Why the church are becoming the dechurched

In her new book, Black, British and De-churched: Message to the Mainstream, EP Louis explores why Black believers are leaving Christianity to follow Bible-based religions

Thanks to social media, the ‘White Man’s Religion’ conversation has been thrust into the laps of church leaderships right across the country.

Why is the Christianity we know so white? Their Jesus looks white, the history looks white, the reading is white, the thinking is white, and the treatment of the other is… white. Trailblazers have long been working against racist ideologies within the structures of British churches, aiming to transform Christian sacred spaces into places where all are truly welcome.

In recent years, a new generation of Black Christian leadership, here and in the US, has developed Black Urban Apologetics, bringing light to the multicultural origins of the Bible and early development of the Church, whilst defending the core truth claims of the Bible. Books, such as Urban Apologetics (2021) by Dr Eric Mason, bring together the dignity demanded from the Black liberationist approach with historical and theological insights that equip Christians to answer tough questions about our faith.

It is common for many Black-Caribbean people to be linked to someone who has left the Church or observes another Bible-reading religion, such as Rastafari or the Nation of Islam. With roots well established throughout the UK, Black Bible religions have shown themselves to be an influential force on the fringes of the Black British community, drawing the attention of those who may become “de-churched”, i.e. someone who once actively attended church and no longer does so. I am talking about those who have left mainstream Christian churches and have joined or are influenced by another religion that engages the religious teachings of the Bible.

Research into why this group of people have left mainstream churches has raised some illuminating challenges for the mainstream Church, which is currently caught in a political tension of extreme ideology.

Alongside the anti-racist work at play in European historical churches, such as the Church of England, Baptists and Methodists, there is the added dimension of far-right Christian nationalism – a present reality in the UK.

Black, British de-churched people offer unique insights into the health and performance of the British Church, and reveal the needs and religious desires of those Christians feeling the pull and intrigue of the far right. I will consider two themes from my book Black, British and De-churched: Message to the Mainstream that have come from listening to the de-churched.

The first theme is historical identity. For many who are Black and de-churched, it is important to understand how they, as descendants of enslaved African peoples, may feature as actors in the plan of the God of the Bible.

The (Black) Hebrew Israelites claim that those enslaved peoples were the true biblical Hebrews and teach that Deuteronomy 28 is a prophecy about the judgment the Hebrews would suffer as a result of idolatry, claiming links between the experiences of chattel slavery and centuries of subjugation with images from this text. Offering answers to the terror of racism and discrimination from a religious perspective has captured the imagination of many. The silence from the pulpit in the last few decades has, to the de-churched, been interpreted as a loud admittance of guilt and refusal to change. Churches can remedy this issue through transparency in the teaching of both Scripture and church history, admission of wrong-doing, and creating opportunity for believers to engage more deeply with the Scriptures apologetically.

The second theme is upward mobility. The Windrush Generation came over as citizens of the Empire in the 50s and 60s, and struggled to integrate and flourish amid the racism of the white British. The Nation of Islam, finding dignity from their claim that the Black Man is [g]od, taught their followers to live and work in excellence in business, health and wealth, family and education.

This direct religious response to decades of disparity for many Black people in Britain has proved itself to be in demand for the de-churched who seek religious guidance for everyday living. By offering a more holistic ministry that speaks to parenthood, finances, health and local issues, it helps people to see and reflect God in the everyday demands.

The de-churched are on a mission to uncover true origins, true teachings and a truly religious life, and feel the mainstream Church is hiding important information. Black, British and De-churched: Message to the Mainstream explores this issue and considers ways for the mainstream Church to broaden its compassion and capacity to engage.

E.P. LOUIS (PhD)
Researcher and resource developer.   Black, British and De-churchedis available at https://scmpress.hymnsam.co.uk