Here is some insight Pastor Bryan Loritts shares about the American church when face to hire a minority.
In an age of diversity, more and more churches and organizations feel compelled to hire minorities who will help them reflect our future, eternal, multi-ethnic reality. This is a beautiful and biblical pursuit. Yet I’ve seen the beginnings of something oh-so-beautiful turn into tragedy. The reason is simple and complex all at the same time- being so fixated on ethnicity that we forget culture.
Sociologist’s tell us that embedded within each ethnicity are various layers of culture. At one end of the culture spectrum are what we would label C1’s. These are individuals who while being of a specific ethnic minority have assimilated thoroughly into majority culture. Using my own ethnicity as an example (African-American), the image that should come to mind when thinking of C1 is Carlton Banks of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. With his Tom Jones-sweater-vest-khaki shorts-argyle socks-no dancing self, he embodied the C1 culture of African American ethnicity. Carlton was pretty much a white man clothed in black skin.
On the other end are what we would label C3’s. These individuals have refused to assimilate in majority culture. These are your rage against “the man” minorities, who look down on C1’s, labeling them at times as being “sell outs,” or “Uncle Tom’s”. Sticking with our acting motif, just think Ice Cube. If ever you see a film that has Ice Cube starring in it you know it’s a black movie (in every bit of a C3 sense). Okay, we’ll give Ice Cube a pass on Anaconda, but his other films fit the bill: Boyz in the Hood, Friday (et al) and Barbershop. Carlton Banks and Doughboy (Cube’s character in Boyz in the Hood) would never be caught doing anything together, anywhere. They’re both black ethnically, but that’s where the comparison’s stop.
Interestingly enough, the Bible speaks clearly into the issue of ethnicity and culture. The opening verses of Acts 6 unveils a dispute between the Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews. Notice carefully that ethnicity and culture are mentioned here. Ethnically, Luke is talking about Jews, yet culturally he’s introducing us to C1’s and C3’s. Hellenism is the spread of Greek culture. The Hellenistic Jews, are ethnic Jews who embraced Greek culture. They named their kids Greek names, ate Greek food and dove headfirst into the sea of assimilation. These were your Carlton Banks of the Jewish ethnicity. On the other extreme were your Hebraic Jews. These were your classic C3’s who refused to do anything that would remotely suggest they weren’t “keeping it real”. No name changing, rib eating or Tom Jones listening here. To the Hebraic Jews, the Hellenistic Jews were deplorable, the epitome of compromise. So a clash exists, and at the center of the havoc is culture.
Some years later, the apostle Paul would sit down and write the Philippians. In chapter three of this letter, he chronicles his autobiography. It’s interesting that one of the things he talks about in reflecting on his life prior to Christ, is that he was “born of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews”. In these two statements Paul is revealing to us both his ethnicity and culture. When Paul says that he was “born of the tribe of Benjamin” he is stating his Jewish ethnicity. Yet when he goes onto say that he was a “Hebrew of Hebrews,” he is revealing his culture. To put it succinctly, he was a C3. No rib eating here. Paul’s identity was deeply, if not solely, rooted in his Jewishness.
There’s one other cultural layer tucked away in every ethnicity- C2’s. These are your people who can navigate different ethnicities yet retain who they are in the process. These are unique individuals who have adapted well over time, to the point where they can genuinely relate to and enjoy the company of quite an eclectic crowd. Returning to our acting image think Denzel Washington. Sure, when his film career was beginning his roles were primarily of a C3 nature. He played the part of Stephen Biko, the great South African civil-rights leader, and was a regular fixture in Spike Lee films (or “joints” I should say). Yet in the past twenty years, Denzel’s roles have transcended ethnicity. Sure he won the academy award for the street thug cop in Training Day, but he’s also starred in such ethnic neutral films like Out of Time, Unstoppable and Flight. Denzel would be just as comfortable hanging with Ice Cube as he would Carlton Banks.
In I Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul says something astounding, so astounding that I should quote it here at length:
“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”
Paul introduces us to his community, and notice it’s quite eclectic. He begins by saying that he has Jewish friends, then he would go onto say that he has Gentile friends- this is what he means when he talks of those “outside the law”. This is classic C2 language here: Paul, a Jew by ethnicity, is able to run in very diverse circles. The Spirit of God, and Paul’s intentionally placing himself in different ethnic contexts resulted in his transformation from C3 to C2.
Returning to the Problem:
Where my white brothers and sisters get it wrong is that they hire any black or minority face with a good looking resume to join their organization in the name of diversity. But what they never take the time to really ask and investigate is the question of culture. What am I really getting here? C1? C2? C3?
It’s important for me to say that I’m not making any kinds of judgments on any of the cultural layers. In fact, depending on the needs of the organization you may need any or all three of the cultures. If you’re just getting into the world of diversity and need to play it safe with your first hire, and want someone who won’t rock the boat, then go for a C1…if the job is a good fit. What I mean by this is never hire a Carlton Banks to lead your inner city ministry. WASTE OF TIME. But if the position is a culturally neutral one, and it’s your first minority hire, there could be a place for Carlton on staff.
On the other hand, if you’re hiring someone to run your non-profit community development, whose work will primarily entail relating to other C3 minorities, then for sure hire Ice Cube! Assuming the Ice Man loves Jesus and meets the job qualifications.
But if you’re looking for upper level leadership (lead pastor, teaching pastors, etc) who will lovingly nudge your body in more multi-ethnic directions, Denzel is your man.
Hope this helps. In future blogs, I’ll show you why I believe C2 leaders are best qualified to lead at the highest levels in churches and organizations looking to diversify. I’ll also show you how to spot them.
