach this new generation—the organ and piano are out, keyboards, guitars and drums
are a in.
2. Upbeat praise songs.
Boomers
won’t put up with hymns and gospel songs from the 1930’s any more and they don’t
want to “sing parts” out of a hymnal—they want peppy upbeat praise songs to be
sung in unison with the lyrics projected by overhead on the front wall of the
church or on a screen.
3. Praise team.
The
old “song leader” is out and a mixed-sex “praise team” is in. Get a good sound
system with multiple mics and let a group lead the choruses.
Get rid of that gigantic wooden pulpit and move around when speaking, or if you
must have some place for your notes get a Plexiglas pulpit or use a music stand.
The “platform” is out, a “stage” is in.
4. Bright lights.
Bring
bright lights into the sanctuary—Boomers hate those old dingy dark sanctuaries—they
want cheery bright lighting and even powerful spotlights on the stage.
5. Help-for-Monday preaching.
Boomers
don’t want to be scolded or embarrassed by a shouting preacher; they expect conversational
tones packed with help-for-Monday sermons that helps
them cope with the stresses of life and succeed in their work.
6.
Fewer hours.
Boomers
are BUSY. You can
no longer expect them to come an hour early for Sunday school, then come back
Sunday night for another second-rate service, then turn around and come yet again
on Wednesday night for prayer meeting. To reach Boomers you’ve got to create a
package where they can get it all in one hour.
7. Fewer rules.
Boomers
refuse to be told what they can and cannot do as members of your church—you’ve got
downplay the “small print” of membership or they will simply take their
business elsewhere.
8. Shopping mall feel.
Churches
need to become more like shopping malls or theaters where boomers visit—churches
must become cheery, airy, spacious gathering places complete with a coffee shop.
9. Success.
This
generation is bent on success and they want sermons that will help them achieve
personal success in their own wok place. They will not put up with negative
sermons and expect you to give them the keys to making their own work and
family life succeed.
10. Excellence.
Boomers
expect excellence in everything—from music to buildings to sermons to programs
for children and teens. They expect your church programs and to be equal to
anything else they’d spend 10% of their weekly income on.
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That’s
what they told us almost 30 years ago.
How’d we do?
So what do you think?
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Keith Drury April 6, 2010