Panel discussion: “This Generation’s Spirituality? Why Young People are Leaving Church and Rethinking Faith”

Why aren’t more young people in church? What are young adults thinking about Christian faith? How does the Christian community create space and places for young people to discuss their spirituality?

Mark Maddix, dean of Northwest Nazarene University’s School of Theology and Christian Ministries, hosts a conversation about young adults and Christian faith. Joining him is a panel of distinguished scholars including NNU’s Jay Akkerman, Michael Kipp, and Diane Leclerc along with College of Idaho’s Scott Draper and Phil Rogers.

The conversation focuses on topics raised in the influential book “You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving Church and Rethinking Faith” by David Kinnaman. According to polls, young adults say the church is overprotective, shallow, exclusive, sexually naïve and allows little room for doubting. Panelists will explore these topics and offer analysis for what might be done in response to these concerns.

The panel discussion is 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 7, at Northwest Nazarene University’s Jackson Lecture Hall inside Thomas Family Health & Science Center, 603 Dewey St. The event is free and open to the public.