Faith and Ethnicity
Can we be more than an ethnic church?
That’s the question I’ve been pondering since reading an article in this morning’s Star Tribune about the loss of ethnic identity in Minnesota. The author, focusing in particular on the descendants of German, Norwegian, and Swedish immigrants of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, points to recent census data suggesting that the emerging generation is less cognizant of, or interested in, their ethnic heritage.
Outside of the upper Midwest, where Scandinavian ethnic identity has been fairly strong, folks may wonder why this matters. But when I think about how closely church participation – certainly among Lutherans but also many Mainline Protestants and Roman Catholic congregations – I wonder about what this spells for church attendance. Many of our congregations, after all, were either stared as immigrant churches or as off-shoots of those churches, and this is true not only in the Midwest but also across the country. Moreover, lots of congregations continue to celebrate ethnic holidays, whether Fasnacht (or Mardi Gras) just before Lent, Santa Lucia Day in Advent, or Kwanza at the New Year.
How much do we connect church, in other words, with our ethnic identity? Or, to put it another way, how much of our commitment to going to church arose from our family traditions, traditions that include church participation but also Christmas celebrations, ethnic holidays and foods, tales about our grandparents, and more?
Again, this isn’t just limited, I think, to Midwestern Lutherans. African Americans have had a very close and cultural tie to what is regularly called “the Black Church,” and as the emerging generation of African Americans derives less of its identity from being African American or connects less with the part of their past that closely ties being African American to going to church, attendance of young people in these congregations is also slipping. Similarly, many of the immigrant congregations that are experiencing growth – Hmong and Ethiopian in the Twin Cities, for instance – do so in part because the religious and ethnic dimensions of their congregations are tied so closely together.
Elizabeth Eaton, the new presiding bishop of the ELCA, acknowledged in her remarks just after her election that the ELCA absolutely has to move beyond its primary or founding ethnic identity if it is to have a future, and she’s absolutely right. But when ethnicity and faith is tied together, how do we go about that? And if ethnic identity is diminishing among those whose immigration story is now several generations past, how we help people connect to their faith for the sake of the faith and how it helps them navigate their lives in a changed and changing world?
Well, these are just a few of the questions stirred up in me by the article. I’d be interested in your own take on ethnic heritage and faith. Do you have family traditions that are important to you? Are you aware of the ethnic roots of your congregation? How do we both cherish our heritage and imagine a different and vibrant future where persons of all cultures feel welcome? Thanks for being willing to share your insights and experiences in the comments.
I have been thinking about this for a while, David, and appreciate your bringing this up.
Here in the South, where I live, there’s less of a singular ethnic bond (German, Swedish, Danish, etc), but a very distinct sense of “Lutheran” over and against the various Evangelical churches here. Whereas in Minnesota, being Lutheran=”not Catholic,” here being Lutheran tends to equal “not Baptist.”
It may not be “ethnic” Lutheranism exactly, but it’s still a church defined by a pretty specific set of cultural practices and reluctant to engage theology beyond the 16th century controversies.
In a post-Christian world, I’m less and less interested in being culturally “Lutheran” and more and more interested in being a disciple of Jesus– albeit in a way that’s marked by Luther and the other reformers. Maybe it’s magical thinking, but in my congregation, we’re surrounded by people who have never set foot in church or have decided to leave church. Witnessing to the transformative power of Jesus, and living out God’s mission in the world are much more compelling for all of us than being culturally Lutheran.
As a 38 year-old who grew up in the ELCA, I missed the whole ethnic boat. I realize other peers did not, but it has been fascinating being a pastor who is post-ethnic (or so I think, not understanding LCA, ALC, etc…) but serving in congregations that still have a strong ethnic identity. I agree that this is an important topic for the church.
David, this is an even bigger issue right now for many of our Eastern Orthodox friends because their ethnicity is “fresher” in terms of recency. They are wrestling with the same issues Lutherans faced in the 19th century, such as: In what language should we worship, English or Greek/Russian/etc.? How (if at all) do we adapt our liturgy, practices and customs to a new and very different context? The intersection of ethnicity and faith provides a very accessible window into a deeper, more difficult theological question: What doctrine and practices should remain timeless, and what is adiaphora and subject to contextual change? Rarely are there easy answers.
I live on the Iron Range of Minnesota, where the question is not, “Who are you?”, but “What are you?”, meaning, “What is your ethnicity?” Finnish and Swedish heritage is central to the congregation I serve, but as the elders die, the definition of ethnicity becomes less and less important. I also just returned from a sabbatical, in which the heart and focus of our time in Scandinavia was connecting with our personal roots and ethnic heritage in Finland and Sweden. I learned about the rich traditions and people I come from and feel like I have more of a definition of who I am from this experience.
