wfn.org | Goal of increasing racial-ethnic membership is news to PC(USA)

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #6534 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

members, survey finds
23-May-2001
01178

Goal of increasing racial-ethnic membership is news to PC(USA) members,
survey finds

46 percent oppose putting more money, energy into drive for diversity

by John Filiatreau

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In a survey conducted last November, only 7 percent of
Presbyterian Church (USA) members and 16 percent of elders were aware that
the denomination has set a goal of increasing its racial-ethnic membership
to 20 percent (from the current 6 percent) by 2010.

In the Presbyterian Panel survey, about two-thirds of PC(USA) pastors were
aware of the denomination's goal.

Nearly half (46 percent) of PC(USA) members said they would not like to see
the denomination devote "significantly more money and resources" in pursuit
of the 20 percent goal; 22 percent said they would favor such spending.
Among pastors, 41 percent said they'd favor more spending, while 32 percent
were against it.

The survey, conducted by PC(USA) Research Services, involved 577 members,
580 elders and 859 ordained ministers. Nearly all the participants were
white and non-Hispanic, reflecting the denomination's national composition
(94 percent of members, 92 percent of elders and 92 percent of ministers are
white and non-Hispanic).

The most popular suggestion for increasing racial-ethnic membership in the
PC(USA) was to "help existing racial-ethnic congregations to grow," an
approach favored by one-third or more of all the groups. The least favored
strategy was "encouraging white congregations to make greater efforts to
reach out to racial-ethnic persons." Twenty-seven percent of members, 32
percent of elders and 51 percent of pastors said they least preferred that
option.

While 12 percent of members, 15 percent of elders and 25 percent of pastors
agreed that "predominantly white congregations should make serious efforts
to hire pastors who come from other racial-ethnic groups," majorities of all
the groups said they would not be "uncomfortable" with a pastor from a
different racial-ethnic background from their own.

A majority of elders (52 percent) and pastors (57 percent), and 43 percent
of members, said they did not agree that their congregation "has made it a
priority to become more racially and ethnically diverse."

Majorities of all groups agreed that "congregations will become truly
racially and ethnically diverse" only when their neighborhoods do.
Majorities of members and elders and a quarter of pastors said they would
prefer to live in a "mostly-white" neighborhood.

Relatively few panelists (8 percent of elders, 17 percent of pastors) said
that, when their congregation last called a pastor, it made "a special
effort to identify candidates whose racial-ethnic backgrounds differ from
those of most members."

Three-quarters of PC(USA) pastors said at least one sermon on racial justice
issues was preached in their congregation during the previous year.
Two-thirds said their congregation had had at least one guest preacher from
a different racial-ethnic group during the past year. Forty percent said
they had taken part in joint worship services with another congregation
whose members are of a different racial-ethnic background.

Fifty-five percent of members and 46 percent of elders said that, if they
were moving to a new community, they would look for a "mostly-white" church
to join; 20 percent of members and 27 percent of elders said they'd look for
a "mixed half-and-half" congregation; 1 percent of members and 2 percent of
elders said they would look for a "mostly racial-ethnic" church to join.

Nearly half of the elders said they disagree that "attracting more
racial-ethnic members is the only way for the PC(USA) to reverse membership
decline."

Large majorities of all groups said they would oppose a law to "stop all
legal immigration" into the United States. Twenty-nine percent of members
said they would like to see the number of legal immigrants reduced; 78
percent of members, 71 percent of elders and 46 percent of pastors said they
want the U.S. government to "do significantly more to stop" illegal
immigration.

Majorities in every group, ranging from 55 percent of members to 83 percent
of specialized clergy, said they agree that "it's good for the U.S. that its
population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse."

Large majorities of pastors (67 percent) and specialized clergy (72 percent)
agreed that "because of past and present discrimination, it is sometimes
necessary for colleges and universities to reserve openings for
racial-ethnic students." About half of PC(USA) members agreed with that
statement.

Nearly half (47 percent) of members said they believe it is likely today
that "a white person won't get a job or promotion while an equally or less
qualified racial-ethnic person gets one instead."

The following percentages of elders and pastors think racial-ethnic people
have "as good a chance as whites" to:

* Get any kind of job for which they are qualified (49 percent of elders, 28
percent of pastors);
* Get any housing they can afford (60 percent and 46 percent);
* Get a good education for their children (68 percent and 49 percent).

Nearly three-quarters of pastors (72 percent) said they believe
racial-ethnic people get "less fair" treatment at the hands of the police.

Asked to evaluate "the state of relations between whites and racial-ethnic
persons in the U.S.," 39 percent of members described it as "good," while 35
percent said it was "bad." Of pastors, 33 percent said good and 46 percent
said bad.

The survey respondents said encounters with people of other races and
ethnicities are more common in the workplace (57 percent of members have
them frequently) than in the church (20 percent), at home (15 percent) or in
other social settings (24 percent).

_______________________________________________
pcusaNews mailing list
pcusaNews@pcusa.org

To unsubscribe, go to this web address:
http://pcusa01.pcusa.org/mailman/listinfo/pcusanews