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| Catholic church in Natchitoches, Louisiana where diversity seldom occurs |
The other key time for segregation is death.
The observation about segregation occurring most on Sunday and at death echoes the concerns of many churches across America, as efforts at diversification have failed.
Decades after King said 11 a.m.Sunday morning was “the most segregated hour of Christian America”
informal efforts by congregations and churches to bring the races together have not worked. Nine in 10 Christian congregations in America have a single racial group that constitutes more than 80% of the membership.
“Socially, we’ve become much more integrated in schools, the military and businesses. But in the places where we worship, segregation still seems to be the norm,” has said Dr.Kevin Dougherty, assistant professor of sociology at Baylor University after collaborative research that was published several years ago in the academic journal Sociological Inquiry entitled "Race, Diversity and Membership Duration in Religious Congregations.
“It’s not just an issue of attraction, of getting them into the door, but of retention,” he said. “Can we keep them? Our research indicates that we’ve not been able to.”
Researchers found people choose churches where they feel comfortable. They may feel too challenged in situations where they feel different. The under-represented minority has a feeling of being different and seeing the church as perhaps not "theirs" in the full sense of the word. They may also feel powerless in decision making, feeling there's not enough "me" to be able to take charge of anything or have an opinion count.
Those who begin the process of diversifying a congregation are usually the risk takers. Here is what seems to be the ticket to success in diversity., according to the researchers: racially diverse leadership, racially inclusive worship, opportunities for membership interaction, the kind that might occur at Sunday school meetings
As for death, it happens to all of us; but some of the same principles apply. People need to see themselves as accepted and part of a group. Much of the lack of diversity has to do with neighborhoods and culture. For example, people tend to deal with the familiar, the known. The neighborhood mortuary means the individual making funeral arrangements feels more comfortable than going across town to find someone to help who may be unfamiliar with customs and therefore options for a particular ethnic or racial group.
It means in church or in death that extra effort must be made to reach out and help people belong. Even so, it is likely that the comfort issue is the most important concern over diversity, and therefore risk, and perhaps change may be slow going in both death and church.
As for death, it happens to all of us; but some of the same principles apply. People need to see themselves as accepted and part of a group. Much of the lack of diversity has to do with neighborhoods and culture. For example, people tend to deal with the familiar, the known. The neighborhood mortuary means the individual making funeral arrangements feels more comfortable than going across town to find someone to help who may be unfamiliar with customs and therefore options for a particular ethnic or racial group.
It means in church or in death that extra effort must be made to reach out and help people belong. Even so, it is likely that the comfort issue is the most important concern over diversity, and therefore risk, and perhaps change may be slow going in both death and church.
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