The Pew Research Center made news with its 2012 report that the fastest growing U.S. 鈥渄enomination鈥� was the 鈥淣ones,鈥� the 鈥渞eligiously unaffiliated鈥� who answer 鈥渘one of the above鈥� when asked which religious community they belong to.
One-fifth of the U.S. population and one-third of adults under 30 do not identify with a particular denomination or church. Yet many signal deep spirituality through belief in God, prayer or a connection to nature or the earth.
What does it mean for churches if a growing number of U.S. residents claim 鈥渘one of the above鈥� when asked about religious affiliation? The聽聽at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS), Harrisonburg, Va., helps to address this question with a Jan. 19-21, 2015 workshop titled 鈥淎 Church for All Generations in an Age of 鈥楴ones.鈥欌��
, vice president and dean of EMS, calls the training an invitation to explore 鈥渉ow we connect Christian faith, churches and communities with the millions who are actually passionate about faith but often equally passionate in their conclusion that institutional/denominational structures of the day have lost or betrayed integral, authentic connection with the deep journeys of the soul.鈥�
In addition to workshop leaders presenting on a variety of practical topics, speakers include Lauren Winner, assistant professor of Christian spirituality at Duke Divinity School, and Dan Aleshire, executive director of .
Winner, a historian and author, provides reflections on life in a small parish and addresses spiritual practices for the 21st century.
Aleshire will address 鈥淭he Christian But Not Religious Church for the Spiritual But Not Religious: The Shifting Role of Religion in American Life.鈥�
Participants will also take part in worship experiences 鈥渢o help us celebrate the healthy tension between deep roots and new branches reaching for new horizons,鈥� said worship planner .
This event will be helpful for church leaders, youth workers and anyone who wonders about the future of the church.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited about attending this event because it speaks to what many youth workers are observing in their congregations,鈥� said John Stoltzfus, conference youth minister for and of and campus pastor at . 鈥淵outh are engaging in church and expressing their faith and spirituality in different ways. A key part of our task as youth workers is to be attentive to these shifts and to empower youth to be attentive to the new movement of the Spirit in our world. What are the spiritual longings of the next generation and how can we help them create faith communities to respond to these longings?鈥�
Registration and more information can be found at聽.