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Note #6685 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Speaker talks about becoming a more multicultural church during Urban
Ministry Office lunch
14-June-2001
GA01127

Speaker talks about becoming a more multicultural church during Urban
Ministry Office lunch

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE, June 14 — Words of challenge, encouragement and
opportunity in becoming a more culturally inclusive church resonated through
Thursday’s luncheon of the Urban Ministry Office of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.).

In a time when 2.4 percent of all Americans identify themselves as members
of more than one race, PC(USA) congregations are sensing a call to become
more culturally inclusive. Evangelism officials believe the denomination now
has about 350 multicultural churches — congregations that incorporate
the cultural traditions and dimensions of more than one ethnic or racial
group in church life, from worship and education to mission and ministry.
Several hundred other churches in the denomination are attuned to a single
ethnic or racial culture.

“The United States is steadily moving from a perceived homogeneous
society with one dominant culture group to a pluralistic one with multiple
ethnic, linguistic, religious and lifestyle expressions,” said speaker
the Rev. Antonio (Tony) Aja, the PC(USA)’s former associate for
immigrant groups in the United States.

One major challenge facing all Christians in today’s ever increasing
multicultural and multi-ethnic society — which has been stoked by
unprecedented immigration over the past three decades — is whether we
“can all get along,” said Aja, quoting Rodney King’s
memorable plea for calm during the Los Angles riots in 1992. Aja said the
teachings of Christ are universal in concept and application and that Jesus
died for the whole world not just one group.

“The Bible teaches inclusiveness and justice, regardless of race,
culture, ethnicity, lifestyle or social status,” said Aja, who now
serves as associate director for People in Mutual Mission in the
denomination’s Worldwide Ministries Division. “Can we all get
along?” Only when Christians, especially PC(USA) Christians, begin to
lead society into accepting and affirming, not just tolerating people unlike
themselves, Aja said.

Although Christ crossed social, cultural, religious and racial barriers,
churches constitute “the most segregated institution in the United
States,” said Aja, a native of Cuba, referring specifically to the
PC(USA), which he said is approximately 94 to 95 percent white.
“Moreover, even within the denominations with significant non-white,
racial-ethnic constituencies, power and decision making are still mostly
within the hands of whites,” Aja said, “pretty much like in
society at-large.”
About 80 people filed into a meeting room during the 213th General Assembly
at the Kentucky International Convention Center to hear Aja and learn more
about the changing multicultural face of the nation and the need to work
harder to increase the diversity of the PC(USA)’s membership rolls.

“The church, instead of being an agent of reconciliation, and
we’ve heard that word spoken many times during this convention, for
the most part remains a mirror of this Balkanized society,” Aja said.

The Urban Ministry Office of the National Ministries Division is a focus
area for the mission of the PC(USA) in urban/metropolitan areas around the
country. The office is guided in its work by the “Urban Strategy to
the Year 2005" which was adopted by the General Assembly in 1995.

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