Is your church multi-racial/multi-cultural?

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Sandra79

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!!!

There is no scripture against interracial marriages no matter what anybody says.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Sandra79

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!!!

Sandra in the south there is something called the 'one drop rule' which means if you have one drop of black blood in you then you are black even if you look white. So by those standards you would be expected to marry a black man.

I finally agree with Ferd about something... it is completely stupid. I do think it's sad Ferd that you had to verbally caution your friends/family not to use those kinds of terms. One of the big blessings of not being racially 'pure' is that we never have to worry about all that

I did not leave my church over racial issues only but it was a consideration. They were bigots and made no attempt to hide it from me presuming me white. I heard the N word in the sanctuary more than once but never over the pulpit. The pastor even invited a black family to church once and then made a huge deal over it to the point that it made everyone uncomfortable. He really wanted a token black family so that the church would appear to be more balanced but never would have wanted larger numbers of minorities. He was trying so hard to prove how with the times he was... A few months later he refused to marry my friends daughter because her fiance was black. He was from out of town and they wanted the wedding in the brides hometown and church. They had a civil wedding and found another church and so did her parents.

It would be hard for me to even guess Sandra if you should stay or go but if you feel that they are not sincerely loving toward you or value you less because of your race then yes maybe it might be time to look around.

[Jay]

I have said that it is a dying issue, and I remain convinced of the same (where white people are concerned). I have never heard the N-word used over the pulpit or even by the saints. My Grandmother loves here great-granddaughters though they are of mixed ancestry. It is not a fact that she is comfortable with, but the rest of the family does not care. I have known a variety of couples of mixed race. It might still be an issue with Southern boomers, but I would be astonished if it was actually that big a deal to their children and grandchildren.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Jay

I have said that it is a dying issue, and I remain convinced of the same (where white people are concerned). I have never heard the N-word used over the pulpit or even by the saints. My Grandmother loves here great-granddaughters though they are of mixed ancestry. It is not a fact that she is comfortable with, but the rest of the family does not care. I have known a variety of couples of mixed race. It might still be an issue with Southern boomers, but I would be astonished if it was actually that big a deal to their children and grandchildren.

The White Camelia Knights of the Ku Klux Klan are alive and well in Cut and Shoot Texas (and all over the state) as well as the Aryan Brotherhood (made up almost exclusively of young people). These are the exteamists. There are plenty of people who harbor racial prejudice. It is as old as time and as current as today. To say it does not exist in your world sounds pretty naive. I am much more likely to believe that people just do not comment in your presence because they know you would not approve.

People are much more careful now that it is not politically correct to not say something that will make them look bad... Racial prejudice is still very much accepted in the black community where no one who hates whites makes much of an effort to hide it at all except in front of whites. Among the black community there is also internal prejudice over skin tone. Lighter people are more valued than darker people. It really is a mess.

My problem is that I do not feel it should exist in the church, at all, ever. And it does, often to a greater degree than in the world at large in many places.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Sandra79

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.

I think I would give the pastor some firm counseling free of charge.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Ferd

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!

Great way to handle it. Can't be pantsy about it.

[Truthseeker]

Funny thing is these racist folks will shout and preach about being oneness. What a farce.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Jay

I have said that it is a dying issue, and I remain convinced of the same (where white people are concerned). I have never heard the N-word used over the pulpit or even by the saints. My Grandmother loves here great-granddaughters though they are of mixed ancestry. It is not a fact that she is comfortable with, but the rest of the family does not care. I have known a variety of couples of mixed race. It might still be an issue with Southern boomers, but I would be astonished if it was actually that big a deal to their children and grandchildren.

Mixed race couples are common in the south. It's just not seen in UPC churches very much in my region. They feel more comfortable in non denominational churches. The question is ...WHY? The answer is ...LOVE for one another.

[The Matt]

The church I attend is pretty multicultural and diverse. Meh I've deleted what I typed about four times trying to find the right words...thinking into it it may be something I need to work on personally noticing this, some people do things together only with their color, so I feel like we as a church need to work on overcoming the remaining....uh, I guess comfort of doing things with only our own race. There are older members who still grumble and drop an n word in conversation with white brothers, but this is really rare compared to, say fifteen years ago. Our church marries and accepts interracial couples, we have an interracially married minister, and the pastor of one of our daughter churches, (the assistant pastor of our own church until he opened up the daughter church), is African American, so racism is definitely not an issue. Oh, and a few years back we had a member who didn't speak much English, so we had a Mexican American brother interpret the bible readings and the preachings for her. I personally fellowship with anyone in church regardless of their skin color, and even the older grumpier members will hug and shake with everyone in church. I just feel like some members should allow themselves to feel more comfortable doing things along with any member of the church. But I understand their feelings, considering the area we're at, and the fact that they grew up being taught what they were taught and going through what they went through.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

You must not live in the south...

Or UC church in cali