Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

And if so/not so why?

I've posted a lot about my experiences with OP churches but I have not posted about one of the things that disturbs me most. Here where I live the churches are all divided along strict racial lines. Also most pastors typically will not marry inter-racial couples even when both are HG filled.

I am a light skinned biracial person who is usually assumed to be white married to a white man. We have always been accepted in the local OP churches but hear the N-bomb dropped pretty often as well as slurs against hispanics. My nephew that we raised is a darker shade of brown and was razed at the local OP christian school for his color.

Just wondering if you find these kinds of things typical or if this is something unique to my area too.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

look at the people in the picture linked, you will need to wait as it cycles.

the first page cycles thru several pictures, one of the pictures that will come up is the congregation, you will notice that it is very multicultural, a pretty even mix of tan and brown people

http://www.fpcpalmbay.com/new/welcome.html

or you can just click on number 4 to see the pic of the congregation

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

my church is ultra-multi-cultural. I am white and a minority on sunday morning. LOL.

On a typical Sunday we will have American Black and Anglo and Hispanic and Asian people. (By American I mean not first gen the rest of the post will explain the deliniation), Then we will have Black, White, Hispanic, and Asian people who were born in other countries.

Korea, Burma, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Liberia, Croatia, Albania, El Salvador, Mexico are almost always represented on Sundays. I remember one wednesday night I counted 10 different nationalities with less than 70 people there.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Wow that's refreshing Amanah and Ferd! I know that the south is a little more divided historically anyway but these churches are in areas where many races are represented in the community but not in the church. Also there have been very sour reactions when minority preachers have been invited in (very, very rare but has happened once in each church that I am aware of). The tension was so palpable in one church with a visiting hispanic preacher that he actually said over the pulpit 'You will have your revival the day a black man walks out on this platform'... to which there was almost an audible gasp.

Man, I must just live in a bad place... :(

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

No problems in my church. We have several different races in the congregation, on the platform and in leadership. We are currently looking for someone who is bi-lingual to start a class for the hispanic in our community. My pastor has married mixed race couples.

After all of these post I think I will add Houston to my prayer list.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Please, please do.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

From your descriptions, I would say you live in the suburbs of hell.

Of course it could be worse, you could always try a WPF church.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

My church pretty much reflects the racial demographics of our town. We do not have a large black or hispanic population. We are a little light on minorities but do have them.

However I think in the world of affirmative action one homeless person equals two minorities and we have a lot of homeless people so I think we are "diverse"!

Our pastor would not tolerate any kind of racism.

By the way I assume you meant your nephew was "hazed" not "razed"? LOL!!!

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Very. Mixed race marriages, too. Not a problem.

What you describe was common when I was growing up, but not so much anymore, in my area.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

I actually meant razzed... I type 140 words a minute but not with any accuracy at all. :)

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Whatsa WPF?

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

very much multi-racial and certainly much more so than the greater culture around us.

Never hear the N word tossed around.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

My church is really mixed. I'm white and wife is black, so far no problems for us where were at.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

World Pentecostal Fellowship

A group of churches that split from the UPC because they believe the UPC has gotten too liberal.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Last church was 100 percent latino/hispanic, until the winter texans arrive.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

upc is two-fold the child of hell

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Was this the split over TV (media)... Larry Booker and that bunch? If so then that must be where my old pastor went right as we were getting out he broke ties with the UPCI... I never really understood it except that we weren't to let our kids go to camp or go to ladies conference anymore at the district campgrounds... I just remember thinking if that church wasn't strict enough already I would be up a creek without a boat when they changed, lol!

It was right about then we joined the 'weak church'... Someone suggested we look at Grace- affectionately known as the 'backslidder church'... I'm still leery... Maybe, maybe... Dunno. We're going to visit a Sabbath keeping church Sat... maybe Grace Sunday... Maybe a homechurch mid week, it's really far away but so is everything when you live in the boonies.

Be nice if it was like in the old days where there was just one community church and people just HAD to blend... uh-oh... I'm sounding like Joell :)

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Yes WPF came into being over "TV Advertising" - funny because TV is quickly becoming old media, and no great departures occurred with the internet.

FWIW, many who thought they were departing did not and a number that did depart came back to the UPC - including their best theologian Talmage French.

You REALLY DO live in the boonies if homechurch is really far away!! LOL!


Oh, and AMEN to a single community church... We drive an hr to go to church (Sundays only)

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Not our home someone elses... A lady came to buy a calf a couple of weeks ago, she looked Pentecostal so I asked where she goes to church and she told me that they home church with about 10 other families and take turns going house to house... The closest one is in Waller (not close) and the farthest is in Baytown... It would be about an hour either way... Still maybe worth it... but they meet on Fri nights and my husband works nights... and Fridays... This week they are meeting for the Lord's supper on Wednesday and invited us :)

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Our church is a melting pot. I love it!

