ARE WE A PEOPLE AT HALF TIME? - Leadership Network

“Make Room
for the Boomers”
by Kevin Martin
or some time now, I have been pre-
that there is a time bomb tick-
Fdicting
ing away for the Episcopal Church. This
time bomb is the emerging influence of
Boomers on congregational structure.
Normally, the “bell-curve” for the age
of congregational leaders is between 45
and 55 years of age. This is also the bellcurve
for most decision makers in our
society. This means that Boomers are
now taking over the decision-making
processes of many of our churches. As
they do, they will change the way we currently
do business. Here are some of the
trends we can expect when Boomers are
the decision makers:
✔ They will evaluate clergy based on
their visionary leadership, ability to
be vulnerable, and willingness to
trust lay leaders as co-equal peers.
✔ They will place less emphasis on theological
degrees, tenure, titles, or loyalty
to the denomination when they
evaluate clergy.
✔ They will measure the value of
denominational structures by their
ability to service the needs of local
leaders, asking “what does the
Diocese do for us”
✔ They will initiate procedures and policies
that are based on participatory
democracy rather than representative
democracy.
✔ They will require that decision-making
be moved to the lowest level in
congregational life.
✔ They will demand high levels of competency
in leaders and staff.
✔ They will not defer to tenure in a congregation
as a key to electing leaders.
✔ They will implement new ways of
funding churches including fee-based
services, direct checking access for
payment of pledges, and bonds for
funding buildings.
✔ They will demand high quality preaching
that is biblically based, educational,
and practical. They will expect all
these ingredients to be present in all
sermons.
✔ They will expect high quality music
with multiple instruments and an
excellent sound system.
✔ They will value innovation and add on
value even when things are going
well.
✔ They will not accept the past as the
most important dynamic for determining
policy.
✔ They will not see membership in a
church as a worthwhile destination.
✔ They will value experiential and intergenerational
activities and worship.
✔ They will DEMAND that the church
be a safe place for children and that
professional child care be provided
for all church activities.
✔ They will expect that nurseries and
classrooms be clean and attractive.
✔ They will expect that adequate and
large rest room facilities be present.
✔ They will demand that children have
a place in worship.
✔ They will be offended if women do not
have access to all levels of leadership
roles.
To measure the increasing influence of
Boomers in your congregation, make a
list of leaders and count the number
between 35 and 50 years of age.
Churches with 50% of leaders in this age
range are now facing, or will shortly face,
pressure for change.
Kevin Martin is Canon of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas
(512-478-0580).This article was used with permission
from the Diocese and originally appeared in its publication,
Mission, Vol.1, No.3.
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