The General Board of Discipleship: A Partner in Discipleship
with Racial — Ethnic Churches
Working Toward Inclusiveness by David L. White
Ours is a diverse nation, and it is becoming increasing more diverse. It is estimated that by the year 2000, the African-American population will have increased by twenty-two percent; the Hispanic population by forty-seven percent, and the Asian-American population by eighteen percent. Some of that growth will occur because of immigration; but in most instances, the growth will take place because of the natural growth in each racial-ethnic group.
Given such diversity, our nation must struggle with a number of issues: affirmative action, bilingual education, social services to immigrants, and more. These social and cultural struggles manifest themselves every day in our homes, schools, churches, offices, and communities. For example, in three separate 1990 studies, more than a third of the employers surveyed stated that discrimination is still a problem in the workplace. You or someone you know has probably experienced the effects of discrimination — being ignored in meetings, not being taken seriously, receiving less work, receiving too much work, being the last hired and the first fired, and being expected to conform to a dominant corporate culture.
In everyday life, people of diverse racial/ethnic origins encounter pressure to conform to the majority culture, while aspects of their own culture are rejected. Every day, racial/ethnic groups experience alienation — a sense of being on the margins.
Diversity, Racism, and the Church
In The United Methodist Church, which is itself diverse, we often talk about racism and inclusivity; however, those words mean different things to different people. Perhaps more importantly, racism and inclusiveness are experienced differently by different people.
For example, many congregations located in changing neighborhoods must confront the practical issues of integration and the full theological implications of being the body of Christ.
The church is challenged to respond — both to the evils of societal racism that buffet its diverse members and to the ills of racism and discrimination that erode the church from within. As a church, we continue to struggle to overcome racism and to ensure unity among all our members.
Jesus Offers a Model of Inclusiveness
God's presence in Jesus Christ teaches that we are to respect and affirm one another's cultures. Our faith does not require that we conform to a specific cultural form. When Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman, he crossed racial and cultural boundaries (John 4). Jesus did not ask her to deny her race or culture to follow him. Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman is an example of how to treat people with dignity and respect. Jesus' example gives us a model and a basis for our understanding of inclusiveness.
When Peter met with Cornelius, Peter learned that the gospel is for all people (Acts 10 and 11). The church struggled during the first centuries with the acceptance of different cultures without rejecting its fundamental doctrinal standards.
Paul, in Galatians 3:28, states the unifying principle for Christians: "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus."
We are all one in Christ. There are no divisions based on race, culture, social or economic status, or gender. As we proclaim the reign of God and act to transform the world, this is the vision that leads us forward.
Congregations have a responsibility to help Christians live out their faith in their jobs, families, homes, and communities. Congregations can play a part in combating racism and discrimination as they carry out their primary task of reaching out into the community and receiving people, relating people to God and nurturing them in the Christian faith, and sending people back into the community as disciples of Christ.
The General Board of Discipleship: A Partner in Discipleship with Racial—Ethnic Churches
The General Board of Discipleship is committed to working with racial—ethnic churches and to providing resources and training for congregational leaders.
One channel for affirming and strengthening racial—ethnic local churches is through the board's Ethnic Local Church Concerns program. During 1993-1996, the General Board of Discipleship funded many programs throughout the church that were designed to strengthen racial—ethnic local churches. Just a few projects that received funding included a Black Shalom Zone project in Waveland, Mississippi; a stewardship initiative in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference; a Korean Christian youth center in Granada Hills, California; and a program for Hispanic youth in Germantown, Maryland. The board's vision for 1997 and beyond is that congregations, conferences, and general agencies will incorporate the contributions and concerns of Asian Americans, Black Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders. The staff envision that:
- Work, programs, and activities related to the ethnic local church will become a part of the ongoing life of the church.
- Ethnic local churches and their constituencies will experience being partners, not objects of mission.
- Ministry will be developed that will respond to the concerns and needs of the ethnic community.
- Adequate resources—fiscal, human, and programmatic— will be employed to support ethnic local church ministries.
- Leaders will be responsible and accountable for ensuring that ethnic local church ministries are incorporated into the ongoing work of the church.
The United Methodist Church continues to develop and strengthen ethnic local churches through continued monitoring, advocacy, and sensitivity training. Through its Ethnic Local Church Concerns program, the General Board of Discipleship continues to support the development of ministries that strengthen racial--ethnic local churches.
For more information about the Ethnic Local Church Concerns program, contact Sang E. Chun, the General Board of Discipleship, PO Box 840, Nashville TN 37202-0840; telephone: (615) 340-7050; e-mail: schun@gbodorg.
A Closer Walk with God
The Upper Room sponsors a three-day event that focuses on Black Spirituality. Designed for both clergy and lay persons, "A Closer Walk with God" addresses spirituality in the African American tradition and religious experience. For more information, contact John Penn, The Upper Room, PO Box 189, Nashville TN 37202-0189; telephone: 615-340-7131; e-mail: jpenn@upperroom.org.
Resources
General Board of Discipleship staff continue to work with racial-ethnic leaders to develop appropriate and relevant resources. Please see our resource page for a current listing and visit the Discipleship Resources online bookstore at www.discipleshipresources.org.
Church school curriculum resources are available in both Spanish and Korean. For information, contact Dal Joon Won at 615-749-6768; e-mail: 102336.414@compuserve.com. To order free catalogs, contact Cokesbury at 1-800-672-1789, or write Cokesbury, 201 Eighth Avenue, South, PO Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801.
National Plan for Hispanic Ministries
The 1992 and 1996 General Conferences endorsed a National Plan for Hispanic Ministries. This Plan invites United Methodists to consider what God is doing in our world and how God has called us to serve. This call to service includes a call to the general agencies, the General Board of Discipleship among them, to respond more effectively in resourcing and training people and congregations for ministry with Hispanics. A number of resources have been developed as a result of the plan and are available from Discipleship Resources (see www.discipleshipresources.org).
For more information about the General Board of Discipleship's role in the National Plan for Hispanic Ministries, contact Marigene Chamberlain, the General Board of Discipleship, PO Box 840, Nashville TN 37202-0840; telephone: (615) 340-1706; e-mail: mchamberlain@gbod.org.
Diversity is a reality of our lives. Our challenge is to respond positively and creatively as part of the body of Christ. The General Board of Discipleship is committed to helping racial ethnic leaders and all congregations respond to this challenge.
David L. White recently retired from the staff of the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tennessee. Permission is granted to download and reproduce this article.
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