Yesterday
was exciting around the CCCUCC building.
Long lines snaked out the building and down the sidewalk as Brookside
voters waited in line to vote in our social hall. This morning we are cleaning up election signs
left behind and other Election Day detritus.
As our nation cleans up after the whirlwind of the election, I’m
wondering what there is to learn from it and more specifically what it means
for our church.
As I think
about the votes cast yesterday and more importantly who cast them, I will leave
the declarations about America’s moral depravity to the fundamentalists. Instead, I’m interested in what the
demographics of the voters showed about diversity. According to ABC News, the 2012 electorate is
less white and less male than ever before.
Non-white voters made up 21% of the electorate; in 1996 that number was
10%. CNN reports that since 1964, female
voters have outnumbered male voters in every presidential election; last night
was no exception. Indeed, in yesterday’s
election white male voters made up 34% of voters; back in 1976 they were at
46%. In large part, President Obama won
the election, because he targeted his campaign to female and non-white voters.
Setting
aside partisan politics, I wish to cheer on these demographic changes. You may wonder why I, as a white male, would
be in support of a culture where white men have less say. A very important reason for my feelings is
that I have two bi-racial sons; both were adopted from African-American
birthfathers and Caucasian birthmothers.
I am excited that they will grow up in a culture that looks more like
they do, and where people of various skin tones and cultural backgrounds share
the power.
Another
reason that I am glad that white males will have less say in political power is
my theology. By the time I came through
seminary, it was standard practice to read the writings of feminist,
African-American and Latino theologians.
Their views of God challenged centuries of theology written by and for
white men. When I came to understand
that God was not a white male, I came to understand the Church should be a
community where all voices are heard, especially those who do not hold
power. Rather than feeling threatened by
my own loss of privilege, I was excited by the wonder of diversity. In political terms—both inside and outside of
the Church—I am all for people who have historically not had power and privilege
(for example women and non-whites) having their say in what the world should be
like.
These
demographic shifts say something to our particular church. The exit poll data from yesterday reveal
religious voters who were white and male largely voted for the losing
presidential candidate. Regardless of
how one feels about who won or lost, what this means for the American Church is
that if it chooses to remain largely a bastion of white male privilege then it
will lose its ability to be a player in society. Positions against women’s reproductive rights
and immigrants for example may be short-term winners, but they are long-term
losers. Churches that fail to take into
account the views of women and non-whites will find themselves less relevant
than they already are. Indeed, recent
polling data on finds that younger people are leaving Christianity in
droves. It is no coincidence that this
is happening among the generations who are more gender inclusive and culturally
cosmopolitan than ever before.
These
changes are huge, but I believe CCCUCC is well-positioned to not only survive
but thrive as the culture changes around us.
This congregation’s members fought for the rights of African-Americans
during the Civil Rights era and stood up for women’s rights in the years that
followed. CCCUCC chose to become Open
and Affirming to LGBT people long before most other churches in Kansas
City. This church has chosen to partner
with other congregations of different economic and ethnic backgrounds in groups
like MORE2. Yes, we have a lot of work
to do in order to truly reflect the diversity of God’s reign, but I am
optimistic on that score, because this church has already chosen repeatedly to
view diversity not as a threat but as a blessing.
Our culture
is changing, and the battles over those changes will at times be vicious as
those with power are forced to share it.
As a local church, however, we can model a different kind of community
where power is voluntarily given up for the benefit of those who lack it. We can make choices to open our doors to the
world in all its diversity rather than huddle behind them in fear of cultural
changes. I believe the future of CCCUCC
is bright as long as we remain open to a culture that is less homogenous and
more blessedly diverse.
Grace and
Peace,
Chase
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