wfn.org | PCUSA - Church must reflect changing world, moderators told

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

This story available online:

www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2008/08901<http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2008/08901

Church must reflect changing world, moderators told

Wealthy, white, English-speaking church must diversify, Aja
says

> by Toya Richards Hill
> Special to Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE - Against the backdrop of a highly diverse,
multicultural society, it's critical that Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) leaders for the 21st Century be adaptive
and willing to build a "church that reflects creation in
all of its colorful glory."

That was the message brought by the Rev. Tony Aja, interim
pastor at Louisville's Bardstown Road Presbyterian Church,
during opening worship for the 2008 Moderators' Conference
held here Nov. 21-23.

The gathering brought together synod and presbytery
moderators and vice-moderators from throughout the
denomination for a time of learning and growing. In
addition to Aja's sermon, worship also included selections
from the PC(USA)'s Unity Choir.

"The pool of folks who historically have helped build this
denomination is becoming smaller, being substituted by
people with different languages and accents and skin
colors, empty wallets and even other lifestyles," Aja told
those gathered. "They also want to worship God."

"We need to prepare the way for people of all nations and
walks of life to join us in the building of the church and
in the worship of our God," he said.

Aja, who preached from Ezra 4: 1-4 and Revelation 7: 9-10;
15-17, talked about the idea of rebuilding the church and
being open to others presumably from the outside who also
wish to join in that endeavor.

"Friends, in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) we have been
challenged to grow our churches. We are called of God to
build or rebuild our congregations," he said. "We are
called to demonstrate to the world the Shalom community
described in Revelation, when people from all the nations
and walks of life come together to give praises to God."

Yet the PC(USA) remains roughly 94 percent white,
English-speaking and relatively wealthy, Aja said.

"On the other hand, the country is becoming more and more
diverse with peoples from non-white, non-English speaking
countries flocking to our shores," he said. "Also, the very
fabric of our society, including the traditional concepts
of family and gender, is also changing."

Aja contended that church leaders "must adapt to the
changes in our society and culture." He also called on
seminaries to teach other languages such as Spanish and
Korean, and to include the liberation theologies coming
from Latin America, Asia and Africa in their curriculums.

"By studying and understanding the issues in our
pluralistic society and by developing relationships we can
begin to see the face of Jesus in others," Aja preached.

"God's church is the church of the refugee and immigrant,
the poor and the welfare mother or father, the teenager
gang member ... the old man or woman on a fixed income, the
gay couple down the street," he said. "And they all want to
help us build the church of Jesus Christ."

Toya Richards Hill is a Louisville-based free-lance writer.
She formerly served as a reporter for the Presbyterian News
Service.

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