As a member of Generation Y, I grew up surrounded by peers skeptical of all things religious.
In fact, I would say that we Millennials – born between the late 1970s and early 2000s – took a more critical gaze at the question of “is God real?” than any generation before us.
Perhaps I was destined for the objective world of journalism, because I came out of it all as an agnostic. Which is to say that I don’t know which side in the debate is right and which is wrong.
Many others in my generation have have concluded that, no, they are definitely not believers – at least not the type of believers willing to wake up early(ish) every Sunday to drive to church.
And so across Flin Flon, we witness the unsurprising consequences of this disenchantment with weekly shared worship.
If you’re a long-time churchgoer, you know what I’m talking about. Pews that were full (or nearly full) 10, 20 and 30 years ago are much less crowded today.
Sure, a lot of it comes from a declining population. But I’ll bet you that more of it comes from the simple fact that younger people are increasingly deciding that church isn’t for them.
In 2011, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church held its final service. Other area churches will no doubt follow in the coming decade or two, if not sooner.
Let’s put aside the question of religion for a moment and consider the impacts of the decline of the church in Flin Flon.
Churches are not strictly about the Bible, worship, hymns and prayer. They are also about forging connections with our fellow citizens and supporting individuals and families in need.
They are places where our elderly shut-ins know they are always welcome. They are accessible outlets for newcomers eager to forge bonds with neighbours. And they are a means for children to meet new friends.
You don’t have to have money or societal status to enjoy church. You don’t need to be able to play a sport or sit on a committee. You can just go. Every week.
It’s true that there are other ways to achieve the positive outcomes I just mentioned. But no other entities in this area are doing that on the same scale, with as much regularity, as churches.
As pews become emptier and more churches inch toward likely closure, Flin Flon is losing some of the strongest threads of its social fabric.
To be clear, I am not advocating anyone go to church if they’re not comfortable there. Nor am I criticizing anyone’s beliefs or lack thereof.
But I do worry about what will replace the vital role churches play in our civic cohesiveness.
Local Angle runs Fridays.
The final service at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in 2011 will no doubt be followed by farewell sermons at other local churches in the coming years.
