racial diversity in church

[calluna]

I am in an interacial marriage. I am White and British and my husband is Black and American. We are both Christians. We were a military family so have travelled around and met many people and visited different churches.

We use to live in Tucson Arizona, we started to go to a non-denominational church because we heard a sermon by a pastor on the radio, and we knew we wanted to visit this church. We went and were pleasantly surprised, not only was this a Christ focused, bible teaching church but also there was diversity in age, and race. It was the first church we had attended like this.

Now we have moved to Southern Delaware. I obviously was naive to believe that I would easily find another church like our previous one.
Since being here, I have visited a few churches. This Sunday I was singing praise and worship along with the congregation, and yet again I noticed the lack of diversity. I was in an all white church, not one person of colour. I was thinking where is my black Christian brother and sister, where is my Asian brother and sister, where is my Hispanic brother and sister and so on.....
This maybe a touchy subject for some. One may say this should not be an issue, going to church is about worshipping Jesus Christ. Yes.. but didn't He come to save us all, doesn't our God want us to fellowship with everyone.

Why is there racial segregation in the church?
Aren't we meant to be Christians embracing and welcoming all people?

I did a google search on this subject and I read one comment along the lines of well it takes one person of courage who is a minority to go to one of the churches and others will follow suit.

Why should anyone have to muster up enough courage to walk into a church?

Shop at the local supermarket, there is racial diversity there, go to a clothing store, work place. What happens on Sunday morning, everyone separates into their own sanctuarys. I always heard that America was a melting pot. Where is the melting pot in the churches?

I have watched many worship programmes on the tv and the camera scans the congregation and there is a sea of either predominantly white or predominantly black people.

My friend from Costa Rica wanted to take me to church, she said look in the yellow pages and pick out one. So I did. When I mentioned it she said that it was a church of all one race . I said I didn't mind, but she said that she had attended and was not welcomed very well. How sad is this?

I am becoming more saddened and despondent.
Isn't there something wrong with this picture?

What has any of your experiences been like?
Anyone care to share and maybe even explain somethings.

Calluna

 

[Dreamer]

calluna, this issue makes me so sad. It's wrong. My gut tells me it's wrong--because when we get to heaven, we'll all be worshipping our Heavenly Father together, not in groups of separated races.
I took my daughter and baby to a beautiful baptist church for awhile; so happens it was a black church. The way the members worshipped was the same as me (heartfelt and emotional). I loved the music. The Holy Spirit was welcome and present. I did not stay at that church more than two months however, because there didn't seem to be any ministry there for me, or when my husband returned--for him.
I still think about that church...the pastor what he said, the music. I can go back there in my mind easily. But, sadly, there seemed to be some kind of block to us being accepted there fully. Or maybe it was in my mind. All I know is I have wonderful memories of that church.
The church hour on Sunday is the most segregated hour in America. God help us.

 

[Nigh]

calluna,

As far as seeing a sea of white or black faces on tv...I'd say a lot of that has to do with the make up of the surrounding community. A Baptist church in downtown Detroit is going to be a sea of black faces, and a church in suburban Nashville is going to be white. Guess what a church in Houston is gonna look like.

As for the church I attend near Cleveland, OH...it is quite the melting pot. We have Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Filipinos, Polish, old and young. We even have a Sunday school class that is taught in Spanish. A lot has to do with the make up of the community as I said. However, I have seen just what you are talking about.

In the church I grew up in as a kid, a guy who came into town to visit his parents, came to church with his black wife. (he's white) Now they weren't kicked out, but not 3 people said anything to them. I could feel the discomfort in the air. I was embarrassed. I was 14, and I was embarrassed to be part of that church that day. I noticed that she didn't show any sign of discomfort, and wonder now if she was just so focused on the Lord Jesus, that she didn't notice or didn't care much what other people felt / thought.

I've seen it both ways. We hold a bible study in our house every other Friday night (mostly), and now that I think about it, on a single night I have had more ethnicities, and cultures represented in my house than I think my parents have had in 30 years in theirs.

I think it's natural that people want to be with others like them. With people who have the same history, experiences, and focus. It would be nice however if we could all see that Jesus is our focus. All of our focus. And let that, and that alone, be the thing that makes us alike enough to want to spend time together.

It may take a few people in a church to show love and companionship with people of other races/nationalities to show the body that Christ like behavior. Maybe explain the situation to a few friends, and see if you can all invite people of a different race on the same Sunday. Just a thought.

I will pray that you find a good church to attend, or that God give you the strength to change the one you're in. Until then, take joy in the fact that you are part of the body of Christ.

God bless,
Nigh

 

[calluna]

Thanks Dreamer, yes I believe it was Martin Luther King who said that 11.am on Sunday Morning is the most segregated hour.

After posting this I did some more searching. Online I found an interesting article "Hues in the Pues" by John Dart, originally printed in the Christian Century magazine 2001 issue.

Back in the 90's a large study was conducted, The Congregations Project by Michael Emerson from Rice University. The study focused on racial and ethnic diversity within Christian houses of worship in USA. Only 8% are to be considered racially diverse.
Definition of racially mixed church as having at least 20% of members from minority groups.

Many people were interviewed including pastors and the comment often heard was "the church ought to lead the way on this"

It is a long article but well worth reading. Anyone interested it is easy to find just google 'racial diversity in church'.

Rev 5: 9-10
And they sang a new song.......
and with your blood you purchased men of God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a Kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth"


Calluna

 

[jiggyfly]

Calluna, you asked a very good question.

Why is there racial segregation in the church?

Multi-cultural is a common term used in the religious institution. Culture ; the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another. Webster's Dictionary

I believe that institutional church is one of the most segregated places on this earth and the main reason is because it operates carnally and not spiritually.

Matthew 10:5-15
5*These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6*but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7*And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8*Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10*nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. 11*And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. 12*And when ye come into an house, salute it. 13*And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14*And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15*Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Notice Jesus told them to stay within their own culture.

Acts 1:4-8
4*and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6* When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7*And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Notice before the disciples were baptized in the Holy Spirit, Jesus only sent them among their own people and culture. But Jesus instructed them, that after they were baptized in the Holy Spirit to go into all the world.
You can see that it is only by the power of the Holy Ghost that we can overcome our carnal prejudices.