Key Point: Bridge the trust gap with church leadership
Younger generations tend to be more skeptical of religious authority figures. Teenagers in the survey rated their trust in pastors at only about 6.6 out of 10 on average, whereas older adults (50+) rated pastor trust nearly 9/10. This disparity implies that Gen Z craves authenticity and relatability from leaders. Church leaders and strategists should invest in relationship-building based on God and the Bible, transparency, and mentoring, possibly empowering younger leaders to take visible roles and engaging more with parents to enable them to live out their faith in their everyday lives. By demonstrating genuine care and authenticity, the church can earn greater trust from Gen Z. The surveyʼs trust data exposes a deep generational divide in perceptions of author- ity, particularly within the church. When asked, “Who do you trust?ˮ and “If youʼre in trouble, who would you trust to help you?ˮ older adults consistently placed pastors and church leaders at the top of their list, often rating trust levels between 8 and 10 (out of 10). However, younger respondents, especially Gen Z, reported trust levels closer to 6 or even lower . Additionally, many skipped the question, suggesting uncertainty or indifference toward institutional leadership. This is consistent with broader sociological patterns where younger generations fa- vor authenticity and relatability over hierarchy. To many Gen Z respondents, trust must be earned through empathy and shared experience, not conferred by position. Furthermore, those who expressed lower trust in leaders were also more likely to
18
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator