Churches ‘not meeting’ baby-boomers’ needs

Press, 4 August 1987, Page 5

Churches ‘not meeting’ baby-boomers’ needs

An American minister who runs "a church for people who don’t like to go to church” will speak to 70 Christchurch church leaders at a seminar today.

The Rev. Jack Sims, an ordained evangelical minister, believes churches are losing a generation of new members by failing to recognise and meet the needs of 22 to 40-year-olds, “the baby-boom people.” This generation had been exposed to revolutions in sight, sound, and technology, and so was a new breed, said Mr Sims yesterday.

“The Church hasn’t kept up with the changes. Trying to reach the babyboomers with conventional methods is like trying to throw a racing saddle on a cow.” In his talks with Church leaders throughout New Zealand, he hopes to increase their understanding of this generation, and encourage them to make whatever adaptations in style they can. “I’m not suggesting changes in content, just a change in the container. “This can be as simple as being nice to people. I’ve spoken to some babyboomers who’ve gone along to church and felt as if they were at someone else’s family reunion.” Mr Sims’ advice is “do the best you can, and if that isn’t enough, start something new.” In April, last year, in Southern California, he did that himself. He started running a weekly meeting called “Matthew’s Party” — “a church for people who don’t like to go to church.”

“I felt the Church was asking a lot more of people than Jesus was.” Matthew’s Party is an informal gathering where people can talk about

their problems, and hear a message from the Bible. It is held in a restaurant, so a buffet and music accompany the meeting. Mr Sims believes

churches and religious groups which do attract the baby-boomers share some common characteristics. • “They are open to new experiences, teach the Bible with an emphasis on practical Christian living, emphasise relationships, have fewer titles and less formality, understand new family structures, recognise the authority of women, and are actionoriented." Mr Sims’ visit has been organised by Youth with a Mission. They hope his visit will encourage those already experimenting with new structures and models of church life in New Zealand. Mr Sims also works as a marketing consultant. He is very critical of television evangelism.