Adventist and the Black Experience

[moicherie]

In a multicultural society one would expect different ethnic groups to be able to worship together but when you consider a lot of people come to church via their families and friends and most people are related or are friends with people that look similar to them or are culturally close to their lifestyle then you get this ethnic seperation. Consider in the UK most Adventists are West Indian background , the growing area of membership are those from West Africa. Then take a place like the USA were traditionally or may still be the case areas are racially and culturally segregated then this is reflected in the worship experience. But as catmommy said racial segregation in Adventist churchs was officially sanctioned the regional conferences was a reflection of that reality that whether we like or not for the most part back then the white membership prefered to keep others out whilst preaching the gospel....how ironic.

 

[mva1985]

Thats what I am having trouble understanding the issue that is the unacceptable to some here. Can it be called a issue because some SDA members like to go to churches with those of their background and ethnic group which causes these distinctions in SDA churches (i.e. Korean, Hatian, Carribean, Spanish, Black, etc..) or is it a issue because of the seperate conferences.....Which one is a problem?

Red,

I don't agree with the separate conferences.

I understand however why there are churches separated along ethnic lines. Most of the time I think that people like to be involved with the same culturally minded people and that has a tendency to separate people along ethnic lines. And I don't believe that makes anyone of them a racist for doing so.

Just because some one here wants to go to the black church I don't automatically assume that they hate white people, and vice versa.

Right now in my area we have about 5 culturally diverse churches. White, Black, Spanish, Ghanaian(sp), and French speaking churches. Oops I forget the Korean church - that makes six. Like I said earlier I could go to anyone of the churches and they would make me feel welcome. Even if I could not speak the language!

 

[Loveaboveall]

The problem is that the churches being divided along ethnic lines is enduring testement to a time in which the SDA church's segregation was mandated. The churches don't happen upon their racial makeup, they are mandated by the conference. One conference for all churches and letting the racial makeup be determined by the members would be a step in the right direction.

Could you please provide proof of this mandate?

I think this misunderstanding has gotten a bit out of control. Take Andrews University for instance... Go to the cafeteria and check out the students on any given day at the beginning of the year. One table will be filled with Samoans, the other with blacks, the other with Koreans... you get the picture. There are not designated/mandated tables for each of these groups! They choose to sit together because they feel most comfortable together. Later in the year you may find a little more diversity in the tables as the different class structres show up. For instance, you will find all the architectural students sitting together, same for the physical therapy students. But overwhelmingly race or ethnicity determines where people sit.

This is exactly how it works in our churches. You have a Korean church because there is a large enough population in an area that can support a church. They feel most comfortable with each other and so they attend the same church together. Same for Hispanic, and black, and white, etc... There is no sign that mandates you have a certain kind of church or only certain people can attend!

By the way, the hispanic adventists have been taken under the wing by what you would call the "white" conference. At least in my conference. They have there own churches, but are a part of the "white" conference. They were not told they had to worship together, they wanted to! There service is in spanish, but if I wanted to attend they would provide an interpreter. I could attend there every week and become a member of that church even though I am not hispanic. There is no mandates! It is what is called human nature to be attracted towards where you feel the most comfortable. Sometimes that is good other times not, but that is our nature.

Please do not try to smear the churches reputation by continuing to propagate this lie that our church is racially segragated because the whites do not like the blacks!

 

[reddogs]

I think the posts are out of sequence again.....