Unsplash.com; Austin Distel
There is no simple answer to the question: Are churches fostering a growth in Millennial participation? The topic of reaching young people offers a continuing debate among church leaders and designers. The new consensus suggests that the role of a church is to meet a need, such as creating special programs for young members through Millennials in the 22-37 age range. The passive elements of traditional religion have changed—and design has resulted in younger worshippers lingering at the lobby, communicating through their devices, and embracing a service as a way to develop connections.
Church design experts speak
“The church’s ability to attract Millennials is one of our biggest challenges,” says Derek DeGroot, AIA and director of integrated services for Frankfort, Ill.'s The Aspen Group. “Often, churches are struggling to keep a share of the youth’s calendar because of competition from the digital world.”
Derek DeGroot, AIA, Director of Integrated Services, The Aspen Group, Frankfort, IL
The first clear pattern among churches that are reaching young adults is that a majority don’t see the church as a necessary part of their lives. “Engaged with culture and aware of societal trends, young adults do not take spirituality for granted and are searching for facts to support faith,” says Stacy Cox, president of Studio Four Design Inc. in Knoxville, Tenn.
"Perhaps we need to stop silos of spaces dedicated to youth and incorporate them into the Sunday morning design experience fully.” Derek DeGroot, AIA, Director of Integrated Services, The Aspen Group, Frankfort, IL
Church leaders are asking us how to attract or keep younger members at their church with space, DeGroot notes. “Ironically, the spaces that we find [them[ attracted to are similar to other demographics--highly intentional, connection-oriented, visually clear, and relevant. Perhaps we need to stop silos of spaces dedicated to youth and incorporate them into the Sunday morning design experience fully.”
“Interestingly when I participate in an online service there is much more interaction present,” says Cox. “People tend to comment on statements made during the message and that can create some interesting dialogue online during a worship service." This a great way, Cox says, to engage those who are seeking answers and provides believers a chance to share what God has done in their lives.
Stacy Cox, President, Studio Four Design Inc., Knoxville, TN
"The biggest shift we are seeing isn’t about younger or older audiences, it’s that people raised with technology are no longer content to be passive audiences," contends Craig Janssen, managing director at Idibri, technology, acoustic, and theatrical consultants based in the Dallas area. “For many churches, this is a shift that isn’t being acknowledged, but in other large gatherings—like in sports, entertainment, and the arts—it’s a driving conversation,” he shares.
“The culture is shifting from passive consumption of presentation to responsive and interactive. It’s the difference between taking a seat at a show where nothing you do will shift what is happening on the stage, to posting content to your social media page which is suddenly pulled up onto an LED screen,” Janssen adds.
“The culture is shifting.... It’s the difference between taking a seat at a show where nothing you do will shift what is happening on the stage, to posting content to your social media page which is suddenly pulled up onto an LED screen.” Craig Janssen, Managing Director, Idibri, Dallas
The growth of online and/or live streaming of church services is a continuing trend that provides opportunities to share the Gospel in a form of media that most young people today are more comfortable with than any previous generation, Cox observes. “The ease of access to online content provides options for young people to ‘sample’ a particular church’s ministry, message and style to see if they think it would be a good fit for them.”
Online viewing and live streaming are becoming a mainstay of connecting people with local churches.
Online viewing and live streaming are becoming a mainstay of connecting people with local churches. “We’ve met several church leaders who view those who connect with them online as a campus unto themselves," Cox notes. A team or people in a room during the live service can respond to an audience who text or email during the service. Trending is the idea that people of all ages “test-drive” a church online before actually attending.
Design itself also plays a key role in catering to Millennials. “The key is to create an environment that encourages engagement and fosters relationships, and that feels less formal and institutional,” Cox emphasizes.
The size of foyers is designed for a variety of activities, says Randy Seitz, AIA, founder of Blue Ridge Architects (now Blueline). “Auditoriums are where we stand shoulder to shoulder and face God in worship, but the foyer is where we turn to each other and find community--a sense of belonging especially sought by young adults and Millennials. We are seeing Sunday School making a comeback as weeknights get filled up and the logistics of small groups become hard to maneuver. Sunday morning [has built-in] childcare, so Mom and Dad can meet with peers or learn from older generations.”
“Auditoriums are where we stand shoulder to shoulder and face God in worship, but the foyer is where we turn to each other and find community--a sense of belonging especially sought by young adults and Millennials." Randy Seitz, AIA, Founder, Blueline, Harrisonburg, VA
Pew Research shows overall church attendance across all denominations is declining and that frequency of attendance for those who consider themselves regular attenders is on the decline, notes Seitz. “There are, however, anecdotal accounts of Millennials and parents of young children finding their way back to the church. Millennials and GenZ are looking for meaningful and sincere relationships and church offers those more than the workplace or entertainment spots. They are also looking for moral teaching and framework for their kids. All this means that churches see that growth among young adults and young families.”
Space between the space
“Some of the most exciting things in church design are happening outside the sanctuary. Many of the best architects are placing their focus on the ‘space between the spaces’ in order to provide opportunity for connection and community. This doesn’t just happen. It has to be intentionally designed into the space,” says Janssen.
Craig Janssen, Managing Director, Idibri, Dallas, TX
“Some of the most exciting things in church design are happening outside the sanctuary. Many of the best architects are placing their focus on the ‘space between the spaces’ in order to provide opportunity for connection and community." Craig Janssen, Managing Director, Idibri, Dallas
Janssen observes the heart of the culture shift is about who has control in the gathering. There have been a lot of experiments in the past 10 years with congregations using polling systems, texting to screen, and other interactive elements, but those pieces tend to be minimal and very contained. It won’t be designers that lead the solutions to this, he notes. "It’s going to be church leadership who determine what real interaction in a service looks like. Then it will be on us as designers to facilitate what they want to do, and design spaces that cue that level of participation,” he adds.
"The churches that are growing have a clear sense of mission and purpose with practical opportunities for positive impact. The buildings and technology are just there to support those opportunities.”Craig Janssen, Managing Director, Idibri, Dallas
“Overall, we are seeing that ‘if you build it they will come’ is a dated, tired methodology,” says Janssen. “The ethos of the next generation is in making an impact by improving people’s lives. It’s more important to them than money or time. The churches that are growing have a clear sense of mission and purpose with practical opportunities for positive impact. The buildings and technology are just there to support those opportunities.”
Whether is it a come-as-you-are dress code or following sermons on the latest Bible app, America’s largest generation is shaping church culture and driving to make a difference.
