Race and the SBC
I just read an article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (excerpted from an article originally in The Washington Post, which is much better by the way) about the Southern Baptist Convention reaching out to minorities. The featured picture was of Eric Redmond, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Temple Hills, MD, and 2nd VP of the SBC. The article basically states that many of the larger denominations in the US have seen a departure of members or at least stagnant growth in recent years.
One way that some denominations are countering this decline is by reaching out to African-Americans, Hispanics, and other minority groups. The article notes that the SBC has probably the farthest to go in order to diversify due to our history of poor treatment of African-Americans and our predominant "whiteness."
In honor of Black History Month and just an interest in racial issues, does the SBC have any hope in this area? Can we overcome our history and become a multicultural convention? What do you think?
On an related note for you history buffs, PBS has been showing "Eyes on the Prize" all month, which is a multi-part documentary of the Civil Rights movement.
My wife and I took a mini-vacation to Atlanta in December. We decided to visit First Baptist. One of the most startling aspects about the church was the high % of African-Americans, Hispanics, Indians, and all other types of ethnicities. I would say all in all, maybe 50% of the church at the most was white.Â
Now, Atlanta has become a very international city, so FBA reaps this scenario. However, for whatever reason, these people feel comfortable worshiping there.
It was strange, but exciting, for me to be sitting in front of a family wearing head-coverings that seemed like they were from the Middle East.
As the largest cities become more international and our country becomes more "glocal" (to steal Bob Roberts's terminology) I think you'll start to see thriving churches progress down this road.
Evan,
Back around 2003 or 2004, Christianity Today did a brief article on African Americans in the SBC. They mentioned that the SBC is now the one of the four or five biggest “African American” denominations in the country, based upon the total number of African Americans in the convention.
I think the idea of our “Whiteness” is overrated, at least at the local church level. Is the annual convention dominated by White folks. Sure. It is also dominated by people aged 50-75. But our churches are considerably more diverse than the relative handful who actually participate in the annual meetings. So perhaps the key is to convince more folks like Eric Redmond, as well as Hispanic Southern Baptists and even younger White Southern Baptists, to become involved beyond the local church level.
We are more diverse than we think we are.
NAF
I remember last year about this time at the Baptist Identity II Conference there was some interaction about the issue racial diversity in SBC leadership (or lack thereof) in one of the Q & A times. Dr. Russell Moore said that we will begin to see this take place in greater ways when we see it taking place on the local church level. When "white churches" are calling black pastors and when "black churches" are calling white pastors, we will begin to see this type of diversity in many other ways.Â
I think that this type of change is possible as long as we continue to preach the gospel and apply it in these ways. With the preaching of the gospel the Spirit of God will work. Because the kinds of things that need to be taking place will only come through the Spirit's empowerment.Â
It is very encouraging to hear about more and more churches where these things are taking place. May we see more and more!Â
I think this is a two-fold argument. I wholeheartedly agree that we need to preach the gospel and allow the gospel to permeate over sin sick prejudices and bias in order to create unity amongst other races. The other need in my opinion is a more serious look into social issues or “social gospel” if you will. How do we get off as ambassadors of Christ leading individuals to know him and then leaving them to figure after out on their own. A great professor once told me that, “more is caught than taught,” life on life and then we’ll see churches that look like the body of Christ because we’ll be responsible disciple makers.