While you're right in saying that an age gap does not automatically create a rift in communication, I think it's the combination of these two aging problems that creates such a rift. I believe older pastors with older congregations get quite comfortable ministering to their grey or blue haired counterparts, but may forget over time how to communicate effectively with a younger crowd. Communication is a skill and if you don't use it, you tend to lose it.

In every Lutheran church I've visited (granted, that's not a statistically relevant sample) you'd have to look hard to find representation for either of those demographics.

I grew up receiving Communion in the pew actually. At the large Baptist church I grew up in, they "passed the plates" much the same way they did for the offering. It wasn't until I joined my first Lutheran church that I experienced coming up to the front for Communion and either standing or kneeling. Personally, I have no preference, as long as the method used for Communion allows the receiver to quiet their heart and prepare themselves for the moment.

I think its somewhat the same with embracing change…. I've seen many a 50+ progressive change oriented pastor over the years. At 30-40, often times its a second career, and they may just be getting their bearings, and/or they long for old traditions, not sure.

Either way, fascinating stats!

I will pray for you and I hope you and your family enjoy this new journey

I agree completely that there are similar debates in other denominations. My next post on this site mentions that the 20-30 year old crowd is largely missing from most churches. Perhaps some of my opinions stem from my location. Here in the southeastern US, other churches seem to be doing a better job of reaching my demographic. I live around the corner from a rather large nondenominational church (that happens to have Baptist roots). When we visit this church, it seems like the 20-30 year old crowd is actually in the majority there. They teach Christ crucified, atonement, grace, forgiveness, peace, love… they teach the Bible. They receive Communion (although not every Sunday). They sing songs of praise. The differences I see are less about theology and more about the packaging.

Some may say that because the message of Christ is timeless, the packaging doesn't matter. But drawing on my mission field experiences, it's clear that even a timeless message needs to be packaged in such a way that the target audience is able to clearly receive it. A missionary needs to translate the message to reach new audiences.

I've heard a lot of talk about how my generation is somehow more "lost" than others, but I have trouble buying this. It seems like some churches just throw their hands up in the air and claim that we're unreachable. I don't believe my generation, on the whole, is rejecting the message of the church. They do, however, seem to be rejecting the packaging of that message. We have to be able to admit that my generation grew up differently. We grew up connected, wired, plugged in. We grew up in a global community connected through keyboards and mice. We grew up with instant access to whatever media we wanted. Good, bad, or ugly… if it was "out there", we could get it. Can we expect to reach a generation like this the same way we we reached this age group 30 years ago?

Your point about worshiping God how God wants is brilliant, and I genuinely appreciate it. This concept does beg another question though: how does God want to be worshiped? Perhaps this is the real debate. Is a traditional Lutheran service closer to the way God wants to be worshiped than the pentecostal service going on across town? We do have examples of worship in the Bible. What does the Bible say about it? Psalm 98 comes to mind… Psalm 47… Psalm 63… Why do I find myself refraining from clapping in a Lutheran church? What am I afraid of?

My point is that much of what I find in the Lutheran church is based more on tradition than actual Biblical example. There's nothing wrong with traditions, but they can get in the way of the message if you let them.

I do sincerely apologize for insulting you or anyone else through my opinions here. I'm not trying to be malicious with my words. I've simply not really found many answers to some of my questions and I'm hoping this site will spark some discussion. And, even in its infancy, it seems that it already has.

I never intended to "explore" other church communities. I was raised Baptist and probably would have stayed Baptist if it hadn't been for my wife. She was raised Lutheran and I realized that she'd never feel at home anywhere else. We compromised by agreeing that we'd join a Lutheran church if we could find one with a contemporary service where I could help lead worship. Even that compromise has been difficult (and that's an understatement).