I remember the Seeker sensitive movement with the church of the 1990’s. The thought was to make church more accessible for those not yet a part of a faith community, but seeking connection with God. Therefore the prevailing action was to remove the vestiges of Christianity, the cross, theological/religious language, hymns and organs and move to a more entertainment focused worship style. Projection was becoming popular, as was the rise of contemporary worship based upon contemporary Christian music.
A lot has happened in the 30 years since this movement took root, and unfortunately, I don’t believe it bore as much fruit as we would have liked. While people did show up to our church buildings, growth in discipleship was not consistently occurring and we created an unsustainable model of attractional church, think “If you build it, they will come,” whatever it was.
Yet is there a new Seeker movement on the horizon? If so, how do we embrace it? I believe there is a new movement in our midst and we have an opportunity to reach those who are living right around our buildings, in our mission fields.
United Methodist Communications released the results of a survey in March of 2022 which revealed that 51% of “spiritual seekers” would be willing to visit a United Methodist church online, and 44% would be willing to visit in person. A spiritual seeker is defined as a person who considers themself spiritual, socially conscious, and seeking meaning in their lives but who are not affiliated with a church. There are an estimated 36 million people in the United States who fit this definition.
So how do we embrace this movement; reach this population and help them grow in their faith and relationship with God? We hate to make it sound simplistic, because it isn’t, however 33% of seekers are more likely to attend when they receive a personal invitation from someone they know. Beyond that, if they know that the local church is active in helping their local community, 29% responded they would visit that church.
We are all aware of the challenges the pandemic has wreaked upon us, but it has also had some positive impact upon the spiritual seekers in our communities. The research study revealed that among Seekers and as a result of the pandemic their engagement in spiritual activities has increased, specifically 35% are praying more regularly, 35% spend time in quiet reflection, 32% spend time in nature and 30% practice meditation. I don’t know about you, but these sound a lot like spiritual disciplines.
What we are suggesting then, is to lean into offering these spiritual practices rather than removing them or other signs of Christianity. In fact we should probably do the OPPOSITE of what was done in the 90’s. We say this because the research shows Seekers want to develop spiritually, they want support and relationships, they desire their children to learn about God and they are interested in reconnecting with their Chrisitan roots.
So what are your next steps? We suggest you evaluate all that you are doing and create space that welcomes those who are Spiritual Seekers. Welcome them, help them engage, and fit it. Make sure they feel accepted, but most importantly listen to them and their needs, rather than expect them to fulfill your church’s needs.