THE EMERGING CHURCH MOVEMENT...is it just a "white thang?"

The Catalyst Conference in Atlanta (Maxwell, Andy Stanley, etc) was a good conference full of great speakers and solid teaching.  However, what disturbed me about Catalyst (and conferences like it) is that the majority of the people who attend these conferences are all white males (goatees, glasses, and jeans).  Catalyst had over 10,000 people there, and I would guess that 95% were white (Caucasians), and part of the so called, "EMERGING CHURCH" movement.  I can only respond to this by asking, "WHY?"  Is the "EMERGING CHURCH" movement a "WHITE THING."  Or does the Catalyst Conference exemplify how far we have to go to build TRUE/REAL/HONEST/AUTHENTIC relationships within the Christian community between African-American and White followers of Christ (To all my white Christian brothers--It doesn't count when you say, "My best friend so happens to be Black" - quit saying that and take the next step).  Like Rev. Soong-Chan Rah (pastor in an Emerging Church) said, "The emerging church is not a blond man with a goatee."

There is a huge racial divide in the North American Church (and the emerging church movement), whether the Christian community wants to admit or not.  In order to deal with this racial divide we must start having honest conversations across racial lines about the wall of division that exists (and quit being in denial and stop living in TBN Christian LA LA LAND about this issue).   

Comments

[david]

That's what I'm talking about

http://dturn.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/afraid-of-the-dark/

[SolShine7]

This is exactly why I enjoy reading your blog so much, you tell it like it is!!!!

Great post.