MULTIRACIAL CONGREGATIONS

The Changing Racial The Changing Racial Landscape in the USALandscape in the USA

1960—less than 15% of population 1960—less than 15% of population was not of European descent.was not of European descent.

2000—non-Europeans population 2000—non-Europeans population grew to 31% of the total population.grew to 31% of the total population.

2050—Caucasians will comprise less 2050—Caucasians will comprise less than 50% of the total population.than 50% of the total population.

Religious Congregations in the Religious Congregations in the USA Have Been Racially USA Have Been Racially

SegregatedSegregated A multiracial congregation is one in which A multiracial congregation is one in which

no one racial group is 80% or more of the no one racial group is 80% or more of the congregation (DeYoung, congregation (DeYoung, United by FaithUnited by Faith, 2), 2)

Today, 7.5% of the over 300,000 religious Today, 7.5% of the over 300,000 religious congregations are racially mixedcongregations are racially mixed

For Christians (comprising 90% of all For Christians (comprising 90% of all congregations), the figure is 5.5%congregations), the figure is 5.5%

Levels of Intimacy in Interracial Levels of Intimacy in Interracial Interaction (Paris, 14)Interaction (Paris, 14)

Causal—in everyday public transactions Causal—in everyday public transactions little segregation is experienced.little segregation is experienced.

Intermediate—in our workplace little Intermediate—in our workplace little segregation is experienced.segregation is experienced.

Intimate—in neighborhoods, marriages, Intimate—in neighborhoods, marriages, schools, and churches—much segregation schools, and churches—much segregation is experienced.is experienced.

Consider: “The eleven o’clock hour on Consider: “The eleven o’clock hour on Sunday mornings is the most racially Sunday mornings is the most racially segregated time in America” (DeYoung, segregated time in America” (DeYoung, 113).113).

PragmaticPragmatic

According to McGavran and According to McGavran and Wagner and their Wagner and their “Homogeneous Church “Homogeneous Church Growth Approach,” racial Growth Approach,” racial separation is practically separation is practically easier because people want easier because people want to stay with their own kind, to stay with their own kind, both racially and culturally. both racially and culturally.

Evangelism is most Evangelism is most effective when done within effective when done within specific groups. This is specific groups. This is especially true for especially true for immigrant churches, trying immigrant churches, trying to recruit new arrivals to to recruit new arrivals to the U.S. the U.S.

While uniracial churches are While uniracial churches are sociologically more sociologically more comfortable, it is not ordained comfortable, it is not ordained by God. According to Gen. by God. According to Gen. 1:26-27, God created one 1:26-27, God created one race. race.

The NT churches were The NT churches were multicultural and multiracial.multicultural and multiracial.

Racial separation in the U.S. is Racial separation in the U.S. is a socially constructed a socially constructed phenomenon. The church phenomenon. The church reflects a social reality rather reflects a social reality rather than a theological vision. than a theological vision.

Just because something is Just because something is pragmatic does not mean that pragmatic does not mean that it is the right thing to do. it is the right thing to do.

TheologicalTheological

Racism in the church denies Racism in the church denies that God’s image is that God’s image is imprinted on each human imprinted on each human being. The pervasiveness of being. The pervasiveness of racism in the U.S. means racism in the U.S. means that racially separate that racially separate congregations for persons of congregations for persons of color are important places to color are important places to affirm their humanity.affirm their humanity.

In addition, versions of In addition, versions of

Christian faith in racially Christian faith in racially separate contexts might not separate contexts might not be compatible with white be compatible with white churches or with each other. churches or with each other.

The multitude of expressions The multitude of expressions of Christian faith that have of Christian faith that have developed during the era of developed during the era of racial separation in the U.S. racial separation in the U.S. will need to be synthesized so will need to be synthesized so as to gain a greater balance or as to gain a greater balance or perspective on our perspective on our understanding of God. understanding of God.

There is a single meaning in There is a single meaning in the text but it is so rich that the text but it is so rich that we need the help of a variety we need the help of a variety of insights and cultural of insights and cultural perspectives to do full justice perspectives to do full justice to it. The single correct to it. The single correct meaning may only come to meaning may only come to light through multicultural light through multicultural interpretation (Vanhoozer, interpretation (Vanhoozer, “That is Your Interpretation,” “That is Your Interpretation,” 21-28 ).21-28 ).

ActivistActivist

Multiracial congregations Multiracial congregations should encourage an should encourage an activist faith in order to activist faith in order to struggle against racism struggle against racism and injustice. This is and injustice. This is witnessed in various forms witnessed in various forms of liberation theology. of liberation theology.

Often social and political Often social and political leaders of resistance leaders of resistance against racism come from against racism come from communities of faith, such communities of faith, such as Rosa Parks and Martin as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. Luther King, Jr.

Multiracial congregations Multiracial congregations must continue the important must continue the important role of these uniracial role of these uniracial congregations by calling for congregations by calling for accountability on issues of accountability on issues of racial injustice. racial injustice.

The multiracial church can The multiracial church can create and open create and open opportunities for effective opportunities for effective evangelism.evangelism.

Bruce Fong writes, “I believe Bruce Fong writes, “I believe that pursuing a strict that pursuing a strict homogeneous unit approach homogeneous unit approach blinds us to how an incredibly blinds us to how an incredibly diverse Christian fellowship diverse Christian fellowship that is united around Christ that is united around Christ can stimulate the curiosity of can stimulate the curiosity of unconvinced persons.” unconvinced persons.”

