For some time I have been thinking about what pastors from the Millennial Generation need to understand and accept. It's difficult to generalize generational behavior when speaking about a particular group of younger pastors, but after studying, observing, and helping to place millennial pastors, I will take a risk and state my observations. My hope in doing this is to not only help this group of pastors, but also to help the multigenerational churches they want to serve. What follows is a starter list of my observations and ideas.
Millennial Generation pastors need to understand that they have much to learn about the generations that came before them. Each generation has characteristics that have shaped the way they do life and church. These characteristics were largely formed by changes that took place within each generation. For example, the Builder Generation (born 1928 – 1945) developed a culture that was greatly impacted by World War 2, individualism, and the role of government in one's life. For them, church and worship offered a place of solitude, reverence, and stability. In contrast, the Boomer Generation (born 1946 – 1964) was greatly shaped by a spirit of rebellion, loud rock music, and freedom. Personal preference and consumerism took over, and the church was greatly impacted by the Jesus Movement and para-church ministries. Worship wars marked the church, and the age of megachurch was introduced. For more information, read Gary MacIntosh's book, One Church, Four Generations. The problem is, there may now be five or even six generations in a local church, so Google and discover more about all the existing generations. Millennial pastors need to learn how to love, serve, value, and feed all the generations in their church.
Millennial Generation pastors need to find and recruit mentors among the generations before them. I am convinced that every pastor, no matter what his age, needs a mentor, a coach, a peer group, and someone who will hold him accountable in ministry. But for the millennial pastor, one or more mentors will be worth their weight in gold. They need people who have been through the fire of ministry who will share how they made it through and what they did to finish their trials and temptations well with God's help. Millennial pastors would do well to read Bobb Biehl's book, Mentoring: Confidence in Finding a Mentor and Becoming One. Oh, and once they have experienced a year or more of being mentored, they should find someone younger and begin mentoring them.
Millennial shepherds need to learn that ministry is not a job, it is a calling. God calls pastors into ministry, but, by and large, the millennials do not have a clear understanding of the importance of a God-calling or its importance to a pastor or ministry leader. When God calls you to a ministry, it is a call to surrender your life to doing his will. It is a call to surrender your time, skills, expectations, talents, and even your life in service to Jesus and his Kingdom. You don't set your schedule, God does. As Pastor C. H. Spurgeon, the great preacher from two centuries ago, once said: "I always say to young fellows who consult me about the ministry, 'Don't be a minister if you can help it,' because if the man can help it, God never called him. But if he cannot help it, and he must preach or die, then he is the man."
Pastors from this generation need to learn that pastoring a local church requires leadership development and multi-staff development skills. There is a shortage in the church of leaders, especially leaders who can multiply other pastors and leaders. Speaking as a Boomer Generation church leader, we have dropped the torch of leadership development instead of passing the torch. Who are the millennials in the church who will pass the torch to others and to the next generation? Psalm 48:12-14 says the following words of encouragement: "Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever."
Millennial pastors need to learn and live the commands and principles found in Philippians 2. Ministry is primarily other-centered. It is about self-care too, but always remember that God entrusts to you a flock of sheep. Be a servant leader. If you are a Millennial Generation pastor, love, care for, and feed the sheep that the Lord has entrusted to you. And, always go after lost sheep. (John 10:1-4; 15:1-7)
What additional insights do you have about what Millennial Generation pastors need?
[Photo by Daniele Franchi on Unsplash]