Niche Church or something else.

Over the past few decades or so we have experienced the "Burger King" ing of the church. What I mean is this: Your way right away. In some ways the church has lost the battle in America. The population at large doesn't care about church and has not desire to go. In response to this individuals developed this idea: Let's find specific, smaller populations within the larger population and create a church that caters to them. In this way we have witnessed the advent of the biker church, the middle-class white man's church, the bar church, the skeptic's church, the goth's church, etc. Each one caters to a specific niche population.
In planting a church, the church planter needs to ask two questions. First, are we going to be a niche church? Second, what niche is that? John Maxwell explains that, "Who you are is who you attract." This means that since Rick Warren dresses a certain way, thinks a certain way, and believes a certain way, his congregation is going to be and look a lot like him.
I am interested in the question of how does a church planter in the niche market of church planting today create a church that targets two niche populations for the purpose of diversity? For example, I am very interested in those who hate going to church, but are interested in spirituality. This kind of language seems to come from and cater to upper-middle class white Americans. But, I am also curious about the issues facing the African-American church. I am also interested in the 20 something African-American male who hate going to church. Honestly at first glance I wonder if creating a church that hopes to reach both the 20-something African American male and the 20-something white male is possible.
The difficulty is found in American culture. To cater to both cultures will require some level of discomfort in both groups. Americans hate discomfort and so are apt to find a place where they can be more comfortable. There is the biological idea that the human body is always fighting to stay in homeostasis. As soon as its temperature is up a few degrees, it fights to bring it back down. The same is true in church. We want to be comfortable. If we're not, we'll go to the church down the street where we are promised to be made comfortable.
This is my quandary. Maybe this isn't possible and so maybe the best we can do right now is to create a niche church that caters to people like me and the other leaders in the church and befriend a church that caters to a different population. I honestly don't know the answer. But, I do think that the church today is falling into the same traps of diversity that our parents fell into and unfortunately I believe that we're making them worse through creating homogeneous congregations where all are made to feel comfortable by being around people just like themselves.

Something has to give!

In churches, something has to give for diversity to be successful. I do believe it is possible and must be possible. But, it's an uphill battle like the Cavaliers beating the Spurs in the finals. (Go Cleveland!)

Here's the issue, new churches that attempt to seek those who hate going to church are often "niche" churches. This means that one church seeks those over 40 men who ride motorcycles. Another caters to the upper- to middle-class white working man who hates church. (Actually most probably lean in this direction) Another caters to the artist or musician. We have niche churches. There is often a base assumption in these churches that flies in the face of diversity.

Churches that cater to those who don't know Jesus want to draw in their target audience. So one big way they do this is by giving the impression, "You'll fit right in, you'll be comfortable here." We want to make you feel comfortable and loosen you up to hear the truth. But, that first assumption, "You'll be comfortable here," is going to be very difficult for diversity. To be around someone who is different than you will cause some discomfort. So, it puts to values at odds with each other. If you want to have a church where diversity is a high priority then there will be some discomfort. But, if you also want to have a church where those who don't know Jesus will come then you promise that they'll feel "comfortable" here. How do those two work together.

Now, you could be good on the diversity side, and say on paper that you are catering to those who don't know God, and then think that you're doing a great job with the two. But, in reality, you could be catering to churched people who are comfortable with that culture. I"m a part of a church for people who hate going to church. We are very serious about that. I see other churches who say that they're serious about that, but on their website they use words like, "Contemporary" and "relevant preaching," and advertise on our local Christian radio station. There are many things wrong with that. Is "Mr. Non-Christian" who hates church and listens to the local top 40 radio station going to have any idea what in the heck "contemporary music" is? No! that's a Christian Culture paradigm- you'll only get that if you're already immersed in the culture. So, I think there are numerous churches who might say they're walking this line well, but their actions might speak differently.

How do you do this successfully?

There's a term called cognitive dissonance. It says that when your beliefs are in opposition to your actions you will be uncomfortable and so will either have to change your beliefs or actions to get back into equilibrium again. So, it might be that one side must give. Maybe this newest generation of churches needs to give up on reaching the "niche" population. Maybe they have to change the way they look at church in order to make room with diversity.

