Church: Why Bother?

August 27, 2023

Rev. Douglas Taylor

Back at the end of spring, a few months ago, I offered a Credo class specifically for young adults on writing a personal statement of beliefs and values. The word Credo is Latin for “I Believe” and is often seen in Unitarian Universalist circles up against the word Creed because we don’t have creeds in our tradition. We instead encourage every member to develop their own Credo.

Granted it was a small sample size, there were six young adults in the class, it struck me that none of them are official members of the congregation and most of them don’t attend on Sunday mornings. But all of them have a connection to the community and have been involved in varying ways over the years. They feel an affinity with Unitarian Universalism and even with this congregation, but that connection does not translate into showing up on Sunday mornings or officially signing the book to join.

I want to emphasize here that I am not trying to present that as a problem. It is simply the reality we are in. It is the way things are. Aside from my anecdotal experience of six people, there is a recent study by the Barna Group on Gen Z with a focus on culture, beliefs and motivation. https://www.slideshare.net/gatotg/generation-zthe-culture-beliefs-and-motivations-shaping-the-next-generation-by-barna Gen Z is generally considered to be any under the age of 25 or 26 at this point. This broad study documents (among other things) the decline of church attendance and the disinterest of Gen Z with organized religion. Interestingly, the study shows a growing disinterest from each earlier generation. This is not too surprising as this has been the trend for some time. Religion is becoming less and less relevant as each new generation comes into adulthood in our country.

All of this is not new. For the past dozen years or so I have been reading articles and attending workshops talking about this decline. And I am not interested in merely issuing a complaint about the young people these days. I can well imagine a multitude of preachers offering exactly that from their pulpits in response to the decline. But I suggest we side step that distraction of fear and blame.

Instead, I am interested in learning from the reality we are in. Why is church attendance not important for so many, and what could we be offering that might be needed? My question is less, ‘how can we convince them or change them?’ and more ‘what can we learn from them? And what do they need?’

Over the years I have preached about the value of congregational life many times. It occurred to me, however, that most of my sermons about the benefits of being part of our congregation focused on exactly that: the benefits. We come together for the acceptance and the challenge. Here we find spiritual nourishment, ethical encouragement, and we get to sing in public. We find friends and create community, we are invited to be of use, to ask deep questions, and to offer our gifts to the world.

That is what I usually sound like when I make that pitch. That’s what we offer and it’s pretty good. Now I want to listen more for ‘what else?’ What else can we be to meet the needs of a new day? Of a new generation?

There is that old story of a company who sold drill bits and when it was time to change the question of mission came up. Is the job to sell drill bits? Or is the job to make holes? The second way to think of it opens us to seeing the true goal beyond just what we currently offer.

Last week during the worship service, I invited people to write two things down on sticky notes which we later put up on the windows in the fireside room. We were talking about how Unitarian Universalism is a ‘progressive religion,’ one that allows and encourages growth. For the sticky note activity, I invited people to think about their beliefs. Then on one note, to write one thing you used to believe but no longer believe. Then on the second note, to write one thing you used to believe and still do. The responses are up on the windows in the Fireside Room still this morning.

During the week as I looked over the responses, I was struck by how many people commented about no longer believing in traditional Christian doctrines such as the Trinity and Hell. A few people commented about not believing in their sinfulness anymore.

I am convinced that one of the reasons for the decline in church attendance in our country is essentially a rejection of the shaming and judging that too often get caught up in traditional Christian doctrine. People are hungering for spiritual nourishment and are too often given wounds instead. Fear and hypocrisy do not draw people in. What we want is authenticity.

And I will start, as I mentioned earlier, with a clear note that there is more than one way to do this. If a group of young adults have a connection with our congregation but don’t show up on Sunday morning for worship – that is not a failure on our part or theirs. It is simply the reality of how things are. For me, I see it as a reminder that many ways into this community. For me, it is a reminder that while Sunday morning is very important, it is not all there is or the only way to be part of what’s going on.

While I was at the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly this summer, there was a very popular workshop hosted by the Community Church of NYC which they titled “Disrupt Church.” Their suggestion focused around the questions “Where and when does church happen?” “How is it structured and who is welcomed in?” Essentially their recommendation was to shift our focus away from the centrality of the Sunday Morning worship experience. Let “church” pop up in unusual times and places. They shared a story of hosting a Christmas Eve service on their front steps at a busy downtown street in NYC.

Or in the example I shared a few minutes ago – it can happen over a series of Tuesday evenings in the late spring as a handful of 20–30-year-olds talk about their beliefs and values together. Or it can happen over a root beer float on a Sunday afternoon during Veggiefest. Or maybe there are a few people who only connect to our community through one of our Small Group Ministries that still meet online by Zoom.

It is my considered opinion that we need three things from a healthy and authentic faith community: Intimacy, Ultimacy, and Agency. This is my answer to the question posed in the drill bits vs holes question. The deeper mission of our congregation is to offer Intimacy, Ultimacy, and Agency.

When I say ‘Intimacy’ I mean we need connections, to be known, to have an authentic experience of community. When I say ‘Ultimacy’ I mean we need to be spiritually nourished, to ask deep questions of meaning and purpose, to have an authentic experience of the holy. And when I say ‘Agency’ I mean we need to be able to make a difference, to be part of something larger and serve needs greater than our own, to have an authentic experience of impact.

Why bother with church? Why bother being part of a congregation such as ours? Intimacy, ultimacy, and agency. To make connections, make meaning, and make a difference.

You may be listening to me and thinking you are really only here for one of those three things. I say, that makes sense. There is an ebb and flow to what we need in our lives. And there are other communities where we find and receive nourishment. But from the perspective of our congregation as a whole, these three aspects are where we put our attention – each individual in our community doesn’t need to be actively involved in all three.

Examples of plans for this year:

Intimacy – we are reviving our Small Group Ministry program using the Soul Matters format

Ultimacy – I will offer Credo class again this fall – and other classes

Agency – next month, we will reenergize our Social Action work

Or maybe it is other ideas: listen to what others are saying, what people are yearning for. Maybe it is a drumming circle or a bible study class. Maybe it is circle suppers or movie nights. It could be community meals or classes on how to can food or creating a garden at the county jail. I’m not suggesting we do anything and everything. I am suggesting instead of looking around at what we already do well, let’s listen for what may be needed and then look for our opportunities to offer that. 

What do people need? Ask yourself what you need. Strike up some conversations with others around here. But more than that, listen to the voices beyond our walls. Check in with some people who are younger than you.

I believe our congregations are places that save lives in creating the kind of community where we can make connections, make meaning, and make a difference. That certainly seems worth the bother to me.

In a world without end

May it be so.