But while churches are figuring out the need to do this, fortunately there may be half-measures that ministers (like youth, college, and young adult ministers) can use to provide some encouragement to the Millennials who feel this tension – while hopefully we're also working toward change so half-measures are no longer needed.

On this post's topic specifically, I've been saying for awhile that the church business meeting might actually be a surprising "draw" for Millennials – they want to be involved, they want to know what's going on, etc. Obviously, the way churches DO the business meeting may not jive with these hip cats, but the idea of the meeting itself (in churches that have them) could actually be quite appealing.

And of course, if all Millennials in a church started attending its business meetings, some changes might indeed come sooner rather than later…

As you mentioned in the other post, this is an important topic, especially as we have worked with college students a lot. This is part of who they are.

I like your suggestion about reporting to the traditional, hierarchical structures. I know you have been traveling extensively across the US visiting all kinds of churches, so I know you probably have a good sense of this. I agree not all churches are ready for this…but ready or not, I think it's here, or is at least knocking on the door.

And though it may not necessarily be the ethos for people on staff in all churches, I bet it's a growing feeling in the congregations themselves.

Thoughts?

This may not be the most ideal solution, but it certainly could be more workable for more traditional, hierarchical churches. And I bet leaders in those kinds of churches will listen to GROUPS of people, even if they're not as open to individual ideas as they should be.