Naomi Schaefer Riley’s recent Wall Street Journal article considers how churches in Charlotte, NC have worked together across denominational lines to create a growing ministry to a demographic most congregations struggle to reach: young adults. Supported by 40 area congregations, Charlotte ONE worship experiences regularly attract capacity crowds of around 600 people. And, like most collaborative Christian endeavors many of the critics are leaders from non-participating area congregations who feel it is merely an exercise in “sheep stealing.”
So What?
Most congregations that spend significant financial and human resources to reach 20- and 30-somethings receive limited return on that investment. While there is considerable agreement about the low rates of weekly worship attendance among this cohort, there is no agreement on the best way or ways to increase participation.
Attractional age-specific ministries or worship services have been around for decades and tend to function within very large churches as mini-churches, as stand alone congregations that are comprised primarily of younger adults, or as collaborative ventures between multiple churches in a denomination or across denominations. Charlotte ONE, an example of the final option, is one of two entities (Phoenix, AZ) in the City ONE Network, which was established in 2011 “with a vision to empower local churches to reach 20-30somethings together.”
If your city launched a City ONE Network community would you encourage your congregation to help support it? Why or why not?