Carol Howard Merritt, Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation. Alban Institute, 2007.
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- Sequel: Merritt, Reframing Hope
- Referenced in: Generational Issues in Churches
- See also: Church Conflict – Guides to Communication and Healthy Behavior
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
Carol Howard Merritt is a thirty-something Presbyterian minister. She also participates in the “presbymergent” conversation that generates dialogue among Presbyterians about reaching the younger generations. Her focus is building intergenerational communities. Readers will also be interested in the sequel to this volume, Reframing Hope: Vital Ministry in a New Millennium (2010).
Merritt suggests there is hope for established churches to reach the 20- and 30-somethings, because many of them prefer the context of small to mid-sized traditional churches. Yet these churches will have to become very intentional and make significant changes. They must address the gap between high-school graduation and “young-married with kids,” which causes millennials to be in a “no-man’s land” in traditional churches. She offers six pathways for this to happen: intergenerational relationships, economic understanding, unambiguous inclusion, affirming traditions, shared leadership and spiritual guidance.
She describes them as a “tribal” generation. Tribes address the deep needs of their members, and tribal churches must give attention to the younger generation’s well-being. They do not wish to be a church’s project, or a categorized group. They are looking for meaningful connections, spiritual depth, living tradition, and reflective worship. She conveys the deep yearning in the hearts of many of the nomadic, urban “tribal” generation:
“When a young person walks into a church, it’s a significant moment, because no-one expects her to go and nothing pressures her to attend; instead, she enters the church looking for something. She searches for connection in her displacement: connection with God through spiritual practices, connection with her neighbours through an inter-generational community, and connection with the world through social justice outreach.”
The younger generation actually laments the inter-generational divisions and long for dialogue.
“As young Christians approach religion, we know that Christianity is true; yet, we also have the humble sense that our infinite God could never be contained in our limited creeds or our most voluminous theological libraries. We sense that God reveals Godself through other cultures and other systems of thought…Throughout these discussions [interfaith dialogue], we realize that we may have one brilliant perspective on God, but divine character is much more varied than we can imagine, and so while we may have a glimpse of who God is, we know we cannot behold the face of God, and we can humbly admit that others may have a worthy perspective that broadens our own.” (66-67)
Not everyone will be comfortable with the degree of interfaith openness and other forms of inclusiveness she suggests, but her suggestions on creating understanding are very helpful. An example is her discussion on the economic situation millennials face. These young adults are “worried and consumed thinking about money.” They often work more than one job, have no health insurance, face increasing college costs, yet pay rent that has increased by 50 percent. 57 percent of men and 47 percent of women ages 18-24 are living with parents, are marrying later and having children later, waiting until age 25 to have their first child vs. 21 in the 1970s.
Merritt conveys a helpful pragmatic tone, insisting that churches that are serious about reaching millennials will probably adjust their worship style, but not necessarily become contemporary. Churches have also been successful with more contemplative models such as Taize and other approaches that embrace mystery and spiritual tradition.
This book is full of excellent suggestions and study questions. I highly recommend it to all churches who are serious about reaching millennials, regardless of their “stripe.”
From the Publisher
2008 Award of Merit from Religion Communicators Council Christian Century’s Top Ten Practical Theology Books of 2008
Many churches are seeking ways to reach out to the younger generations. Unfortunately this often manifests as either a “come be just like us!” attitude—suggesting an unwillingness to change in order to be inclusive of young people—or as a slick marketing campaign that targets young adults in much the same way secular advertising does. Both of these approaches often leave young adults feeling that their particular spiritual gifts and needs are unwanted by the church. “We only want you for your demographics” is the message given.
Carol Howard Merritt, a pastor in her mid-thirties, suggests a different way for churches to be able to approach young adults on their own terms. Outlining the financial, social, and familial situations that affect many young adults today, she describes how churches can provide a safe, supportive place for young adults to nurture relationships and foster spiritual growth. There are few places left in society that allow for real intergenerational connections to be made, yet these connections are vital for any church that seeks to reflect the fullness of the body of Christ.
Using the metaphor of a tribe to describe the close bonds that form when people of all ages decide to walk together on their spiritual journeys, Merritt casts a vision of the church that embraces the gifts of all members while reaching out to those who might otherwise feel unwelcome or unneeded. Mainline churches have much to offer young adults, as well as much to learn from them. By breaking down artificial age barriers and building up intentional relationships, congregations can provide a space for all people to connect with God, each other, and the world.
About the Author
Carol Howard Merritt has served as a pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Abbeville, Louisiana, and Barrington Presbyterian Church in Barrington, Rhode Island. She is currently a pastor at Western Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.
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