Safe to grow... are Baptist churches excluding young adults?
This article is the second in a series sharing perspectives from young Christians about being young Christians. Nathan McGuire writes of the need for investment in, not indifference to, our young adults - and proposes some ideas
When we think of safety, we tend to think about safeguarding in the broad sense of abuse e.g., Physical, emotional, and mental. However, in thinking about the decline of young adult engagement in Baptist Churches, I wonder if 18–35 year olds feel safe to contribute significantly to the Baptist movement. Or are Baptist communities cultivating disenfranchisement?
In biology, we learn that for a substrate to thrive, it requires the right pH and culture to flourish. The reality is a lot of Baptist churches are organised in such a way that the wellbeing of younger adults does not have the right pH to thrive. Communities are often averse to change which fosters a culture that treats young adult’s voices as the optional extra.
“This is how we have always done it” – the sacred words that are not biblical
Now, I’m rather confident that most Baptist congregations talk of ‘renewal, revival or rejuvenation’. By that we often mean another ‘R’ word baptised in a holy nostalgia – Return. In essence, returning to the former glory days.
One of the significant problems with this ideology, and there are many, is that successive generations approach discipleship seeking to restore a praxis that has been lost, which in embeds thinking which says – the younger ones will have their turn when: they can think like us, we retire or graduate to glory. Young adults and young people effectively become the Spare…
I often think of the dynamic between King Saul and the future heir apparent David in 1 Samuel 16. The relational dynamic was a toxic one. It is no wonder, then, that David had to expend energy to avoid the king’s wrath to survive.
Today, young adults are not playing the harp to avoid physical spears, but certainly must avoid spears of indifference if they wish to belong to the Christian community. What does this say about us as God’s people, if those that wield the responsibility of being visible demonstrations of God’s love are indifferent to the voice of the next generation?
Paul and Timothy, however, present us with a different model: a non-toxic one. Paul invested in Timothy because he valued what God was doing in his life. He saw the gift and took the risk to equip Timothy so that he could significantly contribute to God’s work.
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,
but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in
love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)
The practical
One of the major issues facing young adults is housing. In my context of Southwest London, the average housing price is £840,000 and the average rent for a one-bedroom house-share is £600. Young adults can barely afford the rent, never mind purchasing.
This presents a real problem for mission to and for younger adults. Do we need to rethink how we use our housing stock as a Movement? Erm… Yes! Will we…? I hope so.
If, and this is a big If, we are serious about young adults being at the centre of the Baptist movement, we need to talk about housing, especially in urban contexts. Churches and Associations need to be having more conversations which are led by young adults.
Where is the vision for missional houses / New Monastic communities?
Over the last 10 years, there has been a steady increase in Community Housing Cooperatives popping up all over the UK. Community Housing Cooperatives are developed by a group of individuals who are committed to a local area. They purchase a house (often in disrepair), building, or plot of land and restore and/or develop it together.
While on the surface this is motivated by the need for affordable housing, something more dramatic is going on. Individuals are expressing a commitment to a local area, investing time and energy to see it prosper and flourish equitably among its stakeholders.
What an amazing opportunity for the Baptist movement to add salt to this. Some of our ecumenical brothers and sisters have already caught the wind of the movement.
So, is the Baptist movement truly inclusive of the next generations? If the answer to this question is no, then our movement isn’t safe for young adults. I guess, I then must ask those who have grey, greying and receding hairlines, what are we doing about it? Because the way my hair is currently flourishing, before I know it, I will have to answer the question.
This is part of a short series sharing perspectives from young Christians about being young Christians:
The authors hope to encourage older generations in our churches to understand the challenges and embrace the opportunities of welcoming young adults into community
If you are interested in exploring more about young people in church, they recommend these resources:
Nathan McGuire is 31 years old and is serving as Associate Minister at Streatham Baptist Church. After the loss of his grandfather, Nathan came to faith in Six Form College after friends boldly shared their faith.
Nathan provides consultation on domestic violence prevention as a Trustee for Restored and is a dog father to Jez the Ginger Ninja.
You can read more from Nathan on his blog: thegodlyirritant.com
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Baptist Times, 15/02/2023