Future Challenges for ‘Minority’ Ethnic Churches

by Olu Ojedokun

The minority ethnic churches by their very nature bring about challenges. One of them is the possibility of the second generation problem. There could come a time when these churches cease to attract any of the second generation Africans as their children, for the tendency of the second generation, as shown by the other earlier migrants, as shown by the other earlier migrants, to become more anglicised and start to consider themselves British is inevitable. An aging Church would have consequences for the daily life of the church. I have usefully made a summary of the for and against minority ethic churches in the next few paragraphs to help these Churches reflect.

Summary of Arguments for minority ethnic churches
The Language Argument: They allow Christians lacking fluency in the language of the dominant culture to worship in their mother tongue.

The Social Network Argument: They give people the opportunity to meet people of the same ethnic background and similar life experience.

The Cultural Argument: They can sustain the ethnic minority culture by offering language classes and by celebrating cultural festivals.

The Evangelism Argument: They can evangelise members of their own ethnic group more effectively than indigenous churches.

The Pastoral Care Argument: They are better equipped to meet the pastoral needs of members of their own ethnic group than indigenous churches.

Summary of Arguments against minority ethnic churches
By focusing on members of their own ethnic group minority ethnic churches limit their own mission and exclude other ethnic groups.

The Recruitment Argument: They might find it difficult to recruit qualified full-time staff, and, in consequence their ministry is undermined.

The Community Argument: They could experience difficulties in creating a sense of community because their members are widely dispersed in huge catchment areas. In addition, minority ethnic churches are isolated from their local community.

The Second Generation Argument: They usually find it difficult to serve and engage second and third generation immigrants who have either adjusted to or become assimilated into the host culture.

Interactions with some African migrants, international students have produced some practical suggestions, addressed below. It is hoped this would help some of the indigenous churches better address this issue.

The Contemporary Observations of Africans about the ‘English’ Church and Some Practical Suggestions.

Church Life:

• The African students think the ‘English’ Church could do better at welcoming generally. They particularly find it quite irritating when the same people ask their names and general information over and over again. Their response is: “Surely, we stand out enough, there aren’t so many of us for you to keep mixing us up”.

• Africans are more emotive and assume relationships, they feel because you are a Christian then you would express it warmly in whatever context, whereas some British people operate in context and are reserved, relationship has to be built over time.

• It is suggested that a very effective way of welcoming Africans is by visiting them at their homes or where they live which is something we do not do much in the English Church. Many Africans observe that in the years some of them have been here, no one has ever come to visit them in their houses. Though the culture here expects you to be invited, the African culture expects you to just turn up. A compromise could be to plan a visit time but the ‘English’ Church needs to take the initiative.

Fellowship:

• It is suggested that a way to keep the African students involved with a fellowship group of the Church is by giving them defined responsibilities. Africans generally would prefer not to be at the receiving end but to be made to feel like we are the ‘playmakers’. They are generally not in England to learn the language and the culture like some other internationals, so they do not easily take on the role of a leaner. The Africans want to be developed and to serve others. They also like the opportunity to be in ’charge’ to the extent that being made to feel are the ‘chief’ (responsible) of two people; it gives them a reason to commit. They are more likely to commit to something if we feel they are needed and they have a role to play, otherwise, they leave. To keep them, it is suggested that you give them responsibilities as simple as saying prayers before they split into groups, lead some studies where possible.

Evangelism:

• Globe Café, a café run for international students by Friends International in the UK does not really work for the African students because they are not here to practice their English speaking skills and they prefer to mix with themselves rather than with other cultures. The exception is when they are in a position to think they are helping other people (i.e. African night). So similarly, if they had some form of SPECIAL responsibility at globe it would help integrate them.

• The alternative is to come up with something entirely different to reach Africans.

Generally:

It is suggested that apart from wishing to give, one thing Africans really need is a feeling of acceptance. In one sense, a lot of what the English/indigenous Church does is geared towards people who want to learn, I think what the Africans value most is a feeling of acceptance.
They do not come wanting to learn, they come wanting to belong and so they will stay if they feel accepted and if they feel like they belong. That boils down to having a role to play, having people visit them and look out for them.

Some Suggested Solutions: The principles of non-assimilation and mutuality
It is mandatory for aspiring multi-ethnic churches to select their leaders on the above basis to avoid a mono-ethnic leadership. It also shows a willingness to listen and to learn from them.

Cross-cultural fellowship is not easy because we naturally tend towards our own kind. But to mix with those other nations and those from other cultural backgrounds should be a particular characteristic and glory of the Christian Church. Thorsten (2008:81)

The principle of mixed-ministry teams
People of different cultures and social rank worked together for the sake of the gospel. In addition, the cultural insights which they brought to mission enabled the church to be more effective in its outreach.

