Black Lives Matter.
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

  • Voices
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Members
    • Covenant Partners
    • Issue Statements
    • Governing Board
  • Programs
    • Ecumenical Immigration Alliance
      • Ideas for Action
      • Sign Our Statement
      • The NC Sanctuary Coalition
      • Immigration Bible Study
      • Contact
    • NC Interfaith Power & Light
      • NCIPL Overview
      • Faith in Action NCIPL
      • NCIPL Articles
      • NCIPL Resources
      • Upcoming Events for NCIPL
      • Contact NCIPL
    • Partners in Health & Wholeness
      • PHW Staff
      • Mini-Grants
      • PHW Collaborative Pledge
      • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
      • PHW Articles
      • FAQs
  • Priorities
    • Racial Justice
    • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
    • Gun Violence Prevention
    • Public Education
    • NC Sanctuary Coalition
    • Farmworkers
    • Legislative Advocacy
    • Christian Unity
    • Peace
    • NC No Torture
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Events
  • Resources
    • Publications & Reports
    • Raleigh Report
    • Lectionary
    • Sermons
  • Donate
  • Council Store
  • Show Search

Search NC Council of Churches

Hide Search

This Millennial’s Response to the Pew Research Center Study

Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director · May 15, 2015 · 1 Comment

I am a millennial. I was also born and raised in the church and have continued to participate in church my entire life. I am soon to be married in the church, and if my partner and I have children, I plan to raise them in the church. I also went to seminary and currently work with churches all across the state. The results of the Pew Research study released this week were not new to me — churches are shrinking and fewer and fewer people are calling themselves “Christian.” The study talked a lot about millennials and their role in increasing the “nones” (those who identified themselves none of the above in the Pew survey). That started me thinking about my background and role in the church.

I grew up in a Reconciling United Methodist church in Savannah, Georgia. Reconciling means that it recognizes all sexual identities and gender identities in its policies and practices, and I definitely think that this inclusivity had an effect on me staying in the church. The majority of millennials support gay rights, and many see the church’s unwillingness to accept those who are different as close-minded and exclusive. The church needs to be a place that demonstrates Jesus’ love to all in order for millennials, and those of any age, to feel welcome. Millennials often have very few experiences with church other than those that they were raised in, and they may not realize that the beliefs and practices of “church” vary widely across a spectrum from liberal to conservative. The church needs to become mission-centered and focus on a God who is with us, rather than a legalistic idea of what a Christian “should be.”

Rachel Held Evans recently published an article entitled, “Want millenials back in the pews? Stop trying to make church ‘cool.’” She argues that millennials do not want a sleek, branded worship service featuring popular music and pastors in jeans, but rather an authentic community that “practices the teachings of Jesus in an open and inclusive way.” I stayed in church because I was part of a community, and part of this community’s beliefs was helping the poor and the oppressed. I was proud of my affiliation, not just as a Methodist, but as a member of a congregation and part of my community. Millennials want a church rooted in their communities in which their values and ideals are firmly represented and shared with like-minded individuals. For me, this need that millennials have to belong to a community living out their faith is evident in some emergent churches, such as Emmaus Way in Durham. This missional Christian community was founded out of the hope that “the ‘doing of church’ would not prevent our community from being deeply involved with the work of justice, compassion, community building, and hope in Durham.” This congregation was created not to eschew organized religion, but to fulfill a need for community that wasn’t being met by an institutionalized church.

At the North Carolina Council of Churches, the release of the Pew study did not prompt an emergency staff meeting because our main concern is not metrics; it is doing Kingdom Work. We care about loving God and loving our neighbors, and being a resource to enable churches to do just that. I see churches every day that are creating spaces for people to tell their stories and to be active in their communities. I hope that this Pew study will be a call for a reawakening, reinvention, or maybe even resurrection, in churches. This is a time for something new to be happening in our churches — a chance to connect with our neighbors, the poor, the strangers, and the immigrants, in order to reinvigorate the church. The church began at the margins of communities in the world, where Jesus made God known to us. The “nones” are not a threat to Christianity, but provide an opportunity to build relationships with those at the edges, with those who are leaving. The Pew study motivates me as a Christian advocate and educator to work harder so that the church can use this opportunity to reclaim its Christ-centered identity and be a loving and authentic community, open to all, by breaking out of its comfort zone to follow the Holy Spirit into new life.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Homepage Featured Tagged With: Children & Youth, Christian Unity, Interfaith, LGBTQ, Prophetic Voice, Worship

Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director

About Jennie Belle, Former Immigration and Farmworkers Director

Jennie was born and raised in Savannah, GA. She moved to Texas for her undergraduate education at Rice University, during which time she studied in Mexico, Peru and Argentina and participated in service projects in Central America. After graduation she moved to Spain for a year to teach English. Jennie then came to North Carolina for a dual degree MDiv/MSW graduate program at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill where her work focused on advocating for farmworkers and organizing churches for social justice. Recently graduated, Jennie is excited to use these skills in her role at the Council of Churches as she works to help improve conditions for immigrants and farmworkers in the state.

Jennie lives in Durham and attends First Presbyterian Church. In her free time she enjoys dancing, distance running, traveling, walking her dog, and planning her upcoming wedding. Jennie can be reached at: jennie@ncchurches.org.

