A workshop presented at the 2013 International Catholic Stewardship Council's Conference.

1. I’m Spiritual, !
Not Religious
How Stewardship Can Make a Difference

2. •True or False:
•The spiritual but not religious are not
members of congregations
•Most people who identify themselves as
spiritual but not religious do not believe in
God
A show of
hands!

3. •True or False:
•Those who are not religiously affiliated are
most frequently found among younger
adults
•The unaffiliated are a stable, yet growing
segment of the population
A show of
hands!

4. Our Desire:!
!
To draw people to Christ!
through our parish
communities, !
leading them to live as
disciples and stewards.

5. !
The SBNR:!
32% are unaffiliated!
2/3 have a religious
affiliation!
!
15% of the SBNR
self-identify as
Catholic!
!
!
!
!
Let’s Get Acquainted!!
!
!
!
The SBNR:!
45% are male!
55% are female!
!
23% are 18-29!
37% are 30-49!
30% are 50-64!
11% are 65+!
!
!

6. The Unaffiliated:!
!
•42% describe
themselves as neither
a religious nor a
spiritual person!
•18% self-identify as
religious!
•37% describe
themselves as spiritual
but not religious!
Let’s Get
Acquainted!
The Unaffiliated:!
!
•30% of Americans
under age 30 are
unaffiliated!
!
!

7. The view is not quite
as clear as it may seem

8. Surveying the Landscape
Of those who were baptized
within the Catholic faith:!
!
68% are still Catholic!
15% Protestant*!
14% unaffiliated*!
3% other religion!
!
!
!*10% of Americans self-identify as former Catholics!
“Most who decided to leave their childhood faith say they did so
before reaching age 24”Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: Faith in Flux!

9. Surveying the Landscape
The Unaffiliated:!
!
Have the lowest retention rates
of any major religious groups!
!
!
!
•Most who were raised unaffiliated now belong to some religion.
They are:!
•Attracted by religious services/styles of worship!
•Have been spiritually unfulfilled!
•Feel called by God!

10. What Do They Seek?
Spiritual dimension!
Personal connection!
Mission/Meaning

11. What Do
They Seek?
• Spiritual dimension!
“They see spirituality as connected to all of
their life, not a compartment within their
life. We need bridges between Monday-to-
Friday and Sunday.”!
David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group!
September, 2010 USAToday!

12. What Do
They Seek?
• Personal connection!
“What helps you grow spiritually?”!
1. Participation in Mass!
2. Good friends who share faith with me!
3. Daily prayer!
4. Belonging to my parish!
!
Spiritual Needs Survey (Focus Group)

13. What Do
They Seek?
• Mission/Meaning!
85% of Millennials said they are motivated to give
by a compelling mission or cause, and 56% by a
personal connection or trust in the leadership of
the organization. !
79% of respondents volunteered for organizations
in 2010, with the primary obstacle to volunteering
being a lack of time.!
!
Millennial Impact Report

14. How can stewardship
make a difference?
• Hospitality!
• Discipleship and Stewardship!
• Relationship in Community!
*Special attention needed!

15. How can stewardship
make a difference?
• Hospitality!
• Genuine welcome!
• Reach out! -- Build bridges!
• Cultivate an engaging community!
• 4:1!

16. How can stewardship
make a difference?
• Form a community of disciples who live as
stewards!
• Expectation: Discipleship!
• Spirituality: Stewardship!
• Build on what is already present!

17. How can stewardship
make a difference?
• Form a community of disciples who live as
stewards!
• Make spiritual connections!
• Witness to life impact on giver and
receiver!
• Cultivate gratitude, build trust!

18. How can stewardship
make a difference?
• Relationship within Community!
• Person-to-Person!
• Life circumstances!
• Learning!
• Prayer!
• Small groups

19. How can stewardship
make a difference?
• *Special attention needed!!
• Children!
• Parents!
• Youth!
• Young adults!

20. Resources, Articles
Articles:
• Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life!
• “Nones” on the Rise!
• Growth of the Nonreligious!
• Faith in Flux: Changes in Religious Affiliation in the U.S. !
• Millennial Donors!
• CARA!
• The Impact of Religious Switching and Secularization on the Estimated Size of the U.S. Adult Catholic Population!
• American Statesman!
• ‘Spiritual but not religious’ becoming more common self-identification!
• CNN Belief Blog!
• Why millennials need the church!
• Insights into Religion!
• Reversing the Exodus: 7 characteristics of congregations that successfully attract young adults!
Books:
• Smith, Christian, with Patricia Snell, Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults!
• Winseman, Albert L., Growing an Engaged Church!
• Anslinger, Leisa, Turning Hearts to Christ; Forming Generous Hearts