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THE CHURCH
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THE CHURCH FROM BELOW
The Church is a naturalcommunity
It fulfills many socialization
needsThere is recognizable fellowship in the
Church
There is a sense of community whichis foundational (not a luxury, but anecessity)
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THE CHURCH FROM BELOW
The Church is a politicalcommunity There are socially ordered relationships and
patterns of authority and decision-making
It is not a question of whether politics will exist inthe Church; rather, it is only a question of thequality of the politics
Ol Boy networks often are alive and well. This is
not entirely negative, but can have some negativeconsiderations
There are positive considerations as well
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SENIORS
Birth Years: before 1926
Formative Factors World War I
Great Depression
Serious about faith, close relationship with God Appreciate stability
Close family ties
Rooted in community
Generation least affected by stress Actively engaged in church, volunteer activities
Part of the Greatest Generation
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BUILDERS
Birth Years: 1927-1945
Formative Factors Great Depression
World War II
Cold War Appreciate stability
Family, Community, Friends, Employment
Not open to change- prefer predictability
Emphasis on Duty, Obligation Part of the Greatest Generation
Satisfaction found in simple things
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BOOMERS
Birth Years: 1946-1964 Formative Factors
Cold War
60s: Counter-Cultural Movement
Vietnam
Question authority (the establishment)
Uncertain of the relevance of the church
Curious mixture of laissez faire andutilitarianism
Search for Excellence in all of life
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BUSTERS
Birth Years: 1965-1983 Formative Factors:
Watergate
Vietnam Syndrome
Inflation, Unemployment
Age of limitations Question authority (Boomers are Establishment now!)
First generation not to have it better
Interested in process of growth, embrace change
Disenchanted with superficial stuff- even in church! Interested in relationships, involvement
Want options, not directions
Feel abandoned, are disillusioned
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MOSAICS/MILLENNIALS
Birth Years: 1984-2002 Formative Factors
End of Cold War
MTV Age/Clinton Presidency
Desert Storm
The Digital Generation (non-linear thinking)
High Levels of Stress/Anxiety
Self-Reliant- and Skeptical!
Interest in spirituality
Believe in the Bible- but not in absolute truth!
Brighter than previous generations (IQ)
Relationships more important than achievement
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GENERATIONAL VALUE SYSTEMS
Key Factors in Generational Identity,per Strauss and Howe, The FourthTurning, An American Prophecy
A Common Location in History
Common Beliefs
Perceived Membership in a commongeneration
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GENERATIONAL VALUE SYSTEMS
The major generational watershed, as far asreligious beliefs and practices are concerned, isbetween those who in our research we callPre-boomers (born prior to 1946) and those
who have come after. Although Boomers (born1946-1964) and Xers (born 1965-1979) differin some respects, they are much more like
each other than like Pre-boomers. JacksonCaroll, Circuit Rider, 22:5
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GENERATIONAL VALUE SYSTEMS
G.I. Generation Value Cohort (pre-1946) Consumer Generation Value Cohort (post
1946)
Deferred Pleasure vs. Instant Gratification
Group vs. Individual Orientation
Assumptions of Sameness vs. Difference
Spirituality of Place vs. Spirituality of Pilgrimage
Results: Bimodal Congregations, Gil Rendle,The Multigenerational Congregation
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CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS
Currently, 75% of Americans are Caucasian By 2050, only 50% of Americans will be
Caucasian
The Hispanic population has overtaken African-
Americans as the largest minority population In some areas of the country (e.g., parts of
California), there is no longer a majoritypopulation
Racial and Ethnic diversity- a fact of life 15-20% of population moves every year
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CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS
BehaviorWatch MTV
Registered to vote
Have been divorcedTake anti-depressants
Watched X-rated movie
(last 3 months)Received prof counseling
Filed lawsuit this year
Christian19%
83%
27%7%
76%
15%
3%
NonChristian24%
79%
23%8%
87%
15%
4%
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CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS
Contemporary American Beliefs: God helps those who help themselves, 81%
All religions teach equally valid truths, 40%
All people pray to the same G/god, 53%
If you do enough good, you will go to heaven, 55%
Jesus was not resurrected physically, 40%
The Bible is not completely true in all it teaches, 34%
The primary purpose of life is enjoyment, 58% Satan is not real, only a symbol of evil, 60%
Whatever works is the only truth you can know, 32%>
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THE CHURCH FROM BELOW
A community ofcommon language:meanings, priorities, and values. This becomesconventional for the In-Group
A community ofInterpretation:
Common meanings The difficulty of translation
A community ofmemory andunderstanding:
Characterized by an inner continuity and empathyamong persons who have understood and relivedthe same events. It has a shared story.
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THE CHURCH FROM BELOW
The Church is a community of actionand belief: it espouses a mission or apurpose which can be expressed in many
forms of action Evangelism
Education
Edification Worship
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THE CHURCH FROM BELOW
A sociological description of church:the church is a body of persons who sharesome measure of common life, values,
meaning, and loyalty. It has an historicalcontinuity, identifiable by certain beliefs,ways of work, rites, outlooks, and feelings.It may be more; But it is at least theabove.
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THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
The First Church: Orthodox Churches, theRoman Catholic Church; Protestant churches inEastern Europe, Greece, Middle East, Ethiopia,South India
The culture tolerates Christianity at best; in someinstances, governments are openly antagonistic
There is a certain reliance on the spiritual legacy ofwhat has gone before. In some instances, this
substitutes for vital Christianity There are examples (e.g., Poland, Russia) of a
renewal of traditional Christian churches.
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THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
The Second Church: Western Europe,USA, Canada, Australia The second church is undergoing a time of
serious crisis
Malaise and apathy Ground for renewal (Pentecostalism, evangelical
churches)
The effect ofmaterialism
Breakdown in commitmentYet, a renewed interest in spirituality among
young people
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THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
The Third Church: Central and SouthAmerica, Africa, AsiaAdeveloping church, characterized by youth
and activity
In the stage ofearly commitmentAsimplicity and integrity to itA church of the poor
Many forms oflay leadership prominent
New relationshipswith the second church Legacy of Liberation Theology remains Pentecostalism is quite prominent
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THE CHURCH & CULTURE
ChristAgainst Culture Christ opposed to culture, either-or (Tertullian) The Christ ofCulture
Agreement, guiding civilization (Lib. Protestants)
ChristAbove Culture Synthetic (Aquinas)- affirming, transcending
Christ and Culture in Paradox
Duality, both obeyed (Luther) Christ Transforming CultureAntithesis, yes, but Christ converts men and
cultures (Calvin)
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THE CHURCH