Five Reasons Why Millennials Do Not Want to Be Pastors or Staff in Established Churches

Not all Millennials are averse to serving in leadership roles in established churches. But many of them are. And our churches are approaching a tipping point where many are unable to attract Millennial members or leaders. It will likely soon be a crisis.

What is it about established churches that push away Millennials? Let’s examine that question first, and then let’s look at some possible solutions.

  1. Millennials perceive established churches to have values that are entrenched in non-missional traditions. Millennials have values that focus on community, cooperation, and service to others. They see established churches as barriers to those values, institutions that are more concerned about maintaining the status quo rather than making a missional difference.
  2. They perceive that much time in established churches is wasted catering to members’ personal preferences. For a number of Millennials, the established church feels more like a religious country club rather than an outwardly-focused organization. Budgets, ministries, and activities seem to be focused on preferences of members rather than reaching out to others.
  3. Many established churches are denominationally loyal; but many Millennials see denominations as antiquated organizations. If a church is affiliated with a denomination, this younger generation views both the church and the denomination as anachronisms. They don’t see either as effective or relevant.
  4. Millennials don’t see established churches as community-centric. The men and women of this generation typically have a heart for their community. Many have become key to the revitalization of urban communities and other locales. But they see most established churches with a minimal focus at best on the community in which they are located
  5. Millennials see church planting as a far superior alternative. To use a well-worn phrase, they would rather have babies than raise the dead. They see futility in wasting precious resources of people, time, and money on churches that will not likely budge or change.

As a reminder, the Millennials are almost 80 million in number. While Christians comprise only about 15 percent of this generation, they still are an influential force in our churches. And, to this generation’s credit and defense, many of their concerns are valid.

But here is a dose of reality. There are about 350,000 established churches in America alone. They represent untold resources of people and time, not to mention billions of dollars in property. It would be a shame to abandon those churches at such a pivotal time in our world.

My plea to Millennials is not to abandon established churches. Not all of them are as bad as many think. Consider yourself to be a part of the solution.

Above all, look at these churches as mission fields just as you would a ministry in a distant continent. We need Millennials in established churches. Your present and future leadership is vital. Granted, church revitalization is messy and not easy. It is often slow, methodical, and frustrating.

But God loves the members of established churches just as He loves the members of new works. Prayerfully consider, my Millennial friends, if God might be calling you to this ministry. It might just become the mission field where you can make a huge difference.

Let me hear from you.

photo credit: Thomas Hawk via photopin cc

Posted on November 15, 2014


With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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150 Comments

  • I am not sure where all of the stats come from but what I see is exactly the opposite.
    While there is mention that the problem with the established church is catering to a members personal preference, to leave the established church FOR that reason is a personal preference issue.

    If a millennial and and their peers wish to truly make an impact, stay and multiply in that established church. Join in at prayer meeting. Become active and be there at the business meetings of the church and have your voices and opinions matter.

    To make a difference does not mean go out and start a new KIND of church but help established churches become more like what is found in the Word of God.

  • Great article. I pastor a 175 year old church which is a FBC in the county seat town. We fit the profile of what the millenials fear. Yet in the last almost 3 years we have grown from 275 in attendance to over 500. Most of our growth has been young couples. We do everything wrong…still sing some hymns…have Sunday School, RA’s and GA’s, WMU…and Sr Adult ministry. I am 61 years old and preach expository sermons through books of the Bible. 68 sermons were preached throught the book of Luke Our town of 9000 is not growing, nor will it grow anytime soon, so all is wrong when it comes to reaching millenials…. yet they come. We had 156 additions this past church year. 57 were by baptism

    Some ask how have you done it. We established 4 Pillars of support and remind the church often of them:
    We will have a red hot love for Christ
    We will make an impact for Christ on the community in whatever way we can.
    We will be about making disciples
    We will endeavor to see that our walk matches our talk

    The leadership bought into it. There have been plenty of bumps along the way but every Sunday we ask, plead and beseech that the Holy Spirit would meet with us and guide us. He is helping us on this journey

    My feeling is that young and old alike are just looking for authentic Christianity.
    Chuck Williams

  • I know of many young pastors who can’t find jobs in these same churches. The feeling must be mutual.

