New Survey Reveals Creative Leadership

Just think about it. Most young people today are overbooked. Asking them to come to church is often viewed as just one more thing they have to do. So, the right priority question becomes “How can the church add meaning to their spiritually-interested lives while embracing their creativity?”

There’s a boom in creative expression, especially among young people. Technology facilitates it. Unlike their Boomer forerunners, who sought to overthrow the establishment, they’ll wield power by ignoring it.

The good news is that the Church can assimilate these young participants once we’ve downloaded their creativity, then utilized their creative leadership to get things done. Unfortunately, traditional churches are not easily convinced and stubbornly risk extinction as their only public option.

Traditional leadership is not only unattractive to youth but it is uncomfortable for them. They can’t be squeezed into this mold and breathe. They have a new mold to introduce and worthy of the church’s attention and acceptance.

The Church can learn a lot from these young creative leaders who take the lead. In a recent 2009 American Life and Culture Survey (October 19, 2009) by Patricia Martin (Founder and CEO of LitLamp Communications of Chicago, IL), a leading expert on culture and commerce , says, “they are not living a diminished lifestyle, just carefully selecting experiences that further their personal growth and help them continue to live a meaningful life.” Download her report here.

Millennials create. Boomers consume.Martin reports, “Younger respondents are content creators; one-third actively blog and 82 percent said their peers consider them to be creative. More mature cultural consumers (45-65 year olds) create less, but still spend more than three hours a day online.”

Cultural consumers create echo effect that multiplies a messageMartin suggests,“Cultural consumers are influential when it comes to leisure pursuits. They are active and spend a good deal of time out of the home attending events and circulating in their communities. They organize outings with groups. The younger cohort maintains blogs (30%) and are social networkers.”

I have found creative leadership among these young people to be stunningly appropriate and relevant. Here’s a few characteristics I’ve noticed when I hang out with them.

Creative Leaders are:
Symbols of Inspiration not Authority
Networked not Hierarchical
Taking Risks not Sustaining Order
Concerned with Being Real not with Being Right
Thinks like an Artist or Designer not a General or Conductor
More Carrots not Sticks
Metaphorical in Tone not Literal

Traditional churches can make the paradigm shift from traditional leadership to creative leadership if they are serious about thriving (claiming values but dropping baggage) not surviving (claiming and carrying baggage ). When should this attitude be adopted? Yesterday. Period.

It is not enough to just agree in principle. We must empower youth and their creativity. Martin offers this takeaway. “Creating platforms that allow these creatives to express their spiritual ideals in a non-denominational way will help them anchor in times of change.”
Since these young creatives are carefully selecting the experiences that further their personal growth to help them live a meaningful life, the traditional church must risk and not fear their technology. Especially their creativity.

In my opinion, main-line protestant churches will continue to decline unless they empower those who creatively lead instead of authoritatively leading. Churches must do more than utilize their technological skills and asking youth to “run” the sound system. The church must offer cultural experiences, purposeful art making and adventurous community involvement and community expression as rewards.

Since they value doing original work, let these renaissance creatives be passionate and showcase their abilities. Hear this. Our emerging, creative culture now favors collaboration among people from business, spirituality, arts, and technology.


Barry is Founder and President of Ministry Indicators, a consulting group for churches 1,000 and under who are ready for renaissance. He also serves as a pastor/consultant/coach for the Missiouri Conference of United Methodist Churches.