Diversity as Central – Cynthia Holder Rich
When I started to think about directing a website, many parts of what would become ecclesio were unclear. One thing that was clear from the start was that diversity would be central. As the term means different things to different people and in different contexts, let me be clear about that which was completely clear to me. From the perspective of my own social location – white, highly educated, Christian, Presbyterian, female, heterosexual, married, mother of three, among other characteristics – I have always been intrigued by and grateful for the perspectives of those whose social location differs from mine. The experience of living in a culture and country whose foundational assumptions, approaches, and experiences differed significantly on many levels from our own deepened this sense. In setting up the site, I sought contributors and guest directors who differed from me in:
AGE: Surely, as I began I knew that there were people on the planet who knew more about websites, and web-based learning, and the web itself, than I. These people were, for the most part, YOUNGER. I have been blessed to have a great many young professionals take part on the site. I am thrilled that some of these are not from richer countries as well, as getting voice in some other places is not always easy.
And, there are, still, people OLDER than I – and many of these are extremely wise and wonderful writers. They, like the younger group, include many from places where getting a hearing is not always simple. I have been blessed to share the blessing of many of these on the site.
RACE/CULTURE/ETHNICITY: I am so grateful to the plethora of authors, essayists, and video producers who do not share my race, culture, and/or ethnicity who have taken part. I strove in the first couple seasons to make sure each week included difference in this realm. Now, with so many weeks guest directed by people different in race, culture, or ethnicity from me, the number of and variety of voices on the site both continue to grow, and many weeks do not feature any contributor who is white.
NATIONAL ORIGIN: Writers from other 20 countries outside the US have taken part. I am committed to finding people who have ideas that need to be heard and providing a space for that hearing.
DENOMINATIONAL BACKGROUND, OR LACK OF SAME: While we have rarely had someone on the site who does not identify as a follower of Jesus, and while the majority of those who have contributed share my denominational membership, I am grateful that leaders from traditions representing many corners of the international church, as well as many leaders in the church in North America who are not Presbyterian, have taken part. As the life of denominations evolves and people’s response to the ministry of denominations shifts, a growing number of contributors have either affiliated with nondenominational congregations and ministries, or with no organized body at all – that is, some contributors practice their belief in ways that are not bound by a congregation.
SEXUALITY: Contributors include people who identify across the spectrum of sexual orientation and identity. The site has featured work from people who refuse to identify with clarity in one or more commonly-understood categories, as well as people who understand themselves and feel comfortable identifying in one or more of those categories.
There are undoubtedly other categories of diversity that could be identified by a review of the site – but perhaps these give you some sense of diversity’s foundational and operational priority in the life of the site.
What might not be clear are the reasons why this is primary. It has to do with my own belief of the power and wisdom available to confront challenges when every perspective possible is crowded into the room. It has to do with my complementary belief in the impoverishing impact on discourse in the church and about the church by a paucity of diverse voices at the table – an impoverishment that is sometimes casual and unintentional. The sin of the church is clear when we by our strategies, our choices, and the priority we put on efficiency results in a callous disregard for inviting and hearing diverse perspectives on issues that matter. I work on ecclesio being a space where this doesn’t happen – and I know I do not always achieve this goal. I have to keep focusing on it to make sure it doesn’t get lost.
One other insight on diversity and the website is important to note. Weeks on topics that are important to people in the church who are not dominant in the culture do not offer a website great numbers. That is, a week on issues important to people who follow Jesus who happen to be oppressed, to be subordinate, to operate outside the main power areas – these weeks generally feature small readership, small levels of page views, small numbers of page shares or reposts – which are the bread and butter for website directors. While I make no money on ecclesio, I am adequately vain to feel great when the numbers go up and to have a vague sense of unease when the numbers go down. This of course translates to others, to readers, too – if something has been shared 500 times, people tend to think it must be worth reading and worth reflecting upon. Likewise, the opposite is true and occurs when the sharing is in single digits. These kinds of calculations operate to keep diverse voices out of spaces where readership matters. They also operate to make sure that the farther a diverse perspective is from the mainstream, the less likely it is for readers to have access to it or to see it at all. Mainstream, dominant culture opinions, ideas and perspectives are thus privileged while others are shut out, considered trivial or tangential.
We who believe in the power and necessity of diverse perspectives on the web are called to reflect deeply on these realities. I believe we are called to confront them, and I invite dialogue on how to confront them effectively.
Later this week, I conclude this conversation with talking about the future of this site and directions I invite you to think about with me.
Cynthia Holder Rich is the founder and director of ecclesio.com. She currently serves as Executive Pastor of Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, Kansas.