CulturalCultural

Racially separate Racially separate congregations provide congregations provide a place to embrace, a place to embrace, preserve, and nurture preserve, and nurture one’s culture. one’s culture.

Certainly, one’s style Certainly, one’s style or form of worship or form of worship needs to be expressed needs to be expressed through relevant through relevant culture. culture.

Cultures are always Cultures are always changing when there is the changing when there is the slightest interaction with slightest interaction with another culture. It is another culture. It is unrealistic to believe that unrealistic to believe that we can preserve a racial we can preserve a racial culture. culture.

The issue is not whether The issue is not whether culture can be preserved—culture can be preserved—it cannot; the real question it cannot; the real question is whether change to one’s is whether change to one’s culture is positive or culture is positive or negative (Rom. 12:1-2). negative (Rom. 12:1-2).

SociologicalSociological People of color have People of color have

developed “parallel” developed “parallel” communities in response to communities in response to white-dominated society. white-dominated society. These little areas serve as These little areas serve as “havens” for ethnic people “havens” for ethnic people to call their own. to call their own.

The church is one such The church is one such haven, where people of color haven, where people of color need a space in which they need a space in which they can be part of the majority can be part of the majority group and where they can group and where they can express Christianity in a way express Christianity in a way that is most relevant for that is most relevant for them. them.

In fact, many uniracial In fact, many uniracial congregations serve as congregations serve as community centers in their community centers in their ethnic neighborhoodsethnic neighborhoods

Multiracial congregations can Multiracial congregations can also become “parallel” also become “parallel” communities. For example, communities. For example, there are a number of Asian-there are a number of Asian-language-based small groups language-based small groups established in large established in large congregations. This congregations. This phenomenon is almost like a phenomenon is almost like a “church within a church.” “church within a church.”

The advantage is that The advantage is that multiracial churches can also multiracial churches can also offer opportunities for greater offer opportunities for greater interaction and cooperation interaction and cooperation across ethnic lines. across ethnic lines.

Another important need that Another important need that multiracial congregations can multiracial congregations can address is the growing rate of address is the growing rate of racially mixed marriages and racially mixed marriages and families families

Tentative ConclusionsTentative Conclusions1.1. There is no single path for all congregations to pursue.There is no single path for all congregations to pursue.

2.2. Every congregation should welcome people of any Every congregation should welcome people of any ethnic group and should help its members be agents ethnic group and should help its members be agents of racial reconciliation.of racial reconciliation.

3.3. Different congregations may have different callings, Different congregations may have different callings, and may well create particular contextualized worship and may well create particular contextualized worship cultures in pursuit of those callings—worship cultures cultures in pursuit of those callings—worship cultures which, for purely cultural reasons, may be more which, for purely cultural reasons, may be more appealing and helpful to members of some ethnic appealing and helpful to members of some ethnic groups than others. That is, I do not believe groups than others. That is, I do not believe congregations which are largely comprised of one congregations which are largely comprised of one ethnic group should be assumed to be morally wrong.ethnic group should be assumed to be morally wrong.

4.4. While I do not believe ethnically or racially While I do not believe ethnically or racially homogeneous congregations are necessarily the homogeneous congregations are necessarily the result of sinful racism, it is historically true that result of sinful racism, it is historically true that many churches have maintained separate worship many churches have maintained separate worship out of sinful racism.out of sinful racism.

5.5. This means that the witness of a Christian This means that the witness of a Christian community comprised primarily of racially community comprised primarily of racially homogeneous churches faces major credibility homogeneous churches faces major credibility problems.problems.

6.6. Furthermore, if an ethnically diverse America is Furthermore, if an ethnically diverse America is comprised primarily of racially homogeneous comprised primarily of racially homogeneous congregations, this contributes to the racialization congregations, this contributes to the racialization of our society.of our society.

7.7. If Christians are socialized to deep sensibilities If Christians are socialized to deep sensibilities which are themselves ethnocentrically attuned which are themselves ethnocentrically attuned primarily to the culture of their own group, then primarily to the culture of their own group, then when they leave church and go into an ethnically when they leave church and go into an ethnically diverse and racialized society, they will be poorly diverse and racialized society, they will be poorly prepared to constructively engage ethnic and prepared to constructively engage ethnic and racial others. racial others.

8.8. That is, racially homogeneous congregations are a That is, racially homogeneous congregations are a weak base from which to try to address the weak base from which to try to address the problems of our racialized society.problems of our racialized society.

9.9. Therefore, we need increasing numbers of Therefore, we need increasing numbers of churches which will make the commitments churches which will make the commitments necessary to become appropriately “multiracial.” necessary to become appropriately “multiracial.”

10.10. In the process, such churches will provide a In the process, such churches will provide a clear witness to the unity found in Christ, while clear witness to the unity found in Christ, while also nurturing intercultural and “interracial” also nurturing intercultural and “interracial” skills and understandings in a new generation skills and understandings in a new generation growing up in such churches, a generation growing up in such churches, a generation which will help lead the way for other which will help lead the way for other Christians, churches, and fellow citizens.Christians, churches, and fellow citizens.

11.11. Uniracial churches may be a “transitional” Uniracial churches may be a “transitional” phase to multiracial ones (DeYoung, 127). phase to multiracial ones (DeYoung, 127).