  • Prentiss Yeates says on

    Thank you for your comment Thom. The established church is a testimony to the builder generation. However , there are times comfort takes over zeal. I’m a boomer and can see both sides but the one thing I ask the millennials and boomers alike are we as financially committed to the church and the ministries we care about as the builders were?

  • I appreciate where you are coming from and what you are trying to say, but I must say that I disagree with a lot of what is said.

    As a millennial in seminary in Saint Louis, raised in a charismatic, non-denom. church, working for a southern baptist college ministry in undergrad and working on staff at a church for a couple years, I have noticed many in my generation are gravitating toward more reformed, established churches. Many are moving to churches that have shifted from dogmatically stale teaching, to community focused churches who preach the gospel exegetically and not topically with out of context scripture references. I personally attend one of the oldest church in my denomination in my city. It has a very diverse congregation and staff, racially and generationally. It is growing-and most of the new attendants and people joining the church are around my age (mid 20s).

    I thought perhaps maybe this shift toward established churches and theological ideology was just based on my location in Tennessee, but I’ve noticed the same shift among my fellow seminary student and seeing what churches are growing here in Saint Louis, and in conversation with friends on other parts of the country.

    I don’t want to paint with too wide a brush, but I think my generation is returning to the theology and church styles that have been protected for centuries, liturgy having historical credibility. Many of us find assurance in that. Our generation, I don’t think, is trying to reinvent the wheel.

    I’m not afraid to be involved in ministry. Neither are any of my seminary friend. The seminary I’m in is a reformed, conservative school and is growing faster than it ever has, and most of the new attendees are my age.

    I’m not trying to say you’re wrong. You clearly put a lot of thought into this. I simply want to say that it’s not all bad and there are a lot of us who are being educated in the established churches, discipled by white haired pastors and old denominations. Many rest in the credibility that comes with history, and I think that is often overlooked.

    • Thom Rainer says on

      Thanks, CJ.

    • Your most important sentence was buried. For those who skimmed what you wrote, here it is, “preach the gospel exegetically and not topically with out of context scripture references.”

      This is why old-line Protestant churches can grow again. I attend one where that is the case. I have heard more Gospel in 3 months than I heard in some churches in 10 years. Jesus taught some very good, hard lessons if only preachers will get into the meat of the Gospels and be willing to preach a one-point sermon/homily.

  • Hi Thom,

    I go to a church that is . . . well . . . very much not your traditional church. The worship and the preaching is very vibrant. We tend to be just as active in our praise as David was (everyone stays fully clothed), we yell, “C’mon! Preach it!” when the word is good, and we are very involved in our community..

    As an usher, I sometimes look into the faces and watch the body language of newcomers whose reactions to our outlandish praise is either “This is awesome! Why can’t more churches be like this?” or that of “These people scare the crap out of me!” It is not uncommon to see visitors stand in the middle of service and walk out.

    When we pray, we don’t pray, “God, if it’s your will . . . .” Yeah sure, when it comes to seeking God’s direction of whether He wants you to take that new job or stay at your current job, you want to ask that God would reveal His will to youl. Though, if God’s will was for people to have Cancer, there would be Cancer patients in Heaven. It is quite normal for us to see the miraculous. I am sure I have not heard every testimony in a church of about 3,000, but the most recent one I heard was of a baby born with brain damage who was completely healed of it.

