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Christianity Today, January, 2009 |

Black Flight

African American churches leave the inner city for the suburbs.

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra | posted 12/30/2008 08:39AM

Urban blacks have been following the pattern of so-called "white flight" for the past several decades, leaving the city for the suburbs as they reach the middle class. Now their churches are beginning ...

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Ricky Harris

Posted: January 07, 2009 2:19 PM

I have recently begun pastoring an inner city church in Chicago in April of 07. The Alpha and Omega M.B.C. on Chicago's westside. There were 5 faithfull members there before I arrived. We now have 120 members but the majority of them live in the suburbs and drive in for service. It is challenging being in the inner city and the building is in need of much repair. The community is a fertile ground for seed planting I will be glad when we have the building repairs complete and we can focus more on the ministry.

Sean Felder

Posted: January 05, 2009 6:43 AM


The Black Church is very important for the Black race,it brings hope,spirit and life.The year 2009 is a year to celebrate for Black people because we have a Black President.

Brenda

Posted: January 03, 2009 3:42 PM

Fil, The institutions you've mentioned ands many others have been necessary because historically Blacks have not been welcome at many American institutions. There were Miss White America pageants because African American girls could not enter the Miss America Pageant. It just wasn't called the White America pageant. African Americans could not worship with Whites. Please don't act as if you don't know any history. African Americans have had to organize our own entities just so we could have them. Please stop your whining! We are always expected to act like the "majority", and do whatever we can to please them. Try having to put chemicals in your hair just so you can get a job! Try not being able to get into certain professions because your skin is just a litle too dark! This is our history! I agree that we are all one race, but it will take a while before we get there. God help us!

Sylvan A. Lashley

Posted: January 02, 2009 12:13 PM

The matter of the existence of black or white churches or Koren, or Filipinio churches suggests to us that churches follow the mores of society. We won't have any black or white churches or Korean churches or Chinese churches when society changes. I believe that there is a steady progression away from these forms of churches, but that will totally happen when Jesus comes. I am reminded in the book of Acts that they were Grecian Jews, as distinct from other Jews, and that there had to be deacons appropriated for those Jews because they were being neglected. Once people are free to worship, then they will worship with whom they please. What we might want to do where there are predominantly black or white or Korean or Filipino churches is to make deliberate efforts as members to diversify and to invite other people of races, ethnicities and social classes to be part of our congregation. I would be happy too when churches are finally raceless, and classless.

Bob Hepburn

Posted: January 02, 2009 8:57 AM

If you're interested in looking into an African American church that has gone the opposite route from those described in this article, take a look at Great Commission Church (http://www.greatcommissiononline.com). Originally a suburban church plant, the church unanimously decided to move into the West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia a year ago. We would love to hear from any other congregations that have made a simiar move. (See also http://www.yubm.org/umrptfw0708.htm)

Bob Hepburn

Posted: January 02, 2009 8:55 AM

John Hale

Posted: January 01, 2009 10:36 AM

In Indianapolis there is a similar experience to what the article describes for Houston. An example on our westside is New Life Worship Center, a black congregation that bought their current suburban location from Traders Point Christian Church, which had moved to a new facility further out in Zionsville, Indiana. In addition, a type of "suburban storefront" church has developed in failing malls in the inner suburbs. New Life itself had previously met in a former Lazarus at Lafayette Square, the first enclosed mall in Indiana that is now dying a slow death. Another church still meets at this mall in what had been a furniture store, and in the surrounding area other churches meet in everything from a former Ryans Steak House to an old Central Hardware.

Fil	Posted: December 31, 2008 8:20 AM

Is it not racist to have a black church? Can we have a White church? Because of history it is now OK to reverse discrimination. I'm sure you have heard of Miss Black America or United Negro College but if there was a Miss White America or United Caucasion College I am sure there would be a riot or protest against it. I guess it is pay back time. Unfortunately it is the inoccent children and grandchildren that pay. We pay the debts of our ancestors. We are all of one race, the HUMAN RACE. I hope and pray that with all the mixing of people we will some day have no race because we will have all have a bit of every race in us. God Bless.

