This February I was fortunate to receive an invitation to attend Christian Churches Together-the ecumenical gathering of "faith families" that is the broadest of any gathering in the country. Catholics, Evangelical/Pentecostals, History Black, Historical Protestant and Orthodox Families cover the gamut of almost all churches in America. In other words, all denominations can find a home under one of those five families. The gathering is significant not only because of the scope of faith families represented, but also because of the fact that it is a gathering of leaders. It's like a Who's Who of the American church. Titles like "General Secretary," "His Eminence," "Captain," and "Bishop" come before the names of many in the room. It was after 9/11 that this group began, in recognition that as we faced the challenges of a new world, we were called by Christ to think about pressing matters together.

 

I'd been invited because the theme was "Immigrant Faith Communities: The Future of the Church in the U.S.A." Our congregation in Highland Park, NJ has experienced complete transformation as a result of engaging immigrant communities in very profound ways, so I went to share our story. A few stats. 14 years ago our church had 35 people in worship, and all but 1 were Caucasian. Now, we have 350 on a Sunday morning, and there are 38 countries represented through first generation immigrants. I can say, from experience, that not only has the face of our church changed, but everything else has changed too! We talk and listen to God in new ways, we emphasize new theological themes, we prioritize mission and evangelism differently, and we seek justice for different groups and notice different injustices than we've every noticed before.

 

I thought I was invited to share our story (and I did) but what I realized was that I was invited because I have so much more to learn. Speaker after speaker had me on the edge of my seat, with tears in my eyes, recognizing what God is up to through the movement of people around the globe. Often it is grave injustice that mobilizes people (and that is so biblical) but God brings great victory out of the story of immigrants-in scripture and today.

 

I was profoundly touched, in that space where I'm just a "little pastor," by the attention that Bishops, General Secretaries and all the rest were paying to this matter. CCT had invited in experts from around the country, women and men, many of them significantly younger than the delegates, to share their wisdom about how immigration is (and will be) changing the face of the American church. As I looked around the room I was profoundly moved by the listening ears and thoughtful questions coming from church leaders who were attentive to the blowing winds of God's Spirit, blowing in from immigrants, blowing in from young theologians-women and men, blowing in from ethnical minorities. I had, at CCT, profound hope for the church. I could see that these seasoned leaders, from faith families across the spectrum, recognize that a new day has come for the American church, and they are embracing the change in thoughtful, open and Christ-centered ways.

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