    Because of our different approach to this whole Christian thing (The Devil is under our feet, and we plan to continue kicking him while he’s eternally down there), we have a reputation in the community (San Diego, CA). Though, we make no apologies for who we are, and we have no plans on changing. God moves in my church. I was once told by a missionary that seeing miracles happen in African villages that have received Christ is not uncommon. They are used to having had seen strange things happen through their witch doctors before their communal conversion. So, to see the miraculous happen through the power of the Holy Spirit is normal to them. It’s normal for us, too! Though, for so many churches, seeing the miraculous happens isn’t normal; it’s a matter of, “God if it’s your will . . . ”

    Recently, I heard of a visitor to our church who went back to their home church and asked one of their pastors why they see miracles happening over at my church, but they didn’t see them at their church. The pastor’s response was that they had the same power in the Spirit to see the miraculous works of the Holy Spirit in that church, but they chose not to because they wanted to be a church where everyone felt welcomed.

    Millenials love my church because the church speaks their language. Much of the worship is Hillsong, Jesus Culture, Bethel Music, and other worship music that makes you want to dance and at the same time brings you deeply into the presence of God. We have lights and the worship band dancing around, so the worship has a concert like feel. The pastor doesn’t just stand behind a pulpit and read from His notes. He is very vibrant, and people engage with him.

    All of that is not to say God doesn’t work mightily in other churches, or that my church is somehow better than other churches. It is to say that while the church does not compromise the word of God, it speaks the language of the Millenials. And that scares some people!

    After being at my church for more than 1 1/2 years, I have come to the conclusion that the reason so many churches out there don’t do more to speak the language of the Millenials is that the church doesn’t want to be ostracized be the larger Christian/church community. They want the older generations and families to feel welcomed. Well, we have plenty of every type of person at our church, and the number one comment I hear from new people is, “You people are so welcoming.”

    Jesus stood against a generation of pharisees and traditionalism that he called a “Wicked generation.” Many of His disciples were the Millenials of that time. Though, they followed him because He spoke their language. He didn’t compromise the Word of God or the mission for which He was sent, but He was relevant to a generation that felt ostracized.

    Right now, I’m reading a book in which the author said the reason President Obama burst out of the political gates in only his first term as Senator to become a two-term President was because he learned to speak the language of this generation. McCain and Gore didn’t want to upset the status quo. I think if more churches stopped caring what other churches in the community and people with the tithe dollars thought of them and learned to speak the language of the Millenials, without compromising the word of God or their devotion to Him, they’d see a a revitalization of their churches.

    Erick

  • Marc Mullins says on

    yes and amen. But I have seen that many established churches will not entertain the thought of bringing on a millennial on pastoral staff, many times because they seek to maintain the very things mentioned. For millennials they must recognize the many godly people in churches need a shepherd but these folks also need to 40 years old or older isn’t a prerequisite for pastoral qualification- just ask Timothy.

    • Thom Rainer says on

      True.

    • Daughter of the King says on

      My church hired our pastor when he was 33 years old, 3 years ago. The congregation is heavily seniors. I came to my church at the same time the new pastor arrived. It is my understanding that the “temporary interim” pastor was there for many years up to a decade. He retired as many boomers are retiring now. Our newly hired youth pastor is still in college. He replaced a long term “temporary-interim” youth pastor. Our newly hired minister of music is a woman, grew up in this church, again around 34 when placed in that position to replace another long term “temporary-interim” music minister who also retired as a boomer. You can see how this went. Do you have any experience as a youth minister or associate pastor? If not, you may want to think about starting there. Or applying for associate pastor positions. Otherwise, stay in prayer and God wil lead where He wants you. As in any job, completing college does not guarantee a job. Experience is key. Usually, you have to climb the ladder in any profession. Our young pastor was both a youth pastor and associate pastor before being hired. I do not think it is about age. Btw, he is still working on his own doctoral thesis.

      • I just have to say that a Youth Pastor or an Associate Pastor should never be looked at as a stepping stone!! They are a calling of God just as much as anyone seeking to be a Senior Pastor!! And we wonder why teenagers are leaving the church and never returning? They are the ones that are being thrown under the bus time and time and time again!! They are fed nothing but the “leftovers” and those who weren’t ready to be a “real pastor” yet. No, no, no!! It is at this age group that many of them are going to decide whether or not to hold to their beliefs that they grew up with or abandon them. Few groups of people are at such a critical stage in their life. They need someone called to them, not someone just trying to get a foot in the door for “something better”!! I’m sorry if this comes across harshly. I’m just very passionate about these things.