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

We are about 30-35% African American, which I love! That's about the racial mix in our city and that's what we are striving for - to reflect the demographics here. We have some Hispanics, but not a lot. We have Nigerians (several) and some Kenyans. We have a few Asians, but not many at all - but then neither does Jackson a a whole.

I love the mix! It's healthy and we have a TON of mixed marriages. Word is out in the city that they are accepted here, or so we've been told.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

That is awesome Sherri. Keep up the good work. :)

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

My region and T2W's region seem to be sister-regions.

Some UPC churches here will accept other races gladly. The church I went to before I married loved the black people that came for a time. But they left and nobody knew why.

When my husband and I married, I deferred my wishes to his wishes and we attended his church. I noticed that there were no other races than white. So one day I asked a fellow church member what would this church do if a mixed race couple wanted to make this church their home church.

Her answer: Maybe God will lead them to get a divorce.

:blink

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Yes.....multi-racial
Yes...interracial marriages

Our city is about 11% black; 11% hispanic......also many other ethnic groups

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Surely apostolics don't use the N word??

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

I hope that this was said in either ignorance or a jest in poor taste. If this was said in sincerity you are speaking out of turn.

I have not heard of a single preacher in the WPF preach against interracial marriage, and it is not even an issue. The same is true if you discuss the people who attend the churches. Bro. Booker's church has a mix of peoples who attend. I take it you never bothered to check his website's pictures. In my own family there are Mexicans, Chinese, Japanese, and African-American at least. My church has had a number of people of Mexican descent that have attended at various times.

I know that these things are actually common in larger WPF churches. The only exception is in places where there is an overwhelming predominance of one or another.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

That's good Jay. Here we have white churches, 'Spanish' churches- and it's not a language thing as some of the 'Spanish' churches are English speaking, LOL. And of course the blacks have their own church. At the big white church there is a group of 'Spanish ladies' who are really Mexican-American and mostly attend without husbands. They hang out together for the most part and while no one is really mean to them they are also still separate in some way.

At one point we were going to adopt a black child. A preacher (but not the pastor) said to my husband "Do you realize that every time someone sees your family out they will think your wife used to have a black boyfriend". Like, am I supposed to care what someone who does not know me thinks about me??? We wound up raising my dark skinned nephew instead and did not have the room to take two kids. He is now a senior at TAMU and we couldn't be prouder :) So I guess those people wound up thinking nosy thoughts anyway :heeheehee

I am glad to hear from those whose churches are more racially balanced to be representative of the communities they serve although I really doubted that any real bigots would proudly post here one never knows.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Just because its not preached doesn't mean it would not be an issue.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Perhaps 15 years ago it would have been an issue. However, I know of people with mixed race marriages in various Oneness churches that have very high standards (perhaps high enough to make me look more moderate). This was not that much of an issue as I was growing up, and is even less so today. This is in both the UPC, WPF, and many others. I have actually heard that the feelings are harder in Black communities than they are in white communities (KKK excepted of course).

My church is now primarily white as that is the color of my family. However, we do have one Mexican lady who comes whenever her work schedule permits. (I try to never forget anyone.)

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

I was a member of a very conservative church that while I was welcomed the pastor wouldn't have married us. Some will welcome a couple already marriedd but still against interracial marriage, sepcifically black/white ones.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

I always wonder what color they think Moses wife was...hummm???

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

I think that the anti-interracial marriage position are soon to be few and far between. The culture is far removed from the perspectives of even 30 years ago.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

You must not live in the south...

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Wow I'm dealing with this issue even just tonite. I live in the north but live under a pastor from Georgia... I love his preaching and believe 99% of wat he preaches about, except for his views on races. Ok ppl have their opinions on inter-racial marriages, which okay if u don't believe in it then ok, but I do. But when the Pastor says the n-word over the platform, which wasn't talking about ppl but "black" wood as well as I've been told they all say that word referring to black ppl at home & there is a confederate flag in his sons room which is in the pastors house... Ughhhh!!!! I feel like I'm gonna end up saying not pretty things. Would u go somewhere else Titus? Just curious. Sorry for letting my frustrations out.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

ive looked close family members in the eye and told them I would cut them off if they used the Nword around my kids. period. no room for discussion. no room for negotiation.

That dont happen around me without me stepping into it.

It is stupid to be against inter ratial marriage. Stupid and against Jesus Christ. you can tell any moron who disagrees with me I said so!

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

I feel that if people are happy with their spouse and in love with each other, why then is it anybody else's business?

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

Thank you! I'm very much on edge at my church & feel like I'm gonna snap one of these days.

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

:highfive
:thumbsup

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

So I'm told theres scripture behind it... The only scripture I can find is inter-religion is wrong. I can promise u I can't find anyone that is exactly 8% indian, 25% dutch, 17% african american, & 50% england like I am!!!!! Honestly I have no clue what I am which is my point!!!

Re: Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?
 

You'd be surprised if each one of us were to reveal our bloodlines, what would be in them. LOL! You are no different than most any one in the US for sure!