Is the Church Still Relevant to Young People?

Is the church still relevant to young people? This is not a question about attendance or trends; it is a deeper discipleship question.

Are we forming communities that reflect the inclusive, justice-seeking, reconciling love of Christ?

Are we listening to the voices and experiences of younger generations, especially those shaped by racial injustice, cultural shifts, and growing skepticism toward institutions?

Are we willing to be transformed so that the church can faithfully embody the gospel in this moment?

The monthly online Antiracism Discipleship Connective Learning invites us to examine our personal walk with Christ and reflect on the life and witness of the church.

It calls us to honest questions. It invites us to listen deeply. And it challenges us to realign our lives and ministries with the heart of God.

In that spirit, we invite you to join our next Antiracism Discipleship Connective Learning Session on Thursday, April 9, at: 4:00 p.m., PDT, 6:00 p.m., CDT, 7:00 p.m., EDT

This session invites us to listen, learn, and act.

Our commitment to antiracism discipleship calls us beyond conversation into transformation. Young people today are not walking away from faith as much as they are walking away from expressions of the church that feel disconnected from justice, authenticity, and lived compassion.

Our commitment to antiracism discipleship aligns with our ongoing journey through the Antiracism Discipleship Pathway, moving from Seeing to Grounding, Examining, and ultimately Acting and Sustaining. Listening to young people is essential to faithful discipleship and to the future of the church.

We encourage you to engage with the following resources in advance. These articles and videos offer insight into what younger generations are seeking—and why many are stepping away:

• “What Young People Want from the Church,” https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/what-young-people-want-from-the-church-ricky-harrison
• “What Millennials Want When They Visit Church,” https://www.barna.com/research/what-millennials-want-when-they-visit-church/
• “Young People Are Moving Away from Religion,” https://sociology.cornell.edu/news/young-people-are-moving-away-religion-spiritual-understanding-new-generation-changing
• “Choosing Christ Over Culture: The Battle for Young Adults,” https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Choosing+Christ+Over+Culture%3a+The+Battle+for+Young+Adults&&mid=0D8ABD83F8789589010A0D8ABD83F8789589010A&FORM=VRDGAR
• “Secularism and Racism Driving GenZers and Black Millennials Away from Church,” https://www.christianitydaily.com/news/secularism-racism-driving-gen-zers-black-millennials-away-from-church-survey.html

As you reflect, consider:

• What resonates with your experience?
• What challenges your assumptions?
• Where might the Spirit be inviting your church to change?

This is a connective space, shaped by shared wisdom and collective discernment. If you have relevant articles, books, or videos that could enrich our conversation, we warmly invite you to share them with us.

We hope you will join us in this important dialogue. To get the Zoom link and information on how to join, contact Amania Drane at [email protected] or Bener Agtarap at [email protected].