Representation Matters (Even for Straight White Boys)

GUEST WRITER: MARIAH NEWELL

I’m about to propose something that may seem controversial in progressive Christian spaces.

A Surprising Statistic: Are Young Men Becoming More Religious?

In September of 2024, The New York Times published an article stating, “For the first time in modern American history, young men are now more religious than their female peers. They attend services more often and are more likely to identify as religious.”

I was shocked reading this article. Are young men more religious?

My Experience in Youth Ministry Tells a Different Story

As a minister who has worked with children and youth for the last decade, my experience has not been that youth groups are predominantly filled with young men or that there are more male volunteers than female.

Consistently throughout those ten years, it has been a struggle to find male youth leaders to teach Sunday school, counsel at a week of summer camp, participate in a mission trip, stay overnight at a lock-in, or simply be a regular presence in kids’ lives. Small groups at camp frequently have more young women than young men.

The Gap in Progressive Christian Communities

My curiosity about the findings in The New York Times led me to explore this topic further. While I didn’t find definitive data about where these young men were attending church, I did come across several opinion pieces reflecting on why Gen Z men might be reengaging with organized religion. Many of these perspectives came from theologically conservative sources—such as The Gospel Coalition—that don’t reflect my progressive Christian views, but they still offer insight into the broader conversation.

One of the most interesting statements I found in an opinion article said:

“Gen Z men have grown up in a time when the concept of masculinity has been under intense scrutiny. In the wake of movements like #MeToo and widespread abuse revelations, our culture has rightfully questioned toxic behaviors often associated with manhood. But in the process, the culture has failed to offer a positive, constructive vision of what masculinity should look like.”

I have issues with the theology presented throughout the writer’s opinion piece. However, I heard clearly that he was seeking direction, guidance, and mentorship on how to be a man and what masculinity looks like in our changing landscape.

The author goes on to say:

“[Culture] has presented us with two extremes: On the one hand, there’s a toxic version of manhood—equating masculinity with dominance, ego, and self-centeredness. On the other hand, there’s a soft, aimless version of manhood that’s hesitant to lead, unwilling to take responsibility, and unsure if there’s anything distinct—or commendable—about being a man. Neither of these extremes has provided a firm foundation for Gen Z men to build their lives on. And unfortunately, amid endless debates and social media wars, our society seems to have left us behind.”

As a minister who works with children, I realized that our young boys need male role models. Theologically conservative churches are providing mentorship, direction, and a vision of what being a man in 2025 looks like. Progressive Christian churches are not.

Here’s the Controversial Part

The progressive Christian Church needs more cisgender straight white male leaders volunteering in children and youth ministry programs who are actively committed to justice to be mentors to our young cisgender straight white male boys.

I am saying this as a woman in ministry who knows firsthand that young boys can find mentorship and spiritual guidance from me, even though we are of different genders. However, I do not know what it is like to be a boy going through puberty, play on male sports teams, be a son, a brother, etc.

So, I want to be clear. I am not suggesting that these men re-center themselves in our children and youth spaces. I’m saying they need to re-enter them with humility and intention. They need to show up to allow their lives to be part of what forms and shapes the next generation.

Because our young cisgender straight white boys need someone, a real person, they can see themselves becoming.

Why Representation Still Matters, Even for Boys

We know as a society that representation matters. There wouldn’t be a struggle to ban books, rewrite history, or squash visibility if representation didn’t provide encouragement and inspiration. When we see ourselves represented, it casts a vision of what can be and what is possible.

Our boys need to see firsthand:

• They can teach a Sunday school lesson to preschoolers.
• They can share how the Youth Minister’s sermon impacted them because what she preached spoke to them so strongly.
• They can love football and also attend a Black Lives Matter protest.
• They can be an engineer and give “Dad Hugs” during Pride. 
• They can be a stay-at-home dad and rely on their wife to be the breadwinner.
• They can be competitive, work out three days a week at the gym, and correct their coworker when they make a sexist comment.
• They can work happily and collaboratively under and/or alongside women, queer leaders, and BIPOC leaders. 

I believe these men I’m describing are in your churches. I believe the men who fit this description often hesitate to volunteer in children’s and youth spaces. They hesitate with the best intentions. They have listened. They’ve heard the call to de-center their voice. But as a result, these men have stepped back completely.  

We are then left asking our sons to take a leap of faith and trust that the kind of men being described by women, queer folks, and BIPOC individuals actually exist. 

A Call to Action for Men and the People Who Know Them

Let’s allow the young boys of our church to see and know these men for themselves.

If you are a cisgender straight white man committed to justice…

reach out to your church. Ask how you can volunteer to serve in children’s and youth ministry.

If you know a man like that…

encourage him to volunteer! Tell him to be a mentor, that his presence is needed, welcomed, and wanted. 

Let’s Give Our Boys a Vision of What’s Possible

Our churches are raising the next generation of strong women, confident queer folks, proud folks of color, AND inclusive, justice-driven straight white men. I’m excited and encouraged that we have the opportunity to give these young boys, and all others in the children and youth ministry communities, a positive and constructive vision of manhood. A vision lovingly passed to our children and youth from their inclusive, justice-driven male mentors who are paving the way.

Mariah Newell

Mariah is the Minister to Children and Families at University Christian Church in Fort Worth, TX. Mariah loves to make Scripture come alive for the kids and youth she serves with creative games, stories, and analogies. In her free time, Mariah likes to cook, garden, travel, hike, and have good conversations with friends. She gets to do life with her husband, Evan, and their fun-loving dog Ellie!