December 4, 2008
by Toya Richards Hill

LOUISVILLE – Against the backdrop of a highly diverse, multicultural society, it's critical that Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) leaders for the 21st Century be adaptive and willing to build a "church that reflects creation in all of its colorful glory."

That was the message brought by the Rev. Tony Aja, interim pastor at Louisville's Bardstown Road Presbyterian Church, during opening worship for the 2008 Moderators' Conference held here Nov. 21-23.

The gathering brought together synod and presbytery moderators and vice-moderators from throughout the denomination for a time of learning and growing. In addition to Aja's sermon, worship also included selections from the PC(USA)'s Unity Choir.

"The pool of folks who historically have helped build this denomination is becoming smaller, being substituted by people with different languages and accents and skin colors, empty wallets and even other lifestyles," Aja told those gathered. "They also want to worship God."

"We need to prepare the way for people of all nations and walks of life to join us in the building of the church and in the worship of our God," he said.

Aja, who preached from Ezra 4: 1-4 and Revelation 7: 9-10; 15-17, talked about the idea of rebuilding the church and being open to others presumably from the outside who also wish to join in that endeavor.

"Friends, in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) we have been challenged to grow our churches. We are called of God to build or rebuild our congregations," he said. "We are called to demonstrate to the world the Shalom community described in Revelation, when people from all the nations and walks of life come together to give praises to God."

Yet the PC(USA) remains roughly 94 percent white, English-speaking and relatively wealthy, Aja said.

"On the other hand, the country is becoming more and more diverse with peoples from non-white, non-English speaking countries flocking to our shores," he said. "Also, the very fabric of our society, including the traditional concepts of family and gender, is also changing."

Aja contended that church leaders "must adapt to the changes in our society and culture." He also called on seminaries to teach other languages such as Spanish and Korean, and to include the liberation theologies coming from Latin America, Asia and Africa in their curriculums.

"By studying and understanding the issues in our pluralistic society and by developing relationships we can begin to see the face of Jesus in others," Aja preached.

"God's church is the church of the refugee and immigrant, the poor and the welfare mother or father, the teenager gang member ... the old man or woman on a fixed income, the gay couple down the street," he said. "And they all want to help us build the church of Jesus Christ."

Presbyterian News Service
Toya Richards Hill is a Louisville-based free-lance writer. She formerly served as a reporter for the Presbyterian News Service.