Pastor Anderson

Posted: December 31, 2008 6:20 AM


I have been lead along with my congregation to do the exact opposite of what this article is describing. The church I pastor is called Great Commission Church and we moved from the suburbs to the city of Philadelphia in January 2008, for some of these same reasons that have been articulated in this article. Be Encouraged. www.greatcommissiononline.com

Gary Sweeten

Posted: December 31, 2008 12:44 AM

Churches have always gone to the people and the people are the church. It is not possible to have a church if there are no local people to do the work of ministry. The inner cities are becoming places where so many are chronically poor, uneducated, traumatized and dysfunctional so it is difficult to build a community of mutual helpers. By driving back into the inner city from the suburbs a church loses its local flavor and local membership making it difficult to grow long term. There are no longer any inner city Lutheran churches that speak German. Why? No more German speakers. The culture changed and the congregations changed.

debdessaso

Posted: December 30, 2008 8:26 PM

As an African-American and lifelong city dweller, I couldn't help but think, as I read the article on Black flight, what an ironic situation for the black middle-class! Since the 1960s, blacks have been blaming the demise of the urban metropolis on "white flight." Now, middle-class blacks are doing the same thing. Who will we blame this time? What's truly ironic is that these same middle-class blacks fight against the very institutional changes that resulted from black flight--such as the need for charter schools to replace the deteriorating public school systems left behind after black flight, and increased gentrification of the cities which occurred after abandoned church buildings and residences created vast patches of vacant real estate. The basic problem? Christians in general seemed to have forgotten the admonition of Jeremiah who said, "…seek the peace and prosperity of the city…pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." (Jeremiah 29:7)

Grant

Posted: December 30, 2008 8:25 PM

It is such a shame that there is a need for "Black Churches", but the reality is that culturally they do worship more freely than the white churches (generally speaking), and thus they do manage to meet the needs of a culture that is much more diverse in their worship. What is even more of a shame is that Anonymous above finds it so wrong for the church to pass the plate so that they can stay in the city, for guess what you can do any kind of business with out the aid of money. Do you complain when you go to a restaurant and they hand you a bill, no, you just go and pay it. If the church handed you a bill for coming in and using the organ, mics, heat, pews and spiritual guidance, not even taking into consideration for the insurance, intercessory prayer, parking lot, and social hall; you would walk out and not pay the bill nor be thankful for the services providced even though you did not have an appointment, or inclinging that you would be there that Sunday. God Loves You Always!

Anonymous

Posted: December 30, 2008 2:38 PM

I agree there should be a church presence in the inner city. Churches being boarded up is scary. I believe in supporting your local church. Worship where you live. If the pastors and churches that are in the inner city worried about "living" the "christian" life instead of collecting money in the offering plate maybe they would have more members. What is the church anyway? Isnt it people not buildings?!

Bill Watson

Posted: December 30, 2008 1:23 PM

Although I agree in principle with Helen's comment, I find that most 'segregation' is due to culture, learned though it is. As a white man who served in a 'black' church for five years - and they made a point to not use the term 'black' church - the cultural gap was wide. The worship style, though for the most part I enjoyed, simply did not draw my white friends. Did race cause any issues? For me yes. Though it was from a large minority, I was not accepted as leadership, especially, I think, since it involved managing the finances of the church. As the main point in the article, it did appear most folks in the 2,000+ member church commuted from the suburbs.

Derrick

Posted: December 30, 2008 1:16 PM

An intrigueing article depicting the realities of the current African megachurches flight to suburbs. More significantly, as an African-American christain residing in the inner city, I observe how many of the mega-churches are doing some community services but lack the cultural connection due to classim. The reality that I observe is that many African-American churches in my city do not want to contend with social and class issues that affect the poor. There's a lot of christain rhertoric devoid of proactive substance. Pastors that are not involved in their churches communities are cut of from comprehending the intimate and broader issues that affect those poor communities.

Anonymous

Posted: December 30, 2008 1:11 PM


Is there any wonder why the so-called African American church is struggling? They are completely missing the point, as are many other churches as well. Why is there no team work amongst believing evangelicals to reach the city for Christ? Would there even be a need for an article about people moving to the suburbs and the church following them? So sad.

Helen Thomas

Posted: December 30, 2008 1:05 PM


I will be happy when there are no 'black' churches or 'white' churches, or any other church identified by human standards. I will rejoice when the Spirit of the Living GOD is found wherever HIS Name is named. The people of GOD are not supposed to worship in assemblies based on color. We should base our worship on SPIRIT and truth, wherever HE is found.

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