The Demographic Shift in the Diocese of Toronto
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Twelve Tribes
I believe the chances of the characteristics of either the Boomers or Generation X-ers changing are unlikely at best. They will not alter as they get older - their values are fixed. This is not all bad, however. Michael Adams writes, "I believe, beyond doubt, that we can live quite happily in a secular world. But that is not to say a world without meaning." The Boomers have a high regard for family, freedom, individuality and community but also unfortunately lower ethical values with a decrease in such basics as truth and sexual morality. Key phrases of the Boomers are:
Boomer Phrases
- "I did it my way",
- "Our children are our future",
- "Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we may.....".
Old Age Church Profiles
It is very significant that the characteristics described in the twelve Tribes are also supported by the Age/Sex profiles I have produced for Anglican parishes over recent years. These profiles were from many different kinds of churches, large and small, rural and suburban, modern and historical, BCP and BAS, High Church, Evangelical and Liberal, etc. Over and over again the Parish Profile was "Top Heavy," i.e. with a high percentage of persons over fifty. I give you three examples:
General Population
In contrast, the general population profile for Canada, Ontario and Toronto is "Christmas Tree" shaped. Only at Easter and Christmas in our surveys did the cross-section of a congregation begin to match its population profile.
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