Every generation seems to have its own personality and spin on the qualities they find most important. While people of faith in general may value love, joy, kindness, and goodness, how those characteristics manifest in behavior may vary among different age groups. 

Your church is likely concerned with the growing number of young adults leaving the church. According to many studies, people in Generation Z are less likely to affiliate themselves with a religion than any other generation before them. If your church wants to not only attract but also keep members of this generation, it’s important to understand the unique way their values play out in their everyday lives.

Merge the Secular and the Sacred

More than any other generation, Gen Z values authenticity. Rather than sit in the uncomfortable contrast between their lives at church and their lives in the world, they’ll simply leave the parts that don’t fit behind. This is likely one of the key factors in this group’s mass exodus from the religions they were raised in. They were taught to be in the world, but not of the world. The more being holy and set apart separates them from being in the world, the less interested they are likely to be in a church that requires them to leave their reality behind to fit in.

Instead of creating an “us vs. them” dynamic, it is in your church’s best interest to fully embrace the first part of the directive: be in the world. In fact, the church should be at the forefront of seeing those who are hurt and flocking to meet their needs. The specific needs your church addresses may depend on where you live, but there are several ways to ensure that your congregation remains a relevant force for good in the modern world:

• Displaying your commitment to acceptance and inclusion for LGBTQIA+ individuals and relationships, both in written materials and in practice
• Partnering with local food banks and homeless shelters to ensure that everyone in your city has what they need to live
• Speaking out against harmful legislation that targets specific groups, such as trans youth or those seeking reproductive medical care

Leave Room for Doubt

It’s tempting to want to give people who are searching for meaning an easy answer. Many churches will encourage their members to just believe and let God take care of the rest. This may give some people comfort at certain times, especially if they are overwhelmed by their circumstances and just need a soft place to land. 

In general, though, life is more complicated than that, and Generation Z is unlikely to pretend otherwise. Even if simple answers are initially attractive, they need more honesty and more substance if they are going to stick around. Your church needs to be a safe place for both belief and doubt, where they are free to get angry at God and the church, question everything, and still be loved and accepted throughout the process.

Generation Z has grown up in a world where it has always been complicated to discern the right path to take. If your church cannot make room for members who are going through these growing pains, it is more likely to end up losing those members to another faith community that understands that doubt is an inevitable part of the process.

You don’t need a new ad campaign or a pithy slogan to attract Gen Z members. Instead, let your actions speak for you. Show that you genuinely love people and care about the issues that concern them and their lives, and you’ll be amazed at how eager this generation is to join you.