A Sea of Grey!

Last week when writing about ‘liturgy’, I referenced the church visits I made over the last two years to 18 quite different kinds of churches around NZ but mostly in the greater Waikato Region. In this weeks blog I would like to write about another observation that became quite quickly apparent, namely the average age of attenders at the Sunday morning service(s).

Let me cut to the chase. My guess is that in most of the ECP¹ churches, the average age of those in attendance on the morning of my visit was over 50, maybe even well over 50. Now I know that folks as young as 30 – 35 can and do have grey hair but a careful look reveals that there are a lot of people present in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s……a lot. Especially where churches have an early (first) service where almost everyone in attendance is over 65.

So, my first point in saying this is simply, do you know the average age of your church? I maintain knowing this can be very interesting and hopefully very useful as well, certainly instructive. If you were to list everyone who calls your church home and estimate their age, divide by the number on the list what would that figure be²?

I am 66 now……sshhee that’s a BIG number isn’t it? I don’t feel 66. I feel 46. How come those extra 20 years have sneaked up on me?......Get Thee behind me……You older readers know exactly what I mean. I think that’s what has happened in many ECP churches. Age has crept up on us. Not to say anything about the fact that the average age of our senior/sole pastors in ECP churches in NZ must be well over 50 now. My guess is nearer 60³. So many of us just don’t see the ‘greying of the church’ clearly anymore.

Of course we need our churches to accommodate older people for sure. That’s a given. And beside there should be no hint of ageism in the church.

Of course it’s OK to be the lead Pastor at 60, 65 or even 70 but is that the best for the church long term?

Of course 60 year old pastors can and should still have a significant role in the life of a local church if they want that. There is so much experience and wisdom that comes with having lived a few years.

But

It is my view that most ECP churches need to be much more intentional about making the church younger. Here are a few closing thoughts.

• Invest much more of your resources in Family related ministries. That’s the most obvious response but it seems hard to do.
• Develop a Family mentoring/discipleship programme where young families are connected to older couples.
• Create an age appropriate leadership development ministry for teens and young adults from as early as the pre-teen age group.
• Invite young adults to the decision making table and when you do please listen very carefully to them.
• Once a year have a ‘soap box Sunday’ where a selection of the teens and young adults are given permission to stand on a soap box and say it loud and say it clear with ‘no right of reply’ from the Pastor other than an acknowledgement that he/she is listening and we need to talk more. Note. I recommend talks be vetted not for the message but for the way it will be expressed.
• Maybe denominations could consider a strategy to ‘youthify’ the pastorate?
• What other ideas do you have?

So Pastor if you are grey on top, rejoice in that fact and then get to work and love the kids.

Blessings

Alan

¹ ECP is short for Evangelical, Charismatic and Pentecostal. In traditional churches the average age is typically over 65, though exceptions always exist.

² I recommend to do this exercise that includes all the children and teenagers and a separate calculation for the 18 year olds and up. While you are at it why not figure out your ‘median age’ as well?

³ This is by observation. As far as I am aware we don’t have any hard data in NZ.

I am always glad to hear from readers. Write to me at alan.vink@leadershipworx.org.nz

Christmas Inspiration

Quote: “Christmas is based on an exchange of gifts, the gift of God to man – His unspeakable gift of His Son, and the gift of man to God – when we present our bodies a living sacrifice”. Vance Havner

Song: Lauren Daigle singing ‘Noel’ 16m views.

Announcement

Raising Resilient Kids with Kathryn Berkett M.Ed.Psyc. in Hamilton and Cambridge on 27th and 28th November. Click here for details. Everyone is welcome.

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.