I truly believe that unless we know where we come from, we’ll have a hard time going forward. Unless we dive into God’s word and see what God has done in the past, how ever can we move into the future, as God’s people? We can’t hold onto the past, but we can have a sense of rootedness that connects us to those who have gone before us. The immigrants that crossed the seas were entering a new place with new possibilities and future. My guess is, they, like us, discerned their way into the new possibilities with God as well!
I wonder if there can be such a thing as ethnic hospitality or ethnic sharing?
One thought is to banish it all – put it in a trunk and in the attic – pretend all that “ethnic” stuff never existed. But that seems bland and sad.
Another way might be to become conscious of what is ethnic – and rich and meaningful and beautiful (like the photo you chose) and then free it from being “owned” – invite others to enjoy – not because they “should” but because ethnic identity is a gift…
And at the same time other gifts can come into the formerly ethnic-exclusive environment. Changing it, no doubt, but creating this gracious, multi-faceted context.
The other response is: if churches are going to insist on ethnic exclusivity – they will drift on until they can’t and then die. Not a bad thing – just limited. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad choice – and the world always needs another coffeehouse/restaurant/condo/performance space when the time comes.
While our congregation still has its fair share of Johnsons, we are less blonde than we were even 5 years ago when my daughter was one of two non-blondes among a group of 40 singing in the Christmas program. I believe our focus on hospitality and the needs of the neighborhood around our church have helped us become a more welcoming people. As we have learned to appreciate the “outsider” we have learned to appreciate one another as well. Even the unspoken cultural codes (i.e. Jante Law) have diminished, which has given many the courage to share their talents with our community.
Thanks for lifting up this conversation, .Dr. Lose.
Coming off a class on Dismantling Racism, it is important to note that faith, ethnicity, race, privilege and power have all been blended together in the experience of many in the United States.
In many cases, the atrocities of history, assimilation, and immigration have led to some sort of post traumatic stress and nostalgia.
What we need is a better understanding of diversity and dignity within the Body of Christ. But identity, particularly for white European Americans is much more complex than holiday traditions. And as Lutherans naming the thing for what it is is crucial for future forward.
This may also be helpful: http://world-trust.org/mirrors-of-privilege-making-whiteness-visible/
Peter, thanks for your words and for the link – it may be very helpful as we are trying to move forward in our congregation.
We moved in 1984 from New York City and New Jersey area to near Washington, DC. My immediate “shock” was to learn the Fairfax County school system represents families (most immigrant) that speak over a hundred languages. I expected that in New York City (subway) but had not realized the situation near D.C. For twenty-seven years my spouse the pastor led a suburban church (“program” size 600-700 membership) where folks from all parts of the globe came together and still attend and worship, on the cusp of new leadership. The PC(USA) church also has international and local mission with “heavy” involvement by congregation members.
Your article on “ethnicity and the church” promptly brought to mind the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 which, in part, says:
“I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
In my own words, I think this means that the Holy Spirit is not defined by any ethnicity and will thrive and live on and reach out to all men, regardless of their physical heritage, traditions, or the customs of the current day.
Your column raises the question of what part culture plays in how we understand and practice the Christian faith? Having come back from three weeks in Tanzania the question has taken on new force. How does our culture/ethnicity impact how we understand and live the faith? While different in many ways in TZ, what binds us together is Christ and the cross. But even having said that, we’ll understand this differently due to our settings in the world.
So…what if PB Eaton is wrong? What if survival means cultivating more deeply who we are ethnically and learning instead to be inviting and open to teaching others while learning from them as well? That maybe how we understand God, Christ, love, grace is tied somehow to who we are and where we come from? Food for thought? Smorgasbord?
Thanks, David, for pointing out that Jesusvwanted the disciples to care for the people where they are. Wondering how much more good we might do if we adopted that outlook over our own timeline and agenda
Very Interesting indeed – Ethnicity can help or harm our faith journey. In the beginning it brings us together, but if it continues to be the main reason for our church going, it is a hinderance and can be a stumbling block to Christine growth. We should “get over” who we are and concentrate on who Jesus Christ is. Time changes who we are.
Jesus never changes. Therefore, welcome all who cross your path so that we may become one in Christ. Having said that, it behooves us to preach and teach what Scripture reveals. The Gospel never compromises for the sake of “harmony.”
Thanks Prof Lose for raising one part of this question. Also, I think Bob Braxton highlighted another important factor, i.e., that to the degree that our surrounding neighborhoods are “ethnically” diverse it is easier for congregations to be. Here in a military town, (Norfolk, VA) we blend European ethnic groups easily. (But you should hear them talk about how it is (or was) back in Minnesota!)
We are two years into having one male white pastor and one female African-American pastor – getting beyond the color barrier seems to us to be a lot harder than the intra-white ethnic issues.
But I think the more we ALL aware of the issues and are willing to work on them, the better the Body will be.