      • I could not agree more! Positions other than the senior/lead pastor position should never be looked at as “stepping stones.” If one is called to be a lead pastor then that doesn’t necessarily mean that God has called or equipped him to be a youth pastor. Pastors should be forced to serve in an area in which they are not called in order to later serve in an area in which they are called.

      • Daughter of the King says on

        I don’t believe anybody thinks of the youth pastorate as not being a “real calling, or a real pastor.” But, their salary may indicate that some feel that way. I, peronally, do not. To have people who are willing to be long term vocational youth pastors, a living wage would help. The realities of this world though in established churches, is that most will not place a recent grad with a degree right into the pulpit without experience. The same goes for any other profession. In the bible, one had to only be called, nothing else required like education. That simply is not the case today. Does this mean that I am throwing youth under the bus? To the contrary. Without young graduates or anyone willing to pastor the youth, and without churches not willing to pay a living wage for this position, the youth pastorate either becomes a temporary position, or an empty position, which is what leads to breakdown within that group…sadly. one has to work within the system to change it. I wish you well.

      • Have any of you ever seen a senior pastor go in and teach the youth? Too often the youth minister is a pizza party host(ess). Why the fear? Are senior pastors afraid to teach the youth? Can senior pastors teach the faith and its defense to youth? Are the old people in the church willing to let the senior pastor have some time to teach the youth? Or is the senior pastor’s main responsibility to keep the large donors satisfied?

        I have only ever seen one senior minister take on a student class. This was in a flagship university town where undergrads were in with Ph.D., MBA, and JD students.

  • A corollary plea is for established church leadership to actively recognize some of the very valid concerns of the more missional-minded Millennial leaders.

    • Thom Rainer says on

      Yes. There are two sides to this issue.

    • Another corollary plea is for millennials to recognize the good that their established church is doing, and to stop labeling churches as “non-missional” simply because they’re not doing things the way they want. Granted, it’s not fair to say all millennials are like that, but it’s been my experience far too many times.

  • But time is a resource as valuable as property. We can spend a decade “raising the dead” or building something from scratch. One is messy and prolonged as well as infuriating. The other is messy prolonged and, though stressful, a much more enjoyable endeavor. In the end is it not a reproach on the EC from Hebrews 13:17 ?

  • I have experienced all the thoughts listed above except #3. I continue to serve in my established church despite those frustrations because I believe Christians are called to love and be loyal to their church. So, I believe I understand both sides represented in this article.
    I have a bit of an issue with the last paragraph though. A church is by definition a group of Christians. A mission field is by definition a group of non Christians. One cannot be the other. You are not the first church leader I’ve heard say that we should view our churches as mission fields. It seems to me that if church leaders are asking people to view their “churches” as mission fields, something is terribly wrong.
    Please explain what you mean when you say millennials should see the church as a mission field.
    Thank you for your thoughts and insight and your service to the church.

    • Thom Rainer says on

      Greg –

      The mission field to which I refer is the context and culture of the established church. While true believers do not need evangelizing, their attitudes, traditions, and mores are vital parts of the culture or mission field.

  • Speaking from the younger half of the millennial generation (born after 1990), and from the pastoral standpoint, I understand the heartfelt cry for millennials seeking to pastor a church to not abandon the established church. Unfortunately, the case exists far too often that millennial pastors, or millennials seeking pastoral roles, are the ones that feel abandoned.

    I have served on staff of 2 established churches and agree that they are not all bad. I currently attend a revitalized established church that is growing at an amazing pace! The pastoral staff of the church is also 50% (3 out of 6)millennials.

    There are countless millennials that have a genuine call to ministry but are told by far too many established churches that they “are not ready” or “are not qualified” to serve in leadership of their established churches. Millennials should definitely not abandon established churches….and established churches should definitely not abandon millennials.

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