Reader Interactions

More Like This

Because of Jesus
The Perfect Gift for Mother’s Day
PHW Faith and Health Summit: Thank You

Comments

  1. AvatarJim D. says

    May 18, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    I appreciate your comments, Jennie, along with reference to the emerging church community in Durham – I’ve heard more about emergent churches than I have learned of how they are beginning to manifest. While I have not read the Pew report, one of the challenges that I perceive is engaging those millenials who have not had the same grounding in a church the way that seems to have been the case for you. This issue was recently the topic of a Theology on Tap session in Greensboro, I was very surprised to learn about the significant number of millenials who seem to be relatively unaware of the stories of the Bible. As something that I have taken for granted (tail-end boomer), it is hard for me to envision the means to reach out without that shared background of meaning — whatever one’s take on the nature of those stories. Thanks for starting a discussion.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anonymous comments or comments that target individuals will not be posted (please include your first and last name). All comments must be on topic and respectful. Comments will not be posted until they have been reviewed by a moderator. Comments do not reflect the positions of the NC Council of Churches.

Footer

Contact

NC Council of Churches
27 Horne St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 828-6501
info@ncchurches.org

Facebook

Partners in Health and Wholeness

Featured

This Millennial’s Response to the Pew Research Center Study

Latest Tweets

It's a beautiful day in the Triangle. Are you getting ready for that spring weather? 🌿🌺🍀 We are too!! Go to our store and check out our amazing tank tops quoting our motto: "Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice." ncchurches.org/store… pic.twitter.com/oAZr…

Yesterday

TOMORROW! Join us with Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman on Faith Communities Supporting Democracy. There is still time to register. Follow the link >>> ncchurches.org/event… pic.twitter.com/RO2O…

Yesterday

Tomorrow! Make sure to register and join this important conversation on Climate and Health. bit.ly/LancetRSVP twitter.com/The_SEAP…

Yesterday

Action Alert!! The pro-LGBTQ Equality Act has been reintroduced into the new Congress, and the House is poised to vote later this week. Follow the link to sign the petition and tell your representative: Pass the Equality Act now >> act.faithfulamerica.…

About 2 days ago

Join us and @NCIPL this Friday for "The Faithful Work of Environmental Justice." We will discuss the importance of the environmental justice movement in NC, the realities of environmental racism, and more. Follow the link to register! ncchurches.org/event…

About 3 days ago

Follow @ncchurches

Latest Tweets

Dr. Julian's work was instrumental to the public health community. We carry his passion as we continue reckoning with our past so that we may continue building the beloved community. Learn more about Dr. Julian's legacy at pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ju…. #BlackHistoryMonth @novapbs pic.twitter.com/JJsm…

About 13 hours ago

Join Faith in Harm Reduction TODAY at 4 p.m. for the launch of their virtual Roundtable series! The first roundtable centers on the Black church and needs, opportunities, and challenges for harm reduction in that context. Register below: secure.everyaction.c… #MindfulTogether

About 16 hours ago

Do you still need access to health insurance coverage this year? Open enrollment through the health insurance marketplace began on Feb. 15 and ends on May 15. Visit @HealthCareGov to learn more about what this means and how to enroll: healthcare.gov/cover…

About 2 days ago

Pauli Murray's work was rooted in building community that affirms individuals through true equality and justice for all. Learn more about Pauli Murray by visiting the @PauliMurrayCntr Twitter page or website at paulimurraycenter.co…. #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/klug…

About 3 days ago

Although Henrietta Lacks' cells revolutionized medical research, their use was done so without her consent. Her story highlights the racial inequities that have and continue to exist in our healthcare systems. Read more here: nature.com/articles/… #BlackHistoryMonth @nature pic.twitter.com/rJAt…

About 6 days ago

Follow @healthandfaith

Latest Tweets

RT @EPA EPA is proud to join our agency partners as we tackle the climate crisis and build a healthier, cleaner, more equitable future for all. Let’s do this! whitehouse.gov/brief…

About 2 days ago

RT @EPA Proud to be back! @EPA will be there every step of the way, as we tackle the climate crisis, advance climate justice, and create a healthier future for all Americans. twitter.com/WhiteHou…

About 2 days ago

RT @greenthechurch Tune into Environmental Defense Fund’s Instagram Live on Broadening & Growing the Environmental & Climate Justice Movement in celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth tonight at 6pmEST #EJ #Environmentalist #Environmental #ClimateChange #ClimateJustice #CleanEnergy #ClimateActionNow pic.twitter.com/hBfn…

About 2 days ago

RT @greenthechurch If you’re passionate about what we do and can bring something unique to the team, get in touch! Email a cover letter, resume, and writing sample(s) to jennifer@greenthechurch.org. pic.twitter.com/CE44…

About 2 days ago

RT @interfaithpower .@RepDebHaaland: "I can promise you that if I am confirmed as Secretary we will be guided by science." The Senate act quickly to #ConfirmHaaland to ensure @Interior has a leader to fulfill its mission to follow science & protect our #PublicLands for future generations.

About 2 days ago

Follow @ncipl

Latest Tweets

Copyright © 2021 NC Council of Churches · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design · Hosted by WP Engine