Diversity in Church

[StillStanding]

It's been said many times that Sunday @ 11:00am is the most segregated hour in America. I heard yesterday that only 15% of churches are multi-cultural. Half of them are leaning more and more to one particular culture. That leaves only 7.5% of churches that are truly multi-cultural.

If you ask almost ANY church, they will say that all races and cultures are welcome. What they really mean is that you are welcome as long as you accept our style, culture and leadership as is.

What are different races and cultures of people looking for in a church?

1. People and LEADERSHIP that they can relate to.
2. Worship music that they are comfortable with.

BTW, this is not only a black and white issue. Increasingly, it's becoming a Latino and Asian issue too.

What can you do?
1. Put people in Leadership of different races and cultures. Visitors will see one of "their people" up front.
2. Diversify styles of music to accommodate different cultures and age groups.

The truth is that you must be assertive in making your church a multicultural church. Left on it's own, your church will be a white church that has a few blacks in attendance, or a black or Latino church that has a few whites in attendance. People tend to migrate to where they feel comfortable.

[RandyWayne]

I would love to visit a classic Hawaiian church with the big Polynesian warriors up front twirling their lit torches to the rapid drum beat and the hula girls greeting the visitors. The magical melodies of Don Ho would will the foyer.

Instead of handling snakes they would all handle "taboo" idols -the same kind that Greg Brady wore.

[Godzchild]

You hit this one right on the head friend~ The last church we attended....my husband and I were treated so awful it was sad. The pastor was made aware and done nothing!!! ( and to see where TB is today... ) But like you said....most churches want only ONE "race" and if you are not a part of that "race"...you are OUT and shunned! As for the latter of your post...."one race" churches will NEVER see a person of a different culture put in any kind of leadership or taking part in different ministries inside the church........JUST ASK ME AND MY HUSBAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "They" made sure they kept the "mixed" couple "hidden" and quiet~ I do NOT hold any grudge against that church or the people in charge but it sort of hurts to think about it.
btw...I am Native American and my husband is black...not welcomed in MOST churches we have seen~ ESPECIALLY in the south~ When we had to move to the south for a few years bc of my husbands job...we were asked to leave one church and shunned so bad at another...it made it impossible to go just to worship. My husband and I are not from the south and totally unaware that some people can be so hateful....but life goes on ~ Still holding my head up and proud of my heritage and MY wonderful HUSBAND that GOD brought into my life 32 years ago!!!! A Very blessed and strong marriage...in spite of what SOME may think of "interracial marriages"

[Godzchild]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I would love to visit a classic Hawaiian church with the big Polynesian warriors up front twirling their lit torches to the rapid drum beat and the hula girls greeting the visitors. The magical melodies of Don Ho would will the foyer.

Instead of handling snakes they would all handle "taboo" idols -the same kind that Greg Brady wore.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Godzchild

You hit this one right on the head friend~ The last church we attended....my husband and I were treated so awful it was sad. The pastor was made aware and done nothing!!! ( and to see where TB is today... ) But like you said....most churches want only ONE "race" and if you are not a part of that "race"...you are OUT and shunned! As for the latter of your post...."one race" churches will NEVER see a person of a different culture put in any kind of leadership or taking part in different ministries inside the church........JUST ASK ME AND MY HUSBAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "They" made sure they kept the "mixed" couple "hidden" and quiet~ I do NOT hold any grudge against that church or the people in charge but it sort of hurts to think about it.
btw...I am Native American and my husband is black...not welcomed in MOST churches we have seen~ ESPECIALLY in the south~ When we had to move to the south for a few years bc of my husbands job...we were asked to leave one church and shunned so bad at another...it made it impossible to go just to worship. My husband and I are not from the south and totally unaware that some people can be so hateful....but life goes on ~ Still holding my head up and proud of my heritage and MY wonderful HUSBAND that GOD brought into my life 32 years ago!!!! A Very blessed and strong marriage...in spite of what SOME may think of "interracial marriages"

I once had an acquaintance/co-worker who ended up in a Behavioral Health hospital because of trying to deal with cruelty from people over her relationship with a black man. They have been together for years and had a daughter together. She said to me, "I can't help my love for him. He is so kind to me and treats me better than anyone I have ever been with"

She passed away from breast cancer a while back. But many times people fall in love with those who understand them the best and are good to them. Treating mixed raced couples cruel is just plain meanness whether it happen out in the world or in the churches. What's it to anybody else who people fall in love with and marry?

Is America really free? Very few countries bat an eyelid at mixed race marriages.

[Godzchild]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

I once had an acquaintance/co-worker who ended up in a Behavioral Health hospital because of trying to deal with cruelty from people over her relationship with a black man. They have been together for years and had a daughter together. She said to me, "I can't help my love for him. He is so kind to me and treats me better than anyone I have ever been with"

She passed away from breast cancer a while back. But many times people fall in love with those who understand them the best and are good to them. Treating mixed raced couples cruel is just plain meanness whether it happen out in the world or in the churches. What's it to anybody else who people fall in love with and marry?

Is America really free? Very few countries bat an eyelid at mixed race marriages.

Thank you ~ Very well said~~ God brought my husband and I together when we were teenagers...got married , then blessed with 2 beautiful children!!! Very blessed !! I don't have any idea why people would concern themselves over who others fall in love with and marry! ESPECIALLY when now days...when (MOST) people are in favor of the "free love" where its "ok" for men/men and women/women relationships....but yet want to look cross-eyed at "mixed" couples!!

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Godzchild

Thank you ~ Very well said~~ God brought my husband and I together when we were teenagers...got married , then blessed with 2 beautiful children!!! Very blessed !! I don't have any idea why people would concern themselves over who others fall in love with and marry! ESPECIALLY when now days...when (MOST) people are in favor of the "free love" where its "ok" for men/men and women/women relationships....but yet want to look cross-eyed at "mixed" couples!!

The sad part is there are very few if any "pure" raced people in the US. We are mostly all of mixed race.

[navygoat1998]

Originally Posted by Cindy

The sad part is there are very few if any "pure" raced people in the US. We are mostly all of mixed race.

Not me I am a pure breed...........

[Godzchild]

Originally Posted by Cindy

The sad part is there are very few if any "pure" raced people in the US. We are mostly all of mixed race.

but what is funnier is that many pee will never admit to that~ There is absolutely NO one pure race~

[Godzchild]

Originally Posted by navygoat1998

Not me I am a pure breed...........