“As many lament the decline of Christianity in the United States in the early stages of the twenty-first century, very few have recognized that American Christianity may actually be growing, but in unexpected and surprising ways [especially via the growth of the immigrant church]. The American Church needs to face the inevitable and prepare for the next stage of her history – we are looking at a nonwhite majority, multiethnic American Christianity in the immediate future. Unfortunately, despite these drastic demographic changes American Christianity remains…disconnected from both [this] global and local reality.” (Soong-Chan Rah, The Next Evangelicalism, p.12).
Thanks to Philip Jenkins and his book The Next Christendom, many have come to realize that the center of global Christianity is no longer the west, but the global south. The majority of World Christians are non-white. As Anglicans we have known this reality for some time given our close connection to the Global South and their rescuing of us from the collapse of the Episcopal church in recent years. As a young participant at the Global Anglican Future Conference in Jerusalem in 2009, this statistic was visually made clear to me, by the dark sea of of bishops and priests present representing the Global South.
What most don’t realize, however, is that this same dynamic is underway in North America and very soon will also be the reality. Not only are “the great majority” of immigrants who are coming to the US Christian in background, but immigrants in general is one of the groups that is most open to the Gospel and is seeing rapid numbers of new churches started throughout the country. Christianity in North America is changing. In recent years, the denominations who have not seen an overall decrease is membership have to thank the the growth of immigrant churches in their midst. The big “C” Church in North America will soon be majority non-white as will be the culture in general. By 2042 the majority of US residents will be non-white. Unfortunately, the overall lily white Anglican church has not awakened to this reality and our demographics do not represent the change evident in our society. This must change if we are to stay relevant. This must become a moment of transition for us.
During his investiture, Archbishop Bob Duncan made the astonishing, prophetic call for 1000 new churches to be planted during his ministry. This call has changed the subject of conversation in the Anglican church towards mission. Much has been accomplished in the last two and a half years, but much work remains. If we are to truly reach 1000 churches – or more importantly than the numbers truly impact our surrounding society – we must become a multi-ethnic movement, we must plant both multi-ethnic churches as well as churches among specific ethnic and immigrant groups. Until now we have missed some of the most fertile soil for the gospel and a large percentage of our country’s demographic. There are encouraging signs that there is an openness to this: ¡Caminemos Juntos! and Jubilee are two signs that change is underfoot.
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