Survey: Attitudes to issues of race, racism and inclusion

(From the October - December 2021 issue of VOX)

The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.  Leviticus 19:34 

649 respondents to our survey described themselves as White Irish, White British or White Northern Irish. We explored their views with a range of questions that gave opportunity to express their opinions and attitudes to diversity and inclusion within churches.

The overwhelming majority (91%) of these respondents felt is was, “important for churches in Ireland / Northern Ireland to engage in conversations about race and racism” and 94% strongly agreed or agreed that “churches are enriched by ethnic diversity.”

There were a large number of comments about the need for and value of ethnic diversity in churches, about our unity in Christ and the desire for greater inclusion and participation of church members from ethnic minority backgrounds. Many expressed appreciation for the survey as a starting point in exploring and understanding the issues.

We seek to model the biblical concept of every tribe, tongue and nation being equal in God’s kingdom. We value the contribution of each group and regard their uniqueness and individuality as adding to the richness and the flavour of the church. 

Not so long ago folks had to fight hard to get reasonable facilities for people with disabilities in our towns, cities, i.e., toilet access, lifts, accesses to suit wheelchairs getting into buildings, trains, busses, etc. Problem was none of the people designing/planning had acute physical disabilities - so it didn’t cross their minds to consider it. Now most people have been educated, a little, regarding this and things are improving for people with disabilities. It’s the same thing with people who are different from us, different culture, different colour, different accent. We need to put ourselves in the ‘others’ shoes - learn how they’ve had to live their lives, learn what discrimination feels like and how it destroys peace in the lives of others - this is the way to learn ‘a little’ about what’s normal to others.

I am committed to making church welcoming to everyone, irrespective of colour or ethnic background. I would be comfortable with changes in style of worship to help others feel welcome. My only reluctance would be if the Bible Teaching were diluted.

I am the pastor of a diverse, Intercultural church. We embrace the various cultures and learn from one another, recognising that each culture has so much to give and teach us.

“I love that you are addressing this issue because it is an issue.”

I love that you are addressing this issue because it is an issue. I do not believe all ethnic groups are given the same opportunity to minister in my denomination. This exclusion is not relegated to the more public ministries such as preaching and teaching but widens to every aspect of church ministry. I believe the denomination’s goal is to treat different ethnic groups the same but I believe this falls short of true acceptance and inclusion. To truly break down the prejudices and racism different ethnic groups should not need to become like white Irish church members. Honest conversations need to occur. Every ethnic group should have equal opportunity to freely bring their diverse culture into the house of God. We have much to learn from one another but without listening to understand and grow we will isolate and become stagnant.

I visited the International Meeting Point in Belfast with other ladies from our church to help with food preparation and it really did help me to see the scale of the need for folk from other ethnic groups and encouraged us to do other things to help. The work of the people there from local churches is immense and a fantastic outreach. This helped me to see this problem in a different light and removed some blind spots I have had. (I say this ashamedly).

 I’m very glad you’ve started the conversation with this survey. 

Strong Reactions 

Several issues sparked strong reactions. There was a notable divergence of opinion over the Black Lives Matter movement, issues of White Privilege and questions about diversity in leadership. It is notable that different assumptions were made about the meaning of the terms used. 

The statement “The Black Lives Matter Movement has gone too far” revealed a significant polarisation of views and prompted 35 responses in the comment section. Many made the distinction between the statement “black lives matter” and the American political organisation of that name.

Black Lives do matter but I would be concerned about some of the political connections of the BLM movement.

Black Lives Matter has raised a hugely important issue and opened discussion and awareness of white privilege in a way not done before, and for that it I am in support. Where those who supported its rallies and demonstrations turned to violence it went too far and undid some of the good it was doing. I do understand that the suppression felt for years by many would have overflowed, and been hard to contain but I can’t condone violence.

My comment on the Black Lives Matter “going to far” is my concern at the division it is causing. Certain extreme factions use it to incite violence. The focus is too narrow and based on US issues. 

