The homogenous unit principle (HUP) states that the fastest and most efficient way to grow churches is to focus on a single cultural group. First, Donald McGavran and later Peter Wagner championed this principle as a way to facilitate church growth. Since racial identity is tied to cultural understanding an important, but by no means only, implication of this principle is that churches should focus on reaching a single racial group. Multiracial churches are envisioned as creating too many barriers to growth.
Empirical support for HUP is based on observing missions to underdeveloped areas in the world. These areas tend to be dominated by cultural divides that exacerbated the problem of bringing cultural groups together. For example, much of McGavran’s work was done as he observed evangelical efforts with the Indian caste system. Indian society heavily sanctions individuals to cross caste barriers and efforts to create missions inclusive of different caste members were met with heavy resistance.
In our modern culturally pluralistic society we have to ask whether the monoracial emphasis found in HUP is still relevant for church growth? The answer from the data I used in writing my book “One Body, One Spirit” is no. That data indicated that multiracial churches, defined as churches in which no single racial group is more than eighty percent of the population, are more likely to grow than churches that are not racially diverse. Furthermore, work by Scott Thurman on megachurches, defined as churches that have at least 2,000 people in attendance on a weekly basis, indicate that megachurches are 3-4 times more likely to be multiracial than other churches. We still have racial barriers in the United States but, especially in an age of Obama, those barriers do not have the power to strife church growth and indeed racial diversity may help churches to expand.
Why may racial diversity help churches to grow? It may be that in a racially diverse society more individuals have developed relationships with individuals of other races. Therefore they are more comfortable in situations that are racially mixed than those that are racially homogenous. Michael Emerson discusses such individuals in his latest book “People of the Dream.” If he is correct then younger individuals are more likely to possess such a multiracial comfort than older individuals. Churches of the future will have to become racially diverse just to survive in the changing racial climate. In my mind this is the best explanation for why multiracial churches possess a greater opportunity for growth than monoracial churches.
Regardless of the reason why, empirical evidence indicates that racial diversity provides a church with a better chance to grow. Given this reality, contemporary churches have to begin planning now for moving into our multiracial culture. Those making necessary changes now will not be caught off guard when living in a multiracial atmosphere becomes the norm for most individuals in the United States.
8 Comments
I am interested to know while it appears that diverse churches are multi-racial is there a dominant operating culture? Research has shown us the successful diverse/multicultural are only successful is because the operating culture is white. When churches try to integrated different cultures white flight begins to happen.
You are basing your assessment on a single study by Korie Edwards. My own experience having done both quantitiative and qualitative work on multiracial churches is that some of them are dominated by the majority group but that most make concessions to multiple cultures. It is a big overstatement to say that they are ONLY successful because the operating culture is white. In fact I have seen many churches that want to be racially diverse but can not do so because they are unwilling to alter their Eurocentric culture. Thus maintaining the dominate culture is not the best way to racially diversify although some churches have been able to become racially diverse and maintain the Eurocentric culture. I would argue that they became diverse in spite, not because, of that culture.
Mr. Yancey… LOL your on it… Yes I have read Korie Edwards book. I have also read “Against All Odds: The Struggle for Racial Integration in Religious Organizations” basically confirms her finding in her sample study.
I have also done empirical studies in my own denomination (Seventh-day Adventist) where I visited many of our “Diverse” churches that promote themselves as such. Unfortunately, though they very diverse there were definitely operating in whiteness.
I am not going to say there aren’t successful multicultural churches (cause you say there are) that manifest true unity of integrating all cultures as the operating culture, but my experience is that most churches who declare themselves as such, its more of a marketing tool more than the reality.
I would like to know if your have ever seen a black church that turned into a multicultural operating culture.
I say all this in the spirit of hoping to experience one day. My dream is to have a church when you walk in your can’t tell what culture is operating because it so mixed up :o)
Blessing to you as we continue to seek racial equality and justice. Without it there is no TRUE UNITY
Tony in response to your initial question, “while it appears that diverse churches are multi-racial is there a dominant operating culture?” My answer is “Yes.” Whenever a mono-ethnic congregation begins to transition to a multi-ethnic congregation the dominant culture is prominent, be it red, brown, yellow, black, or white. The speed at which aspects of a minority culture are allowed to flourish in the church is dependent on the Senior Pastors tenacity to move the transition forward in spite of objections at a pace that will not tare apart the body and the willingness of the established leadership to follow his lead or step out of the way. At Sunrise Church, where I serve on staff this process took six years. The pressure from those that resisted the change and those who desired the change upon our pastor was so great he seriously considered leaving. It wasn’t until those who posed the greatest resistance left that the flood gates of intentionality were open with the addition of minority lay leadership, minority staff hirings and various musical styles. Our experience at Sunrise is that as the community continues to change and we continue to reach our community, the “culture” of the church will need change as well.
Regarding your question to Dr. Yancey , “have [you] ever seen a black church that turned into a multicultural operating culture?” I know of one Abundant Life Christian Fellowship in Mountain View, CA. 20 years ago this church was a black church of 300. Last I heard, they are a multi-ethnic congregation of 6,000. http://www.alcf.net/
See our worship team http://vodpod.com/watch/1233709-sunrise-church-praise-team?pod=alucero
You might also take a look at Christ Church in Montclair, NJ. Under the leadership of Dr. David Ireland, they are making the transition from an all black church to a multicultural congregation. They are running around 5000 and have just opened a Satellite campus in an all white suburb. They are trying to be intentionally diverse in the development of their leadership team. I am usually invited to preach for them once or twice a year. It is a wonderful experience. It might also be worth your time to take a look at Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, NY and NYC. 20 years ago we were an almost entirely white Christian College and Seminary. Our present student body of 3100 is nearly an even breakdown of 25% Asian, Latino, Black and Caucasian. God is at work in exciting ways…
That is fantastic to hear Ron! The Ethnic America Network, of which I am a part, is looking for an existing course that deals with (a) reaching the nations that are coming to North America, and/or (b) intentionally pursuing unity in diversity in our multi-cultural world. Do you have any such courses at Alliance or otherwise know of any?
This is an important article and I hope this will stimulate conversation about this topic. America remains a very segregated society in spite of some gains in integration. Amazingly, the church has fiercely held on to a segregationism that may or may not have been intentional. Many church leaders don’t recognize that to move their congregations toward multiethnic approach, they have to be extremely intentional. It doesn’t just happen. In most situations, however, pastors and leaders don’t have the cross-cultural experience and skills, or the desire, to reach across racial lines.
In light of the changing demographics of America, we need to be talking about this.
Theresa Froehlich
http://www.transitionslifecoaching.org
I would like to be a part of on multi racial church, but in truth don’t see that happening. I do think that the key to the church having an impact in the future will depend on its willingness to intergrate. How can it preach God’s love for all when we can’t even worship as one?