wfn.org | Survey reveals impact, 'yearnings' of church's baby boomers

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July 21, 2000 News media contact: Linda Green·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn.
10-71B{336}

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Baby boomers are often characterized as skeptical
and rejecting authority, but they are active participants in the church
today, according to a survey of United Methodists born between 1946 and
1964.

The Pulse of United Methodist Baby Boomers, written by two United Methodist
Board of Discipleship staff members, found that church members born during
that period were shaped by the times of their youth, are creating their own
theology and are following the tradition of their upbringing. The number of
baby boomers in the United Methodist Church is unknown, but in society at
large the entire generation is nearly 78 million. 

The study's authors, the Rev. Richard H. Gentzler Jr. and Carolyn S. Poole,
both of the board's Office of Adult Ministries, set out to explore the
realities and myths of baby boomers in the church and to assist church
leaders in creating ministries for middle-age adults.

The 2,500 surveys were mailed to local churches across the country and drew
800 responses. Nearly 90 of the surveys were invalid because the respondents
were not born between 1946 and 1964. The information contained in The Pulse
of United Methodist Baby Boomers was compiled from the responses of 709
valid surveys. While the authors tried to be inclusive, 97 percent of those
who responded were born in the United States and 95 percent were Caucasian. 

The survey of United Methodist baby boomers shows that they are providing
leadership and helping witness to their faith for younger people, according
to Gentzler.

Baby boomers in general make up the largest segment of the country's
population and are most likely part of a married-couple family, he said.
They also are in their "peak labor participation years, but many are not
quite in their top earning years." Another characteristic of boomers is
their involvement in computer technology while "beginning to experience the
physical and emotional changes that come with aging," he said.

"We surveyed United Methodist boomers to discern what they are thinking
about their faith, religion and spirituality," the authors said. "In
addition, we sought their views about life, world events and the future. We
want to know something about the yearnings of their hearts." The Board of
Discipleship wants to provide resources that cater to the faith needs of
aging boomers and to help them grow as Christian disciples.

The study revealed that 91 percent of those born between 1946 and 1954
define themselves as believers and 6 percent are seekers. Of those born
between 1955 and 1964, 94 percent say they are believers, and seekers
account for 4 percent. In each group, 1 percent of the respondents identify
themselves as either agnostic or atheist. The study also found that 94
percent of women and 91 percent of men are believers.

According to authors, the respondents were given options for gauging their
belief systems, and the survey found that 97 percent of both early and late
boomers believe in God as the creator, while 93 percent of early boomers and
92 percent of late boomers believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Both
age groups believe that the church is the best place for faith development. 

The authors note with interest that while 10 percent of United Methodist
boomers believe "all people will go to heaven," only 50 percent believe
"only the saved will go to heaven."

The study also found that 90 percent of United Methodist baby boomers
participate in weekly worship services and 8 percent worship twice a month.
"These percentages do not vary by gender or age group," the study said.

Many United Methodist boomers indicated that once they surrendered their
lives to God, they gained "peace and serenity" while allowing their
relationship with Christ to influence their decisions and choices, the
authors reported.

As a follow-up to the United Methodist baby boomer survey, a new resource
about midlife will be published next spring. Forty Six: A Guide for Midlife
Adults Who Want to Make a Difference, by Gentzler and Craig Kennet Miller,
another discipleship staff member, is written to help midlife boomer adults
make a difference in their lives as they seek to transform the world.

The Pulse of United Methodist Baby Boomers costs $5. More information is
available by contacting Gentzler or Poole, toll-free, at (877) 899-2780,
Ext. 7177; by sending an e-mail to rgentzler@gbod.org or cpoole@gbod.org; or
by sending a fax to (615) 340-7071. 
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United Methodist News Service
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