Two Worlds

You are sitting across from two people, one African-American, on White. Both don't really go to church. Both don't like church and think it is not applicable to their daily life? Here's the question: If you were to create a church that they would both go to together, what would that church look like?
I want to be honest. I get what the white version of this church would look like. I've seen the development of this kind of church. First was traditional church. Organs with hymns. Then pianos made their way into traditional church and maybe some newer hymns were added to the books. Then white Christian culture reacted to this and created the term "contemporary". This meant you could come to church in casual clothing (more like business casual), the music would include a band, and these churches will often highlight their, "relevant preaching." Then came churches for those who hate going to church. These added skits, multi-media, shorter sermons, harder rock songs, songs sung by non-Christian artists, and sermons that have titles or themes directly from pop-culture. There is a newer offshoot called the "emerging church" that I"m not sure where they fit in. But, I do believe that all of these developments have been primarily in the "White church." What has been developing the the African-American church during this same time.
I could say that it's the same and that you shouldn't call what I just listed as "white", but if you've ever read any magazine, book, article, or tried to google churches that believe the things I just mentioned- the churches of color are very very very sparse. They do exist, but not by much.
O African-American, middle-class man who wants to know God but hates church, what do you look for in a church? What church would you go to?

Diverse Jobs

Here's the deal. I'm looking for a job. Now, I've just finished reading Reconciliation Blues and want to be a part of the solution, not passively part of the problem. I want to be a part of a diverse church that is "outward" focused. So I get online and type my way to all the Christian Job websites. I begin looking for just such a church and run into a big problem. 90% of the churches on the websites are 100% white. The web page banners include all white people, the staff are made up of all white people, the photos of congregates are all white people. What am I supposed to do? How can I be a part of the solution when I can't find- even and all African-American church to apply to? I just find it frustrating.
This is an honest question: where are all the African-American churches, and where do they post jobs? Is there a network for predominantly African-American churches that I don't know about?

Thoughts?

Business or Spiritual Leader.

Christianity is not new to tensions. But in the ever changing media-frenzied world what is the role of that pastor? Is he a CEO, where deadlines and projects reign supreme, or is he the least of all men, a servant, a pastor and shepherd? Within the CEO model lays the pursuit of excellence and organization. But, in the spiritual leadership model lies the more metaphysical aspects of Christianity. In this the pastor is Spiritual Leader and a large part of his job is to set an example. Is one side better than the other? Honestly I'm not sure. The CEO model is more inline with society, it looks for growth and outcomes. But, if a church is healthy, shouldn't it have outcomes? What is wrong with pursuing things that work? Nothing. The pastor as Spiritual director is a more anti-society model. It cares more about individuals and is not as focused on results. Shouldn't the church, as representative of Christ's kingdom, be different than the world's kingdom?

Are Young Black Men Leaving Church?

It is possible that the African-American church is dealing with the same issues as the white church?

check out a blurb from this article by Franklyn Richardson.

"Today we have a significant number of young people who've never been to worship services, who know nothing about the values and culture of the Black church. Most church members have been put off too easily by the fact that these youths speak a whole other language we sometimes find offensive, and they wear their caps backward and their pants low.

For the sake of our communities, we can't afford to have the young Black men and women in what's known as the hip-hop generation--as well as those coming up behind them--remain estranged from the church. We must reach out, ask them how they see the world, and listen carefully. What are their ideas? How do they think we can promote Christian values among them and others who may not find the church relevant? By coming together and finding a common language, we can translate the fundamental message of the Black church so that many more of today's youths can hear it."

church for 20 somethings or diverse church?

I've read that churches today are either going the route of becoming a "Wal-mart church" where everything anyone could ever want is offered or becoming a smaller "niche" church where everything is offered for one particular type of people. Where does diversity fit into these two type of churches? The issues is that niche churches by their very nature cater to one group to the exclusion of another. In theory a "niche" church can either cater to 20-somethings or focus on diversity. Niche churches may not be able to do both well. Mega-churches have a better ability of including all, but then again church diversity may only happen if very intentional.

We are a society of comfort where we live by the "have it your way" motto. This idea permeates our churches. We love mega-churches where our every need can be met. But, we also like "niche" churches where we can feel welcome and comfortable and understood.

But, is there yet a "niche" church that has the ability to cater to the white 20 somethings and also the African-American 20-somethings? What would that look like? Can a church effectively do both at the same time? If so how?