Losing the Teenagers

In a front-page article last month in The New York Times ('Evangelicals Fear the Loss of Their Teenagers'), Laurie Goodstein reported that

Despite their packed megachurches, their political clout and their increasing visibility on the national stage, evangelical Christian leaders are warning one another that their teenagers are abandoning the faith in droves.

At an unusual series of leadership meetings in 44 cities this fall, more than 6,000 pastors are hearing dire forecasts from some of the biggest names in the conservative evangelical movement. ...

While some critics say the statistics are greatly exaggerated ... there is widespread consensus among evangelical leaders that they risk losing their teenagers. ...

The board of the National Association of Evangelicals, an umbrella group representing 60 denominations and dozens of ministries, passed a resolution this year deploring “the epidemic of young people leaving the evangelical church.”

I know, I know, it's hard to believe anyone would leave a movement so marked by depth, richness, and seriousness of purpose. Any ideas out there on what to do about it?