Saturday, April 23, 2005

The Most Segregated Hour

Grand Rapids Press reporter (and Calvin College alumnus) Matt Vande Bunte wrote the cover story of the 4/16 Religion section on the racial segregation of worshiping communities:

As head of a search committee formed to hire a new pastor, Brian White knew
things would get difficult at First Assembly of God.

He remembers telling one candidate about the Wyoming mega-church’s desire to
become more racially diverse.

The Rev. Scott Hagan stared back and asked if the church knew what it was
getting into.

Despite the caution, the church, which since has renamed itself Grand Rapids
First, knew Hagan was its man. The former pastor of a multiracial church in
California, Hagan came in early 2001 determined to diversify a congregation of
more than 3,000 members.

In that task, Hagan succeeded, helping develop one of the most diverse
churches in West Michigan, supporters say. Roughly one-third of its worshippers
are minorities.

But in June, Hagan will return to California, leaving behind a church some say
has suffered a significant drop in membership due to his way of integrating it.

THE MOST SEGREGATED HOUR
Saturday, April 16, 2005
By Matt Vande Bunte
The Grand Rapids Press
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Posted by Nathan Bierma on 04/23 at 11:17 AM
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