Dan Pink (A Whole New Mind) blogged this morning about a new report on American household demographics.
The report states that in 2010, the highest household demographic will be married couple with no children followed by single person households. Married with children will only account for 22% of all households. This isn’t off much from 2008 estimates found at the Census Bureau’s website, but it is worth thinking about.
Just 22%. Married with kids.
Fewer than 1 in 4.
Got it?
Ok. So here’s my question:
Is this how your church looks?
I know it’s not how mine looks. It’s easily half married with children households. This isn’t shocking. American churches have traditionally been a place centered around couples with kids. If you take into consideration that the kids of single parent families (about 8%) still get into children and youth programs, but that the parent works and doesn’t fit the couple paradigm, let’s estimate that number around 25%. This isn’t an age thing. Empty-nesters fit into the 75% as well.
How much of your programming is geared for the 75%? How much is geared for the 25%? Not just programming that isn’t exclusionary, but actually designed with either the 75% or the 25% in mind.
We’ve made church a fairly inviting place: a safe place to take our kids, sing for a while, drink some coffee, talk with some other people about our kids, etc. Though not everyone would agree, I think this is an environment that facilitates spiritual growth.
For the 25%.
And that’s great for them. I don’t want to take it away from them. And I don’t want them to leave. But I’m left wondering: will we reach out to everyone else?
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to market the Church (to the 75 or the 25). This isn’t about where we advertise or where we meet. We shouldn’t go hire a Coldplay cover band and have all our pastors dress at the GAP or the thrift store. The best ‘marketing’ a church can do is invite people into a welcoming, caring community who have been transformed by the radical, counter-cultural living out of the gospel of Jesus.
But after you’ve invited everyone, is everyone welcome?
Welcome your mission field.
Not welcome to your mission field.
Welcome them. Make your church a place they feel at home.
