Racial Divide

This morning our pastor was preaching about Jesus' command to the disciples to "launch out into the deep" and spoke at length about how faith involves acknowledging that we cannot and must not always be in control of our lives or of our church. He spoke about several ways in which our church must acknowledge that God is doing some things among us whether we "control" them or not, among which is an increasing racial diversity in the congregation, and that if we will have faith we will see a "great catch of fish".

He gave the invitation and two adult men responded, one white man for rededication (someone who had been on the books for years but distant from the church's life) and an African-American man who made a profession of faith. I thought that this was a wonderful confirmation of our attempt to be fully open to all people.

 

Can you be a little more specific?

What is happening, in particular? For the record, I am black, my wife is white, and I have pastored two congregations that were multi racial, multi ability level, and in urban areas. On a different note, I would appreciate prayer for my family. I am being considered as the pastor of a historically black congregation in St Louis. There were 100 national applicants, and I have made it to being one of the final two. It is a full time position and has a lot of potential to make a difference for the kingdom, not that any other position that I have served in didn't have the potential. They have never had an interracial couple in leadership, so it's going to be a challenge for them, and my wife, if I am called.

 

Only white people where I go...and no one "talks" about it..used to have a hispanic family but they moved on to a hispanic congregation.

 

Saggy, it sounds to me like the girl you brought is the one who felt uncomfortable, not the other people at church. It might be that since the service was about to start, people didn't have time or inclination to talk and the girl automatically judged them as racist. Not sure this is true in your situation, but I've found many minority raced folks to have a big chip on their shoulder against whites, and the most minute little thing will set them--not because someone has done anything to them, but because of their insecurity from the past or even present. That may be what happened here.

There's no racial divide in my church (all white) but a pastor friend of ours who is looking for a church, says they have encountered a LOT of racial prejudice. All the applications he has filled out have asked for a FAMILY picture. They are white with an adopted multi-racial daughter and when they submit family pics, the churches want to know why she's multiracial (adoption or whatever) and what races she represents and if they plan to adopt more minority children! One church even asked them, "If you were pastor of our church and a black man and it's (not his, IT'S) family walked in the door, how would you handle the situation?"

So, from what they have encountered, there must be some prejudice out there in fundamental Baptist churches. I have no idea why.:BangHead:

 

Like most traditional Baptist churches, not very well. Though we wish it where different, there is lots of unlearning that has to happen for the "unity" you speak of to be a reality.

 

Our church has a few Hispanic families that visit from time to time (mainly because of our association's Hispanic ministries that I am active in... and they feel welcomed at our church)..

But a couple yrs ago, when they started coming a member one Sunday walked into the foyer, saw a couple Hispanics, turned and left... Never has came back.
He was well known for not liking what he called "sand ni@@ers"

Well, my response... "Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!"

OUr church don't need racists..