In an age of diversity, more and more churches and organizations feel compelled to hire minorities who will help them reflect our future, eternal, multi-ethnic reality. This is a beautiful and biblical pursuit. Yet I’ve seen the beginnings of something oh-so-beautiful turn into tragedy. The reason is simple and complex all at the same time- being so fixated on ethnicity that we forget culture.
Sociologist’s tell us that embedded within each ethnicity are various layers of culture. At one end of the culture spectrum are what we would label C1’s. These are individuals who while being of a specific ethnic minority have assimilated thoroughly into majority culture. Using my own ethnicity as an example (African-American), the image that should come to mind when thinking of C1 is Carlton Banks of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. With his Tom Jones-sweater-vest-khaki shorts-argyle socks-no dancing self, he embodied the C1 culture of African American ethnicity. Carlton was pretty much a white man clothed in black skin.
On the other end are what we would label C3’s. These individuals have refused to assimilate in majority culture. These are your rage against “the man” minorities, who look down on C1’s, labeling them at times as being “sell outs,” or “Uncle Tom’s”. Sticking with our acting motif, just think Ice Cube. If ever you see a film that has Ice Cube starring in it you know it’s a black movie (in every bit of a C3 sense). Okay, we’ll give Ice Cube a pass on Anaconda, but his other films fit the bill: Boyz in the Hood, Friday (et al) and Barbershop. Carlton Banks and Doughboy (Cube’s character in Boyz in the Hood) would never be caught doing anything together, anywhere. They’re both black ethnically, but that’s where the comparison’s stop.
Interestingly enough, the Bible speaks clearly into the issue of ethnicity and culture. The opening verses of Acts 6 unveils a dispute between the Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews. Notice carefully that ethnicity and culture are mentioned here. Ethnically, Luke is talking about Jews, yet culturally he’s introducing us to C1’s and C3’s. Hellenism is the spread of Greek culture. The Hellenistic Jews, are ethnic Jews who embraced Greek culture. They named their kids Greek names, ate Greek food and dove headfirst into the sea of assimilation. These were your Carlton Banks of the Jewish ethnicity. On the other extreme were your Hebraic Jews. These were your classic C3’s who refused to do anything that would remotely suggest they weren’t “keeping it real”. No name changing, rib eating or Tom Jones listening here. To the Hebraic Jews, the Hellenistic Jews were deplorable, the epitome of compromise. So a clash exists, and at the center of the havoc is culture.
Some years later, the apostle Paul would sit down and write the Philippians. In chapter three of this letter, he chronicles his autobiography. It’s interesting that one of the things he talks about in reflecting on his life prior to Christ, is that he was “born of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews”. In these two statements Paul is revealing to us both his ethnicity and culture. When Paul says that he was “born of the tribe of Benjamin” he is stating his Jewish ethnicity. Yet when he goes onto say that he was a “Hebrew of Hebrews,” he is revealing his culture. To put it succinctly, he was a C3. No rib eating here. Paul’s identity was deeply, if not solely, rooted in his Jewishness.
There’s one other cultural layer tucked away in every ethnicity- C2’s. These are your people who can navigate different ethnicities yet retain who they are in the process. These are unique individuals who have adapted well over time, to the point where they can genuinely relate to and enjoy the company of quite an eclectic crowd. Returning to our acting image think Denzel Washington. Sure, when his film career was beginning his roles were primarily of a C3 nature. He played the part of Stephen Biko, the great South African civil-rights leader, and was a regular fixture in Spike Lee films (or “joints” I should say). Yet in the past twenty years, Denzel’s roles have transcended ethnicity. Sure he won the academy award for the street thug cop in Training Day, but he’s also starred in such ethnic neutral films like Out of Time, Unstoppable and Flight. Denzel would be just as comfortable hanging with Ice Cube as he would Carlton Banks.
In I Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul says something astounding, so astounding that I should quote it here at length:
“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”
Paul introduces us to his community, and notice it’s quite eclectic. He begins by saying that he has Jewish friends, then he would go onto say that he has Gentile friends- this is what he means when he talks of those “outside the law”. This is classic C2 language here: Paul, a Jew by ethnicity, is able to run in very diverse circles. The Spirit of God, and Paul’s intentionally placing himself in different ethnic contexts resulted in his transformation from C3 to C2.
Returning to the Problem:
Where my white brothers and sisters get it wrong is that they hire any black or minority face with a good looking resume to join their organization in the name of diversity. But what they never take the time to really ask and investigate is the question of culture. What am I really getting here? C1? C2? C3?
It’s important for me to say that I’m not making any kinds of judgments on any of the cultural layers. In fact, depending on the needs of the organization you may need any or all three of the cultures. If you’re just getting into the world of diversity and need to play it safe with your first hire, and want someone who won’t rock the boat, then go for a C1…if the job is a good fit. What I mean by this is never hire a Carlton Banks to lead your inner city ministry. WASTE OF TIME. But if the position is a culturally neutral one, and it’s your first minority hire, there could be a place for Carlton on staff.
On the other hand, if you’re hiring someone to run your non-profit community development, whose work will primarily entail relating to other C3 minorities, then for sure hire Ice Cube! Assuming the Ice Man loves Jesus and meets the job qualifications.
But if you’re looking for upper level leadership (lead pastor, teaching pastors, etc) who will lovingly nudge your body in more multi-ethnic directions, Denzel is your man.
Hope this helps. In future blogs, I’ll show you why I believe C2 leaders are best qualified to lead at the highest levels in churches and organizations looking to diversify. I’ll also show you how to spot them.
