The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

Nori Henk

Loyola University Chicago
Indian Religious Diversity within a US Context: How Are New Immigrant Evangelical Christian Indian Communities Responding?

My project concerns recent immigrant Christian groups specifically within the Indian community, one in Schaumburg (a west suburb just outside of Chicago) and two in Rogers Park (northeast Chicago). All three groups share in common not only a cultural identity, but also similar religious backgrounds. For example, most of the interviewees are Christians with plans to bring other Indian recent immigrants into their respective Christian community. Although, all three groups emphasize cultural sensitivity, individual sites show some degrees of difference. A common background along with these differences is a key focal point in my research. This is a qualitative study composed of ten site visitations and ten interviews. This research is a part of a larger project entitled, The Church Next Door Project: Christian Congregations Face America's New Religious Diversity. The larger project's main purpose is to offer guidance for local Christian congregations seeking to understand and respond to America's increasingly diverse religious landscape.

Contact info and a brief description of each site:

Bethesda Telugu Church (in Rogers Park)
Reverend Dr. Shadrach Katari
6803 N. Campbell Ave.
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 743-6460/(773) 465-8457
www.lutheransonline.com/lo/419/FSLO-1014686239-586419.htm

This is a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation. The service/activities are spoken typically in Telugu, a South Indian language, with some English. Members are recent immigrants except for the pastor and all are active in bringing people into the church either by building friendships or by passing out Christian evangelism tracts.

Christ Community Mennonite Church (in Schaumburg)
Reverend Pauline and Leroy Kennel
Minister of Evangelism: John Bushi (Asian Christian Fellowship)
888 S. Roselle Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60193-3965
(847) 895-3654
ccmc-mennonite.org

Since this is a Mennonite church, the congregants are invested in the peace movement. The peace movement influences how they relate with non-Christian groups. This predominantly White church has a special ministry in particular that engages with non-Christian Indians known as the Asian Christian Fellowship group. A core group of seven Indian families meet regularly, dealing with both spiritual and social issues.

Indo-Pakistani Christian Friendship Center in Illinois (in Rogers Park) (This site requested a pseudonymous name due to sensitive material they share in interviews and site activities.)

This non-denominational center offers three primary programs for the surrounding Indian community: English as a Second Language, tutoring and activities for children, and a storefront church. It is a Christian business situated in a predominantly Muslim and Hindu area. The center's services are intended primarily for Indian children and women.