What the Tonight Show Tension Means for Churches

January 20, 2010 in Church,Culturally Relevant with 10 Comments

I’m on a roll! I’ve been posting a lot on the Tonight Show debacle lately, mostly because of the sociological, generational and cultural dynamics at play. Simply put, it’s fascinating to watch.

What does the Conan v. Leno squabble mean for the future of North American churches? Consider the following:

  • Conan is younger. He represents the new generation–their choices, preferences, ideals and viewing habits. Think of Conan as the associate pastor who’s “in line” for the thrown.
  • Jay is older. He represents the older, established generation–their choices, preferences, ideals and viewing habits. Think of Jay as the senior pastor getting ready to retire.

Think of the NBC executive board as an elders board at a typical evangelical church. They see that the “new guy” isn’t doing as well as they would like, so they plot on how to bring back the old guy in order to “make things like they used to be.”

Mark my words, you will see a tension develop in the North American church as older generations of pastors begin to retire and younger pastors attempt to take their place. The standard of measurement that is used will favor the older generations (NBC does not take into account online viewership of Conan’s Tonight Show, even though it’s one of the preferred viewing methods of his younger audience).

This standard will be used to justify why the younger leadership “just isn’t working” and an entire generation will struggle to find its voice in established churches. (Perhaps this is why so many young pastors prefer to plant their own church than attempt to integrate into an already established body?)

(Church) life imitates (cultural) art.

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10 Responses to “What the Tonight Show Tension Means for Churches”

  1. buddyrigotti January 20, 2010 at 12:16 pm #

    Excellent observation. I could not agree more.

  2. Vince January 20, 2010 at 12:36 pm #

    love it!

    I wrote the same post a few days ago – http://www.nikao.ws/2010/01/13/late-night-entit…

    nice to see i'm not alone

  3. Justin Wise January 20, 2010 at 3:34 pm #

    You are not alone, my brother.

  4. Christine Meggison January 20, 2010 at 4:14 pm #

    Think the elder board will pony up millions for the associate pastor? As part of that said board, no.

    Here's to the generations embracing one another for the good of the body. The entire body. ; )

  5. KBZO January 20, 2010 at 8:48 pm #

    Q: How many church members does it take to change a light bulb? A: The entire congregation. One to change the light bulb and the rest to talk about how good the old light bulb was…

  6. segv January 24, 2010 at 6:56 pm #

    i think there is another message in the tonight show mess for all of us… when everything is all said and all done, the white dudes are still running the show in this country – and it looks to be relatively unchanged well into the next “generation.”

    sara

  7. Tony Bedora January 25, 2010 at 1:03 pm #

    Thrown? or throne? I think Conan is feeling like he is getting thrown from the throne. The big deal here is that if you leave, you should leave. Retired pastors that stay at their church tend to be more of a hinderance than a help. It's true, mostly, I think.

  8. Justin Wise January 25, 2010 at 4:02 pm #

    Preach it, my brother.

    You up for another trip to Nookies?

  9. Tony Bedora January 25, 2010 at 7:03 pm #

    Thrown? or throne? I think Conan is feeling like he is getting thrown from the throne. The big deal here is that if you leave, you should leave. Retired pastors that stay at their church tend to be more of a hinderance than a help. It's true, mostly, I think.

  10. Justin Wise January 25, 2010 at 10:02 pm #

    Preach it, my brother.

    You up for another trip to Nookies?