Diversity in America

This post is a bit different from the others I recently put up but it seems relevant to all the churches I am helping right now. Take a look at this photo I took in Norwood, Ohio. Here is the setting. Jens-Petter Jorgensen, my Norwegian friend and Board Member, and I had just finished breakfast at Big Boy and were leaving to go visit my friend, Pastor Doug Glanton.

Doug is a retired P&G guy who now pastors a mostly African American congregation in Cincinnati with a few hundred members. Afterward, Jens and I having lunch with Dale Linder who is on the staff of one of the biggest churches in America, Crossroads Community.

The amount of diversity in these few interactions is mind boggling. Ministry to people from the variety of backgrounds, races, religious ideas and socio-economic interests requires a lot of flexibility and listening. We cannot automatically assume that we will understand any of these people for each has a unique culture, point of view and experience. Each person must tell us what they like, dislike and want from life. We canot assume much of anything.

As we left Big Boy I happened to look over and see the marquee of the Quality Inn Hotel next door. It says, Welcome, Muhammad and Fitzpatrick Family. This summarizes America today and is a huge challenge to Christian leaders. Just imagine what kinds of differences this family will be forced to confront inside its own homes and children. Muhammad, an Islamic name and Fitzpatrick, an Irish name.

Just imagine the challenges of pastoral care, preaching and counseling people from Norway, America, Africa, Arabia, Ireland, Germany and Russia but all in the same church. Some come with a small church attitude that expects the Pastor to do everything for them. Others are from a big church where lay people do most of the ministry.

Add to that the fact that each has a unique cultural, social, economic and educational background. Christian leaders sure do need the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to care for this kind of diversity. And, they need some understanding Elders and Members who see that America is now a Foreign Mission Field as much as China or Africa.