“The Rev. Paul Earl Sheppard had recently become the senior pastor of a suburban church in California when a group of parishioners came to him with a disturbing personal question.
“They were worried because the racial makeup of their small church was changing. They warned Sheppard that the church’s newest members would try to seize control because members of their race were inherently aggressive. What was he was going to do if more of “them” tried to join their church?
“Americans may be poised to nominate a black man to run for president, but it’s segregation as usual in U.S. churches, according to the scholars. Only about 5 percent of the nation’s churches are racially integrated, and half of them are in the process of becoming all-black or all-white, says Curtiss Paul DeYoung, co-author of “United by Faith,” a book that examines interracial churches in the United States.
TheStateOf . . . Church. If you attend church, is your church multi-racial or all black? Isn’t church more cultural than religious, and, therefore, shouldn’t it be obvious that people will attend a church where their culture is predominant?
Why segregated services? Because America has always been a racist, nigger-hating country.
Next question.
Why? Because America is a racist, nigger-hating country.
Next question.
I grew up in a mixed church in the midwest. It was probably 70/30 Black and the whites were probably related to some of the bi-racial couples or lived in the predom black neighborhood the church was located in. If the pastor was Black they probably wouldn’t have been members nor attended. (I give my mom an earful about that every once in a while to this day.)
Now that I’m in the south I’m in an all Black church. I don’t know where to find a mixed church and I’m not looking.
My church is “mixed,” but not really. I’ve only seen like 2-3 white people and they definitely identify with black culture. I think J is right on this in that culture is really predominate in where we worship on Sunday.
I often attend a mostly black church that is pastored by a white preacher. That has been an interesting tug at my emotions.
Usually the more mixed churches are “non-denominational” and “science of the mind” churches that embrace everyone and are little less direct bible-teaching, from my experience (like AGAPE in Los Angeles); i went there (the teen church) through high school; during undergrad in Atlanta, I went to King Chapel and another small black church that went from “missionary baptist” to non-denominational—but remained predominantly black; through grad school and training, I attended Faithful Central in Inglewood ( a little less so when they moved to the Forum)—they seemed to want the congregation to be more mixed and always warmly welcomed “visitors”; in Atlanta now I’ve attended different services; Church in the Now—is pretty mixed, white pastor—very mixed congregation–I enjoyed the service and warmth. I prefer a mixed congregation with a black predominance I guees. No reason. In the end, it is about the message and the teaching (bible-teaching peferred). That is what matters.
I grew up in an all-back baptist church but often go to a very mixed church headed by a white pastor in the valley, mostly because my children love it and their friends attend.
It seems that most of the black families in the community go as well, with the exception of the husbands. Many of them have said they will NOT go to a church where a white man pastors. My husband refuses. Vehemently.
There is a subtle strangeness about it to me as well sometimes, like everyone is trying extra hard to make it work; to play nice. There is also lots of hugging - all the time - which is a lot for me. But the “band” kills.
We have decided though (read: my husband) that we will drive to LA to uncover some church gems on that side of town. Anybody here have any suggestions? NO MEGA CHURCHES Please!
I have grown up in a predominately black Lutheran Church ( I’m serious…it exists) since I was 8. It has always been predominately black but lately I notice more of an influx of other cultures. Mainly Asian or Latino. I will say though, that those Asian or Latino members are usually related to someone who is black in the congregation via marriage (or just baby momma or baby daddy). Either way, the “others” are used to hangin around black folk so it really doesn’t make a difference.
Like Anonymous said, the message and the teaching is what matters…however, I like the personal touch that our pastor brings to his sermons. He speaks to you from the Bible’s teachings, but he relates it to black folk’s reallity and experiences. I always wonder how those folks that were not black felt in those intstances. Did they get anything out of a message that was geared toward black folk? Hmmmm.
JD–anonymous was me–ooops!
An analogy for me was poetry spots in L.A. They were mainly black poets, speaking to a black audience and the language and topics of the poetry reflected that. When some white attendees decided they wanted to be “cultured” the experience totally changed; the artist started tiptoeing around their presence with the work they did; it became less militant, less black love; less black empowerment; and the experience changed;
with church–it should be different since the foundation is religion—but I could see how the culture could change if a pastor didn’t want to make a minority non-black part of the congregation “uncomfortable”—the message to the majority of the congregation—through black experience type examples—–could be compromised and less effective/ “drive-homeable”.
I used to go to West A in L.A. and it is nearly all black, with a few sprinklings of white people here and there. Most of the whites were politicians are just white people that liked black church.
Seeing white people who love black church intrigues me. I remember hearing Michal Jackson’s (white) attorney, Tom Messereau, speak. He said that he grew up in a black church becaue his Momma taught him that “black people are closer to God.” I can imagine that being white and attending the usually sedate church services can get extremely boring and stifling.
I’ve been to Agape too and it’s racially mixed, which is all good to me. It’s actually kinda liberating, because I’m not into that hardcore “Bible Teaching.” (What does that mean anyway?) What I couldn’t take was the dominance of gays and entertainers in the congregation. I am fine with doing church with Sally and Biff, but not Biff and Biff.
Dont go to church really. When I do its all Black. The music is better.
and what all Black church with a white pastor does Colonized attend? St. Brigids or Holy Name?
I attend church every Sunday and I am very active within the church body..choir,praise team, health ministry. We have some Caucasians that attend but the majority is AA. I have attended white churches in the past…not my style…I choose to be fed where the menu is to my liking…not that it is always easy to swallow…but it feeds my soul nonetheless.
O/T jasai, you’re a tease. I could only see your thumbnail and I would have to join the site to see a full sized pic.
RJ are you jealous that I didn’t mention you by name?
BTW l am an undercover agent so l can’t post my pics online.*smile*
Look at Rod gettin’ his e-mack on!
HAHAH!!!
Brother Rod. Brother Rod.
I don’t call her Hot Mama J for nothing.
How bad do you want it Rod, Huh? Somebody else joined to see me. several people in fact………
Call it doing something for your health, or whatever makes you feel less caught out there.
it’s on you pa.
Ok Prince, you’re going to get me into trouble with jasai( and her hubby).
jasai: Call it doing something for your health,
Roderick: My breakfasts (oatmeal and several boiled egg whites) and my post workout meals (broiled chicken or steak and raw veggies-carrots, brocolli, califlower, etc.) are fairly healthy it’s just lunch where everything goes wrong.
jasai: or whatever makes you feel less caught out there
Could you decode?
LOL!
Roderick: could you decode?
Jasai: No.