Blacks and Latinos in the UPCI Question.

[Scott Hutchinson]

I don't pastor currently,but if I did I would hope all people of all races would be made to feel welcome in a church if I was the pastor.
I was borned and raised in the south,there alot of things I have been misinformed about concerning racial issues,but my Holy Ghost leads me into truth.

[JaneEyre]

When I first started to a Oneness Church, I wanted to bring some African American children with me to a few services. I can't remember if I actually brought them or just talked about it....It was a long time ago. They were the sweetest kids and had almost no adult guidance. Not only were the people semi-rude when discussing this, but the pastor basically did not recognize that it should be done.... Later (if I understood correctly) I learned that he did not believe in different races attending church together. That was a real shocker and almost knocked me out of going to church at all. I left that church after a few years and I could never understand that mindset.

[PraiseHymn]

I am so loving this thread. By far one of the best I have read. You really dont know how people are going to get delivered by reading some of these comments. Today, I did go to a UPC church that I would say is multicultural. Both blacks and whites came up to me and sincerely welcomed me. Also, as the pastor preached, I felt like I could "be me" meaning I could yell out and quickin and scream just like how I do when I am in a 100% african american church, and I felt no one would look at me because my "praise" outwardly was different (if you know anything about the african american pentecostal church, our services are verrryyyyyyyyyyy emotional with the hammond b3 organ playing behind the preacher and the congregation dancing till everyone passes out....well....at least thats what I am use to lol). Never the less, for some reason (and this is something that I have to get over) I tend to wonder when I look at some people if they are saying "hmmmm, what is he doing here....he needs to be at a black church.....or......hmmmm I hope there are not more of him on there way to our church) I dont know, growing up in NYC I've always been around every nationality but living in the south it truly is a black/white issue. Also, I plan on being in leadership (if the lord should say the same) and I also wonder how the congregants will receive me as a black man in a predominately white church........THIS is the reason why my close friends bring the "race" issue up to me...however, I do understand there are some things I need to just get over and let God have His way.....BUT I do want to know what other people really are thinking concerning multicultural congregations AND minorities in leadership (keeping in mind a minority in the UPC can also be Chineese, of which I dont see many of those either ya know).

[Hoovie]

I am against racial quotas for leadership positions in organizations, whether that is UPC, PAW, AOG, or COGIC.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by PraiseHymn

I am so loving this thread. By far one of the best I have read. You really dont know how people are going to get delivered by reading some of these comments. Today, I did go to a UPC church that I would say is multicultural. Both blacks and whites came up to me and sincerely welcomed me. Also, as the pastor preached, I felt like I could "be me" meaning I could yell out and quickin and scream just like how I do when I am in a 100% african american church, and I felt no one would look at me because my "praise" outwardly was different (if you know anything about the african american pentecostal church, our services are verrryyyyyyyyyyy emotional with the hammond b3 organ playing behind the preacher and the congregation dancing till everyone passes out....well....at least thats what I am use to lol). Never the less, for some reason (and this is something that I have to get over) I tend to wonder when I look at some people if they are saying "hmmmm, what is he doing here....he needs to be at a black church.....or......hmmmm I hope there are not more of him on there way to our church) I dont know, growing up in NYC I've always been around every nationality but living in the south it truly is a black/white issue. Also, I plan on being in leadership (if the lord should say the same) and I also wonder how the congregants will receive me as a black man in a predominately white church........THIS is the reason why my close friends bring the "race" issue up to me...however, I do understand there are some things I need to just get over and let God have His way.....BUT I do want to know what other people really are thinking concerning multicultural congregations AND minorities in leadership (keeping in mind a minority in the UPC can also be Chineese, of which I dont see many of those either ya know).

Of course that is a stereotype that not even all blacks would appreciate...

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

Well, I just married two of our ordained ministers kids to each other this Summer. One was white and the other was black. I lost a family who have been at NLC for probably 25-30 yrs who were fit to be tied that I would marry this couple. They went back to the UPC in a huff.

Anyone who leaves over an issue like, I don't EVER want to see back unless they get delivered from that ungodly prejudiced spirit. I mean, of all the "crimes" I could have committed as pastor, that one was unforgivable.

Must have been a white girl?

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

Must have been a white girl?

Yup!

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

Yup!

Family that left, white?

[SoCaliUPC]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

In the UPC church I used to attend, the same thing happned MOW. They were told that they might be more comfortable in a black church.

TRANSLATION: Us whites will be more comfortable with you in a black church.

Interracial dating was strongly discouraged, the "scripture" used was birds of a feather flock together.

It is a shameful part of our history....It is history now, right?

How SAD!

Thank goodness that is not how it is in the UPCI church I attend. We have always been a very diverse, multi-cultural church.

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

I am against racial quotas for leadership positions in organizations, whether that is UPC, PAW, AOG, or COGIC.

Nobody is advocating quotas here.

Racial diversity in leadership should not be automatically taken to mean "racial quotas".