3 Mistakes that Kill Church Diversity
“How did you guys plant and grow a diverse church in one of the most racially divided communities in the South.” A question I get quite often.
Diversity in the church is one of my “HOT” buttons. I don’t want to over simplify all of what it takes to have a flourishing multi-ethnic church, but there are a few things that will absolutely kill it, before you can get it off the ground…
Not Valued
Not making diversity a Core Value. Diversity in the church cannot be looked as an “al-carte” add-on, as the next push for growth. Diversity must be written into the churches DNA. Every activity of the church must pass this crucial core value test… “Is our core value of diversity represented here?” If not, scrap it or redo it….(Period)
To Much Volume
Having  a broad list. To many requirements of belief and structure kill diversity.  Some Churches with the greatest intent, wish to purse & protect their version of  “truth.” But in doing so, eliminate those with differing interpretations. Â
Understand, your goal MUST be for this list to be short! If there is a long list of “pre-requisites”  you shut off so many other groups with differing style and belief. Just stick with the shortest list possible, the real undebatable Truths of Scripture.Â
“I don’t care if they are charismatic or if they are a sipping saint, (that means they may drink alcohol). I want someone who loves the vision, willing to give 100% to the passion of the church. We don’t have to have conformity! But we must have unity! (-)Conformity + Unity = Diversity!
No Vision
Diversity in a church takes real vision. The pastor, leaders and attenders must have the vision to see diversity represented incrementally.Â
1-See it. Diversity must be evident when you walk in the door.
2-Stage it. Diversity must be seen on the stage. The platform of power. The place where people know if its, there, it’s not just a show.Â
3-Staff it. Diversity has got to have hard dollars in the budget! That means diversity is represented on the staff. That is where you will see real buy in across all lines. When those coming in, recognize the church has diversity represented on staff. There is no question about legitimacy.
So….Is your church killing diversity?
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Is it Valued?Â
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Is it Visible?
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Can you See it?
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Is it on the Stage?
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Is it staffed?
What is the biggest challenge now for your church to more reflective of your community, and show real diversity? Â
Categories: Leadership
I like your thoughts around paring the “statement of faith” to the core issues of Christianity. Too often “distinctives” include positions on which genuine believers may disagree such as end times chronology. Do you really want to break fellowship with someone because they believe differently than you on the Rapture or the Millennium?
Dude, I know! Don’t you wish everyone was smart like us, and could walk in godly Unity! 🙂
I agree with Mark. The core of Christianity is simple. Agree on that and build from there. Well said.
Agreed! Let’s put it in everyone’s water. Maybe it could spread.
Artie, thanks for this post. Coming to St George, SC a little over a year ago to Pastor I want to see the church grow into a multi-cultural body of believers. I have been struggling with how to see what could be, while looking at what currently is. I really appreciate the wisdom and depth of this post.
I pray that you will be able to see great breakthrough! That community needs it so badly
I believe that the promotion of the term ‘the black church’, let alone the unashamed practicing of it in the USA has unfortunately set a very sad and evil standard around the world, with nobody of any influence within the church corporate withstanding it.
There is no denying that black folk were greatly ostracised and
ridiculed and racism has been and will be around forever to dishonour both
black and white folk alike. However, no matter how the church model in the word
of God was challenged, thrown into the den of lions, persecuted, rejected and
scorned, the church remained having church based on having church and not on race.
I sincerely believe that we the church, both black and white folk in this
instance, that we have long since needed to get back to ‘our roots’ – the book
of Acts roots. I am convinced that it IS as simple as that for the body of
Christ, however, not for the racist though, as he will choose to remain divided, and promote ‘the black church’.
One of the comments suggest that the “Black church” creates the division in Christianity & is one of the root causes of racism; I would disagree. Diversity has to extend past Black folk partnering with a multi-racial church with a white pastor to White folk willing to sit under the leadership of a Black pastor in a multi-racial (diverse) congregation. This is a subject that the kingdom of God on earth should take seriously & really pray for God’s guidance; especially in the USA!