Noted sociologist Christian Smith’s recent book presents research trying to make sense of, as the title states: Why Religion Went Obsolete. For the past several years, numbers have shown a steady decline in attendance and adherence to traditional, organized religion – a phenomenon usually referred to as the rise of the “nones.” Evidence of the corresponding, institutional collateral damage in Christianity is all around: shuttered seminaries, shrinking churches, and evaporating resources. Change has come fast and furious. 

Those called to the work of chaplaincy have not been unaffected. This session explores how providing spiritual care in this religious landscape is like trying to survive in a zombie apocalypse. Communities are becoming more diverse, making it more common for chaplains to encounter patients from religious traditions that may be new or unfamiliar. Furthermore, while bits and pieces of religious familiarity may remain, patients often lack a spiritual worldview that fits neatly into one of the traditional world religions.

Join us as we discuss over lunch some of the implications of being a chaplain in such a time as this.

Adam Metz has served as the minister for the Alum Creek Church in the northern suburbs of Columbus, Ohio since 2003. He began serving full-time as a chaplain for Willow Brook Christian Communities (a continuing care retirement community) in 2022. He holds degrees from Lipscomb University (B.A., M.Div.) and Fuller Seminary (D.Min.). He is the author of the book Elite? A Christian Manifesto for Youth Sports in the United States (2019). He’s been married to Mary Beth for 25 years and they have three children: Clark, Clementine, and Cecilia. Adam has also been a high school football official for over 20 years.