Comments on: For 1 of 4 Millennials The Old Time Religion is Not for Me http://millennialmarketing.com/2010/02/millennials-the-old-time-religion-is-not-for-me/ Marketing to Millennials Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:52:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Millennials: The Book | Millennial Marketing http://millennialmarketing.com/2010/02/millennials-the-old-time-religion-is-not-for-me/comment-page-1/#comment-1529 Millennials: The Book | Millennial Marketing Tue, 16 Nov 2010 06:38:50 +0000 http://millennialmarketing.com/?p=1508#comment-1529 [...] “For one of four Millennials, the Old Time Religion is Not for Me” (Feb 19, 2010) [...] [...] “For one of four Millennials, the Old Time Religion is Not for Me” (Feb 19, 2010) [...]

]]> By: XY&B » Blog Archive » Selling God to Millennials http://millennialmarketing.com/2010/02/millennials-the-old-time-religion-is-not-for-me/comment-page-1/#comment-1486 XY&B » Blog Archive » Selling God to Millennials Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:02:31 +0000 http://millennialmarketing.com/?p=1508#comment-1486 [...] http://pewforum.org/Age/Religion-Among-the-Millennials.aspx http://millennialmarketing.com/2010/02/millennials-the-old-time-religion-is-not-for-me/ [...] [...] http://pewforum.org/Age/Religion-Among-the-Millennials.aspx http://millennialmarketing.com/2010/02/millennials-the-old-time-religion-is-not-for-me/ [...]

]]> By: Sam Davidson http://millennialmarketing.com/2010/02/millennials-the-old-time-religion-is-not-for-me/comment-page-1/#comment-882 Sam Davidson Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:56:19 +0000 http://millennialmarketing.com/?p=1508#comment-882 I don't see churches embracing this challenge - at least not wholesale. A few reasons why:<br>1) Young people don't write big checks for the collection plate. Much like many nonprofits, churches don't have in place a mechanism for understanding why cultivating supporters and donors early matters in the long run.<br>2) A misunderstanding of the kind of programming young people want. Rock music and free pizza and late start times for worship services? Hardly.<br>3) An overall strategic failure to see how "fringe" events can connect a millennial with the whole. Young people want to volunteer. A church could organize a Habitat build. Sure, it's not related to the day-to-day stuff of the church, but the organization is providing a needed outlet for young people. Connect the dots!<br><br>My background (both personally and consulting) has been helping larger, conservative institutions design programs for young people. In the nonprofit sector, I've helped small-to-mid-sized orgs do the same (budgets of under $1MM). <br><br>I've enjoyed this chat. Hope to see more like this in the future. I don't see churches embracing this challenge – at least not wholesale. A few reasons why:
1) Young people don't write big checks for the collection plate. Much like many nonprofits, churches don't have in place a mechanism for understanding why cultivating supporters and donors early matters in the long run.
2) A misunderstanding of the kind of programming young people want. Rock music and free pizza and late start times for worship services? Hardly.
3) An overall strategic failure to see how “fringe” events can connect a millennial with the whole. Young people want to volunteer. A church could organize a Habitat build. Sure, it's not related to the day-to-day stuff of the church, but the organization is providing a needed outlet for young people. Connect the dots!

My background (both personally and consulting) has been helping larger, conservative institutions design programs for young people. In the nonprofit sector, I've helped small-to-mid-sized orgs do the same (budgets of under $1MM).

I've enjoyed this chat. Hope to see more like this in the future.

]]> By: Carol Phillips http://millennialmarketing.com/2010/02/millennials-the-old-time-religion-is-not-for-me/comment-page-1/#comment-878 Carol Phillips Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:07:13 +0000 http://millennialmarketing.com/?p=1508#comment-878 Sam:<br><br>It sounds as if the churches are failing to recognize that Gen Y has other outlets for its spirituality. In order to 'compete' effectively, they will need to improve their 'value proposition' with more diversity, more engagement, and better reasons to invest their time and energy in church/synagogue related activities over secular non-profits. I know it seems weird to cast this as a marketing problem, but that is a lens that makes sense to me. Do you think churches can rise to the occasion? Do you see any that have done so effectively? Sam:

It sounds as if the churches are failing to recognize that Gen Y has other outlets for its spirituality. In order to 'compete' effectively, they will need to improve their 'value proposition' with more diversity, more engagement, and better reasons to invest their time and energy in church/synagogue related activities over secular non-profits. I know it seems weird to cast this as a marketing problem, but that is a lens that makes sense to me. Do you think churches can rise to the occasion? Do you see any that have done so effectively?

]]> By: Sam Davidson http://millennialmarketing.com/2010/02/millennials-the-old-time-religion-is-not-for-me/comment-page-1/#comment-876 Sam Davidson Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:58:22 +0000 http://millennialmarketing.com/?p=1508#comment-876 I've thought about this a lot, especially as a Gen Y'er who was at one time studying to be a pastor. Now, I don't go to "church" (as defined by a local congregation that is part of a larger, historic denominational organization). For me - and perhaps lots of Gen Y'ers - I think some of the reasoning is:<br><br>- Distrust of institutions. Along with giant corporations, how/why should I trust religious teaching to come from a highly structured organization?<br>- Lack of diversity. Many churches are highly homogenized (Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America) in terms of race and gender (in leadership). My diverse, integrated-school self finds that perplexing.<br>- Other outlets of making a difference. The church was once THE place to make a difference, feed the homeless, etc. Now, nonprofits and even companies can provide that for me.<br>- Changing social dynamics. Why do I need church to help me meet people? The church is no longer my "third place." Starbucks is. Or Facebook. Or both.<br><br>I'd love to dialog more about this. I've thought about this a lot, especially as a Gen Y'er who was at one time studying to be a pastor. Now, I don't go to “church” (as defined by a local congregation that is part of a larger, historic denominational organization). For me – and perhaps lots of Gen Y'ers – I think some of the reasoning is:

- Distrust of institutions. Along with giant corporations, how/why should I trust religious teaching to come from a highly structured organization?
- Lack of diversity. Many churches are highly homogenized (Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America) in terms of race and gender (in leadership). My diverse, integrated-school self finds that perplexing.
- Other outlets of making a difference. The church was once THE place to make a difference, feed the homeless, etc. Now, nonprofits and even companies can provide that for me.
- Changing social dynamics. Why do I need church to help me meet people? The church is no longer my “third place.” Starbucks is. Or Facebook. Or both.

I'd love to dialog more about this.

]]>