Greg Clarke may be a decade older than Gen Y, but he's doing his best to reach this unique generation.
Generation Y, the name used to describe those aged 12 to 29, is a group the church has had difficulty connecting with, says Director of CASE (Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education) Dr Greg Clarke.
"This conference is for anyone who thinks engaging with the culture matters when it comes to running our churches and outreach," Dr Clarke says.
The "Why care about Y?' training day being run by the Diocesan Women's Team and Anglican Youthworks on Saturday, March 31 aims to assist churches in understanding and reaching out to Gen Y.
Dr Clarke, whose work is based at New College at UNSW, says he is particularly concerned about reaching out to Gen Y for his own ministry.
"I work everyday in a college packed full of Gen Y students. My interest is to work out what New College students are like so I can reach them," he says.
According to statistics provided by Mary Andrews College, 68 per cent of Gen Y members have never had contact with a church and most have no exposure to the Christian message.
"We have to work out how Gen Y differs from Gen X and the Baby Boomers in terms of expectations about life and work," Dr Clarke says.
"This conference takes seriously the need to step back from our ministry programs, have a look around us and see who exactly it is we are trying to communicate with."
Dr Clarke says the use of technology is one characteristic that shapes the lives of Gen Y members.
"The gap between the virtual world and the real world is pretty small. Someone's identity on Second Life might be more important in their actual understanding of who they are than their life as a student, worker or family member."
Dr Clarke says he will define what it means to be part of a generation and how one differs from another. However, he says there are still similarities across the generations.
"We should not make too much of cultural differences. We still share a common humanity. We still share many similar hopes and dreams and anxieties."
Youthworks Year 13 Director Jodie McNeil will speak at the conference about reaching Gen Y and highlight a church successfully reaching Gen Y members.
There will also be a panel discussion with ministry workers and parents who are reaching or raising members of Gen Y.
"This conference is for church leaders who are wondering why it is so hard to get Gen Y people committing to a meeting any more than 15 minutes before hand. It's for youth leaders and parents trying to understand Gen Y kids. And it's for anyone who wants to feel a bit young again," Dr Clarke jokes.