An important step for integration into the local church is to help them to find opportunities of service according to their abilities and gifts. Serving others is an important dimension of Christian life. Their status as internationals should not reduce people to the passive receipt of service from other church members. The Africans need an equal chance to serve side by side with indigenous Christians in roles of mutual reciprocity. In the process their participation enables them to get to know other members of the church better and to form friendships. It is s

uggested that mission today is a two way street, it is about ‘giving and receiving’ The paradigm of mutuality. C. Ross (2006:3) M Ireland (2003:78) notes:

For too long in we in Britain have thought of world mission as ‘what can we do for them’, whereas we now need to recognise that our own country has become a mission field and that we need others to come and help us in mission’.

Most of the materials contained in the notes are from African students interviewed by Lois Isemede, a Church Worker in Jesmond Parish Church, Newcastle, and from a Ph.D. research of Prill Thorsten, titled ‘Global Mission on our Doorstep Forced Migration and the Future of the Church’.

Bibliography

1. Fernando, A 1998. The niv application commentary: Acts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
2. Thorsten, P 2008. Global Mission on our Doorstep Forced Migration and the Future of the Church Druck und Bindung: MV-VAerlag
3. Martyn, J L 1998. Galatians: a new translation with introduction and commentary. New York: Doubleday
4. Dunn, J D G 1993. Commentary on the Epistle to Galatians. London: A&C Black
5. Ross, C 2006. Educating for contextual mission in the light of recent events.
6. http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk//news/2006/2006011ross.cfm?view=printer&menuopt=3
7. Ireland, M 2003. Learning from the world church, in Evangelism which way now? M Booker & M Ireland (eds). London: Church House Publishing, 77-90
8. Yeung, D 2005. Interviewed by T Prill on 11th October 2005 (Interview B08). Nottingham, England
9. Low, B 2005. Interviewed by T Prill on 20th May 2005 (Interview B02). Nottingham, England
10. Vallance, I 2005. Interviewed by T Prill On 16th June 2005 (Interview B03). Nottingham, England
11. Bosch, D J 2004. Transforming mission: paradigm shifts in the theology of mission. Maryknoll: Orbis
12. Moltmann, J 2000. The mission of the Spirit – the gospel of life, in Mission – and invitation to God’s future, T Yates (ed). Calver: Cliff College Publishing, 19-34
13. Stott, JRW 1967. Our guilty silence: the church, the gospel and the world. London: Hodder & Stoughton
14. DeYoung, CP, Emerson, MO, Yancey, G & Kim, KC 2004. United by faith. New York: Oxford University Press
15. Padilla, RC 1985. Mission between the times. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans
16. Van Rheenen, G 1996. Missions: biblical foundations & contemporary strategies. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
17. Norridge, M 2004. Incarnational mission. Paper presented at ‘Go-Plant-Build’, Derby.http://www.ccn-online.org.uk/Downloads/Incarnational%20Missionspdf
18. Whiteman, DL 2003. Anthropology and mission: the incarnational connection. Missiology: An International Review 31(4): 397-415
19. Woodley, R 2004. Living in color: embracing God’s passion for ethnic diversity. Downers Grove. InterVarsity Press
20. Brierley, P 2005b. UK Christian handbook religious trends no. 5: 2005/2006: the future of the church. London: Christian Research
21. Isemede, L, 2008. Survey conducted with Newcastle area
22. Sturge, M 2005. Look what the Lord has done: an exploration of black Christian faith in Britain. Bletchley: Scripture Union

You may also like

2 comments

employlawone@aol.com May 4, 2009 - 8:29 am

Dear Noni,

These are very incisive and well thought out comments, I appreciate them in its entirety.

I am glad and thankful that we share some of the same objectives.

In the past 18months I have been part of a movement working with up to 200 ‘African Majority’ Ministers to engage with some of the implications of having our ‘churches’ in contemporary Britain. The key note speaker at the last major event was Bishop of Rochester, Nazir Ali and for two months last year we went back to the classroom with about 20 ministers.

In November, the 13th, we are planning to hold another consultation and we have a planning group that meets regularly in London.

I would very much love to be in contact with you to see how we can advance some of these issues further.

Thank you.

Reply
Noni May 3, 2009 - 7:34 pm

Interesting perspective; this is an area I have been involved in for many years on a number of levels. While I think some of the points raised are valid, some are subjective and debatable.

Because I live in a diverse society I have chosen not to belong to a minority ethnic church. Friends I have from these churches have limited or no experience of other churches or church experience, they know little about working/networking with those from other churches, are often unaware of the bigger issues facing the Church in this country, and choose to go to what they know from home.

Those I know who have opted to attend local “native” churches are themselves engaging and pro-active, rather than waiting for church to approach them. Inasmuch as people gravitate towards “their own”, by choosing not to go to a minority ethnic church, they are also forced to deal with others not like them which is a learning experience for all involved. It isn’t always easy but I think local churches have benefitted greatly from this kind of interaction.

Looking at the history of ethnic minority churches, especially in the UK, the newer minority ethnic churches vary greatly from those that were established “back in the day” and for very different reasons. Working towards a diverse engaging church is not without its ups and downs, but it is definitely worth it.

Reply

Leave a Comment