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Scot, I couldn’t agree with you more. As one who is/was (just turned thirty!) part of that group of disgruntled twentysomethings, I resonate with what she is trying to say. I’ve read through just a bit of the book so far and have found it somewhat cathartic thus far. Good highlight!

Thanks for the tip off about this book. As a 45 year old pastor I often feel the same way. Her desires as encouraging!
Okay, gotta ask. Did you mean to use the phrase “come out the other end” after this? “Some prefer to have bogged-down booties, to use her image that just might stick with us for awhile; Sarah wants to come out the other end.”

The Boars Head Tavern » Blog Archive » McKnight on Disillusioned 20-somethings

[...] Scot McKnight has a review (book link – website) up today on Sarah Cunningham’s Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation. [...]

Swap Blog » Blog Archive » The Church and 20 somethings

The Church and 20 somethings
Scot McKnight of Jesus Creed has a post up about how 20′s somethings deal with, view, and handle church. Scot’s post is based on a book by Sarah Cunningham called Dear Church, – Sarah grew up a pastor?s kid; she…—–
[...] Scot does more then link to Sarah’s book, he analyzes and discusses her points so be sure to read his post and then ponder getting Sarah’s book to get a deeper look at the issues discussed. This is the stuff we need to ponder and think about when we serve in and around churches. Scot’s post here [...]

Scot,
I read a pre-publication mss of Sarah’s book. I thought it was excellent, especially as you highlighted–getting in touch with the 20somethings’ preferences. Her honesty is amazing, even troubling, but her deep love for the church shines through.

What is “a deeper connection to surroundings”? and, in 20-something’s liking instant gratification, is that seen as positive or negative? And, what is meant by “infrastrucure,” and does she say more of what “image management” is?
I like that she speaks of being part of the solution.
I’m keeping an eye out, cuz my experience is that moving from disgruntled to trying to be part of a solution, is an age maturation thing as well. Not meaning to be an absolute statement, cuz we all know older adults, who, tragically, are stuck in misery and disillusionment. But in my experience in our house church, seeing spiritual maturation perhaps tied to getting older and handling life, and changes that come from that. At the time it can feel like major ah-ha’s, but I wonder if it would happen just from getting older. So as pomo/emergent goes on, I wonder if tweaks to what it means, will happen cuz those in the movement are age maturing, and the life maturing that can go along with it.

Scot,
I think I see this in our daughter and in a summer worker, as I get to know her a little. This sounds refreshing, and I’d like to get our daughter’s response to it (and others’).
And an excellent point! About the bogged-down booties.

I wonder if one of the greatest challenges for the Church toward the 20-somethings is a sense of disconnect that may exist between them and Church. Sometimes I pick that up from them. And I guess that’s part of what she’s saying here, in regard to what she had to work through.

amazing! i feel this same way as a 20something Pastor; it’s great to know others are out there putting our thoughts into words…
for me the greatest sense of disillusionment is the stored up potential the Church has to do so much good, yet we sit around and fight about the most trivial things…

Scot…
Thanks for your reveiw of “Dear Church…”. I just finished the book and wrote my own thoughts on it.
Peace-
Steve Argue
Grand Rapids, MI

Everyday Chaplain » Dear Church is nothing new

[...] I’m really struggling to understand all the talk about Dear Church. It looks like a informative book that brings together a lot of the concerns with the way we do church. However, you only need to have in-depth conversations with people in your church or community to find that sort of stuff out. The question is, what are we doing to change it our vices?Secondly, from reading some of the letters on the author’s website, it sounds like some of the problems stem from the people themselves, rather than the church. Their own context has affected the way they interpret things in the church It even sounds like some of them expect the church to be some perfect organisation. For goodness sake, it’s a family! There are often people who let their own hang-ups prevent them from being a part of things. At some point we have to draw the line and say “our heart goes out to you, and we long to adopt you into our family, but you must be transformed. Are you willing to lay aside some offences, vices and attitudes? Or at least accept our help in doing so?” [...]

Everyday Chaplain » Western spending

[...] While I understand what people on Dear Church are saying, I just don’t understand all the talk on the blogworld about it. But I have to say, now I’m stuck blogging on it too! Here is a good quote from one of the letters: How come we spend our money on heating church buildings rather than feeding the poor and outcast? [...]