The nation's largest Presbyterian, Methodist and Evangelical Lutheran church
denominations are trying to combat recent declines in membership by diversifying their congregations, according to an article from StreamingFaith.com
During a typical Sunday morning at the First Presbyterian Church in Athens, about 20 percent of the usual attendance is of a non-Caucasian ethnicity, including African, African-American and Chinese, the Rev. Craig Seitz said. However, Seitz added that the church could use more diversity.
We're never going to get there
Seitz said. This is a constant process.
Other churches in Athens recognize the initiative to increase membership and the importance of diversity within congregations.
A strategy that gets congregations to move beyond the focus on growing and getting people 'just like us' is a good strategy said the Rev. Bill Carroll of the Athens Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.
Carroll said the congregation at Good Shepherd is racially diverse - it has African, African-American and Caucasian members.
Fighting (against) injustice is as important as the congregation's internal makeup and even as important as the growth of the church Carroll said, adding that a congregation must stay faithful and trust that the change will lead the
congregation in the right direction.
Don Jason, a member of Divine Covering, a student-run religious organization, said that the importance of diverse congregations does not apply just to predominantly white congregations.
It's always good to glorify God. The more people you can expose
the better. ... It's about targeting all audiences and sharing the word
said Jason, a senior studying journalism who serves as the public relations executive for Divine Covering.
The Rev. Marty Holler, a pastor at Christ the King Catholic University Parish, said addressing diversity within congregations is not necessarily the solution to waning membership.
It is important to be conscious of welcoming all ... but I think the solution is in striving to have parish communities be what they're called to be - a place where Christ is celebrated and where people recognize their mission to share the good news with other people
Holler said.
Holler added that the university contributes to the diversity of Athens community and churches, but the current cultural trends present a more significant issue.
In general
culturally we are less community-minded and service-oriented
and these are all values that the church seeks to promote
Holler said. There are other issues as well (such as diversity)
but they are not significant ones.
em170908@ohiou.edu