I believe that Black Lives Matter and are equal in all respects to every other life and that all human life is sacred and ought to be cherished. I totally disagree with discrimination of any grounds and equally that racism is abhorrent. I believe our emphasis must be on all being equal without exception. Regarding the movement styling itself ‘Black Lives Matter’, I cannot support all of their stated aims, objectives and baggage. I believe the issues in Ireland are very different to those in the USA and UK. 

The Black Lives Matter movement is not something the church should support. It is a Marxist, political movement that’s ultimate aim is not simply the emancipation of black people, but also dismantling the family unit, removing the place of fathers from the home, pushing a radical LGBT agenda, undermining Christian values, and eroding every institution that refuses to succumb to its agenda. The church universally should condemn racism, actively fight against genuine injustice that dehumanises other people, and promote equality of opportunity (not outcome) for all people. But it should not lend its support to a political and ultimately destructive movement. 

BLM ... holds a variety of views that are wholly incompatible with the Christian faith. It incites violence and stokes racial division. 

Similarly, the issue of white privilege provoked some strong or angry responses, even though a significant majority of survey respondents (67%) strongly agreed or agreed with the statement “White privilege makes life so much easier for white people in Ireland”. Of the 18% who disagreed or strongly disagreed with this statement, 20 added comments. It is interesting to note a similar Barna Survey in America (Beyond Diversity 2021) found that anger is the top emotion when “White Privilege” is mentioned.

These questions are surely a joke are they? How do Irish people have white privilege when they were the oppressed group since 1196 AD? Do not bring this nonsense into the Irish church. 

The term White Privilege is the new racist term that is being used by social justice activists to allow non-white racial groups to direct hatred towards white people. The fact you have it in your questionnaire shows you are already singing from the hate white people hymn sheet. Most of the non-Irish ethnic groups in my church are much more privileged than I was growing up in Ireland. The term White Privilege doesn’t recognise the poverty many white Irish suffered. So, this term White Privilege is a racist term against white people. 

There was also a strong reaction to questions about church leadership. 81% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed with the statement “The leadership of a church should reflect the ethnic diversity of its congregation” with only 7% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing. However there were 50 comments about this issue with many indicating a fear that unqualified leaders would be placed in roles, simply because of their ethnicity. However, there was also thoughtful nuance as others reflected on the potential and impact of a more diverse leadership team.

Eldership and leadership is not predicated on race but spiritual maturity and ability. 

I would suggest that spiritual maturity is ahead of this; nevertheless the church should be proactive in having a diversity of leadership. 

I don’t think it should be mandatory for the leadership to reflect the ethnic diversity of its congregation because leadership should ultimately be based on gifts and calling but I think it is a sign of health if it does reflect the ethnic diversity of its congregation. My home church (not current church) is much more diverse, and so is the leadership because of that. 

I am aware that people of ethnic minorities are not represented in our church leadership team, but I would love to see this change.

Self Reflection 

One significant finding was the number of respondents who were engaging thoughtfully with the survey to understand the issues and reflect on their own and their church’s attitudes and culture. 

In a white majority church, middle class and with only a very small number of non-white faces, the issues of racism / BLM seem pretty remote and irrelevant to most in the church. It’s a bit of a circle - the lack of non-white people makes the issues remote. But there is little reflection on why the church does not have much ethnic diversity or what can be done about it.

On the question about raising racism in church: It is easy if the racism is about explicit and overt behaviour, it is very difficult if the racism is structural. Churches in Ireland don’t realise how much they conform to the liberal understanding of racism as overt behaviour. Yet structural racism is very real and present and acknowledging its presence is very much resisted.

“I find that my church is very welcoming to a diverse range of people, however I do think that my community is still blind at times to its own even unintended racism.”

I think there should be more discussion about how racism affects the people in our church, and more advocacy by our church for people of colour in society.

I find that my church is very welcoming to a diverse range of people, however I do think that my community is still blind at times to its own even unintended racism, using terms that are objectionable and not noticing that members of ethnic minorities have not been invited to take part in committees. Some of this has to do with the fact that a sizable part of our community is elderly and using terms that were appropriate when they were younger but there is still a lot more room to change all our attitudes.