Comments on: Interracial Churches

By: JSmith

JSmith — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:28:43 +0000

Something seems to be missing from the article. First of all, I disagree that “diverty” (an overused term) is the goal. Diversity should be a means to achieve a goal, but the goal is not stated in this article, instead diversity seems to be defined as the goal which is contrary to my views at least. I certainly don’t consider myself a racist — my wife and daughter are both Asian and my son is half white and half Asian, so diversity is certainly something we see at home. The goal; however, of any church should be worship, but there is nothing stated here about that — nothing in fact about the Lord at all, and nothing about how diversity is making people’s lives better (which seems to be a goal of many churches).

To be honest, I think my church has the best solution: if you live within the established boundaries you belong to a certain congregation. Don’t like it? Move — but I don’t know of anyone that ever has. Our church, by that means, welcomes all races (or ethicities, as rage96 would argue) so long as they live in a certain area (which is large enough to include various sorts of neighborhoods). As a result, my church is multi-ethnic at the local level as well as all higher levels. It’s a good system and I recommend it.

By: phil

phil — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:55:03 +0000

i was just wondering–does God see races–or does he see saved or unsaved?

By: rage96

rage96 — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:46:53 +0000

Why aren’t these congregations referred to as inter-ethnic congregations? There appears to be only one race represented here – the HUMAN RACE.

By: John V

John V — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:25:29 +0000

As Catholic I alway found this issue to be alarming. The Catholic Church is the most diverse church in the world yet we seem to never deal with the issue described in this story. I always wondered about the hypocracy of ignoring the people “on the other side of the tracks”. Will we be held accountable for ignoring them or failing to invite them to our church. For the failure to reach out to people different than ourselve. How contradictory that is to Chritian ideology. Core meanings of the Gospel such as who is my brother?
Hence Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan. There seems to be another hypocracy going on too. Yeah like maybe people will go to the soup kitchen to feed those less fortunate than ourselves… but God forbid if those people in the soup kitchen sits in our pew at church. So I get a little annoyed with these hypocracies that people do.

By: mary

mary — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 06:31:51 +0000

my faith is founded on the oneness of humanity, oneness of religion, and oneness of God. It is the age of light, where we can all identify with all people, with all faiths, because it is the the message of this age. It is a powerful knowledge just as the ten commandments forever uplifted the standards of humanity. Religion is progressive, all the prophets of God have come with the same teachings that uphold or fulfills the necessities of the particular age. Read more on this fantastic faith at http://www.usbahai.org.

By: Ann

Ann — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:26:13 +0000

''get acclimated''--I like that. I was raised in a small Indiana town-no blacks ''allowed'' to live there. 45 years after I left, some, as well as Hispanics, live there. But, attitudes have not changed. My mother commented there were 5 black women who attend her Methodist Church now, but it was, ''Alright. They sit in the back by themselves, so they don't bother anyone''. I guess I loved my mother, but I hated her and her bigotry, and the fact that she disowned my grandchildren who married black people and I have bi-racial great-grandchildren. I taught my children to look at each person as a person, and not at his color. Too many still do not do this.

By: Wanda

Wanda — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:21:11 +0000

Awesome, what a blessing to know that we are moving forward. I am a member of a church of Christ and see the need for my particular denomination to integrate. Please share this with main stream media, put it in the schools curriculum. Christianity is about loving one another. Great job.

By: teri white

teri white — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:59:14 +0000

I am a follower of Jesus Christ and the grandmother of a precious grandaughter who is biracial. The church i attend is prodominately white and I am feel I should consider a church that is more racially mixed for and my benefit. Can anyone help find sucha church in the Greenville Sc area? Thank you

By: Nanette

Nanette — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:11:20 +0000

I attended this church 2000-2004 and am thankful for the influence the church had on my son. He was able to go to youth with children who were different from him. Our home was open to members at church and this still influences my college age son today. The staff members and Sunday school teachers had a passion for Christ. I am thankful heaven will be like this church all colors, all economic levels. Thanks for accurately portraying Wilcrest.

By: Stacie Johnson

Stacie Johnson — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:05:40 +0000

Another book to look up is A Mosaic of Believers by sociologist Gerardo Marti, another look at diversity in a Los Angeles church.

I found an interview with him on the book at http://vimeo.com/1744245