Where is your neighbor? Evangelism Event Wisconsin Conference UCC David Schoen Congregational Vitality and Discipleship United Church of Christ

Neighbors – a Biblical Focus Hebraic Scripture focuses on neighbors Hebraic Scripture focuses on neighbors Ten Commandments and Torah Ten Commandments and Torah How to treat our neighbors, their family and livestock How to treat our neighbors, their family and livestock Wisdom and prophets Wisdom and prophets Assist your neighbor to your best ability Assist your neighbor to your best ability Be merciful and just to them Be merciful and just to them Leviticus 19:18 Leviticus 19:18 You shall love your neighbor as yourself You shall love your neighbor as yourself

Jesus Commandment You shall love your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27 You shall love your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27 Love of God and love of neighbor combined Love of God and love of neighbor combined You are not far from the Realm of God. You are not far from the Realm of God. Who is my neighbor? Who is my neighbor? The one who showed compassion The one who showed compassion The Samaritan The Samaritan Jesus, Paul and James Jesus, Paul and James extend neighbor to all humankind (with some surprises) extend neighbor to all humankind (with some surprises)

Neighbors Today People dont know their geographical neighbors People dont know their geographical neighbors New neighbors and neighborhoods on web New neighbors and neighborhoods on web Neighbors are seen in negative ways Neighbors are seen in negative ways Craziest Neighbors postings on You Tube Craziest Neighbors postings on You Tube Video Games Video Games Neighbors from Hell Neighbors from Hell Zombies ate my Neighbors Zombies ate my Neighbors

Neighbors and the Church Churches do not know their neighbors or neighborhood. Churches do not know their neighbors or neighborhood. Many congregations are commuter churches. Many congregations are commuter churches. We call the folks outside of church We call the folks outside of church unchurched, unfaithed unchurched, unfaithed Sounds a bit like Samaritan Sounds a bit like Samaritan lost lost We are the lost if we dont know and reach out to our neighbors. We are the lost if we dont know and reach out to our neighbors. Weve lost our purpose and calling. Weve lost our purpose and calling.

Where is Your Neighbor? Where are you? Where are you? Do you know your neighbor? Do you know your neighbor? What can we find out about our neighbors? What can we find out about our neighbors?

Where are your neighbors?

Rural Villages and Farms 18.9%

Industrious Country Living 8.4 %

Americas Farmlands 5.9 %

Small Town Connections 4.6 %

Metro Fringe 10.1%

Steadfast Conservatives 5.6 %

Southern Blues 4.5 %

Successful Suburbia 7.6 %

Successful Suburbia Info

Small-town Success 5.6 %

Family Convenience 8.2 %

Family Convenience

Ministry Applications for Mosaic Lifestyle Portraits

Where is your Neighbor? In Population/Family Trends In Population/Family Trends In Racial Ethnic Background In Racial Ethnic Background In Generations and Age In Generations and Age In Technology In Technology In Politics In Politics In Religious Practice In Religious Practice

Where is your Neighbor? In Population and Family Trends

Where are Your Neighbors? In School

Where is your Neighbor? In Racial Ethnic Background

Living into our nations diversity In the next 50 years the US population will grow by 50%; In the next 50 years the US population will grow by 50%; 90% of that growth will be people of color 90% of that growth will be people of color In 2000, Hispanics became the largest racial/ethnic minority In 2000, Hispanics became the largest racial/ethnic minority The US has the 3 rd largest Spanish speaking population in the world The US has the 3 rd largest Spanish speaking population in the world By 2050 there will be no majority racial group By 2050 there will be no majority racial group By 2100 Hispanics will be the largest racial/ethnic group By 2100 Hispanics will be the largest racial/ethnic group

Where is Your Neighbor? In Generations Gen Z ages 0-9 Gen Z ages 0-9 Millennials Millennials Survivors Survivors Boomers Boomers Silents Silents Builders 86+ Builders 86+ Each generation has unique events that formed it, and a different view of life.

Some dominant values of older Baby Boomers and later eras Whatevers right for group is right for me Whatevers right for group is right for me Appreciate sameness (i.e. Traditional liturgy) Appreciate sameness (i.e. Traditional liturgy) Rely on tried and true committees and similar structures Rely on tried and true committees and similar structures Deferred pleasure (i.e. dont buy it Deferred pleasure (i.e. dont buy it until I have what I need for the purchase) until I have what I need for the purchase) Spirituality of place Spirituality of place 35% of the US Population 35% of the US Population

Dominant behaviors of younger Boomers and younger groups: Individualized style and differentiation Individualized style and differentiation See themselves as the correctors of previous generations See themselves as the correctors of previous generations Spirituality of journey… Spirituality of journey… find spiritual insight in situations and in relationship Tribal; build family with Tribal; build family with community of friends as they often live further from homes of origin 65% of the US Population 65% of the US Population

Where is your Neighbor in Generations and Age

Where are Your Neighbors? In Age

Where is your Neighbor? In Technology

Where is your Neighbor? In Politics

Liberal or Conservative

Where is your Neighbor? In Religious Practice

Since 1991 adult population in the US grew by 15%. During that same period the unchurched population grew by 92%! 75 million US adults do not attend church 'Unchurched' Americans say church is 'full of hypocrites' consider Christianity to be more about organized religion than about loving God and people, …unchristian. Unchurched USA

Religious Practice

Generations and Religion

Religious Switching

Shifting attitudes towards faith

The result is aging congregations While the younger cohort equals 65% of the population, they are only on average about 30% of existing congregations While the younger cohort equals 65% of the population, they are only on average about 30% of existing congregations Growing Gaps in understanding

Age of Protestant Populations – – Total Population Total Protestants Nondenom Charismatic Churches Nondenom Evangelical Churches Church of God in Christ Assemblies of God American Baptist Churches Southern Baptist Convention African Methodist Episcopal United Methodist Church Ev. Lutheran Church of America Disciples of Christ Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod Presbyterian Church in America Episcopal Church in the USA Presbyterian Church USA United Church of Christ Anglican Church

Where are your Neighbors? Concerning Same Sex Relations

The vast majority of young non-Christians view Christianity as: Anti-gay Judgmental Hypocritical Unwelcoming Out of touch Unchristian!

And yet, of those polled… 72 percent agreed that God "actually exists 72 percent agreed that God "actually exists 86 percent said they believed they could have a good relationship with God without church involvement. 86 percent said they believed they could have a good relationship with God without church involvement. 78 percent said they would 78 percent said they would be willing to listen to someone who wanted to tell them about his or her beliefs.

Where is your Neighbor in religious belief

Where is your Neighbor? In Volunteerism

Where is your Neighbor? The urgency of our times should not be driven by our decline in the United Church of Christ. The urgency of our times should not be driven by our decline in the United Church of Christ. The urgency of our times should be a new generation and population attuned to the values of our message and witness. The urgency of our times should be a new generation and population attuned to the values of our message and witness. See Millenials report Pew Research See Millenials report Pew Research

Where is your Neighbor? Where are you? Where are you? The church is no longer the center of our communities. We can be good neighbors. The church is no longer the center of our communities. We can be good neighbors. Where is your neighbor? Where is your neighbor? How do we meet our neighbor where they are? How do we meet our neighbor where they are?

Where is your Neighbor? Meeting your neighbors Meeting your neighbors Reclaiming a focus on neighbors Reclaiming a focus on neighbors Missional in purpose Missional in purpose Get the church outside of itself Get the church outside of itself Relational in outreach Relational in outreach Its all about relationships Its all about relationships Conversational in witness Conversational in witness Talking about faith and life Talking about faith and life