Responses by White Christians to Recent Latino Immigration in the Rural U.S. Midwest

Abstract

Over the last twenty-five years, the rural U.S. Midwest has undergone dramatic demographic changes as the population of white people decreased in many areas and the number of Latinos surged. These shifts are especially noteworthy in areas that had stable, relatively homogeneous populations over at least the last half-century. Many Christian churches, both Protestant and Catholic, are responding by reaching out to new residents. Such efforts have sometimes led to tension as Anglo Christians seek to reconcile the moral claims of their faith communities with the prejudices and fears they have of Latino immigrants. This article describes how Anglo-majority mainline Protestant congregations and Catholic parishes are responding to these demographic changes, notes key differences between the two groups' responses, and then sketches several possible explanations for the differences, including the underlying theology of their efforts, the prior religious affiliation of Latino newcomers, the organizational structure of church bodies, and varying impetuses for action. The paper concludes with observations about the future of Christian communities in the rural Midwest.

Sense of community, participation, and life satisfaction among Hispanic immigrants in rural Nebraska

“…In essence, it enhances a sense of responsibility and reciprocity to fellow residents. Every person brings specific talents and skills to a community, but immigrants may be left out of traditional mechanisms for participation due to lack of information, English proficiency, immigration legal status, or even due to cultural, ethnic, racial, or religious discrimination [12,[40][41][42][43]. Consistent with previous research, this study found that more educated Hispanics, those who spoke more English, and those with longer residency in the United States may be more likely to participate in community initiatives [58].…”

“…A lack of transportation -including the lack of public transportation and inability to access a driver's license -has also been noted as a challenge for many Latinos living in rural areas [14,40]. Finally, in some cases, Hispanic immigrants may feel "outsider syndrome" or be purposefully left out due to discrimination [14,[41][42][43].…”

Contemporary Religious Changes in the U.S.: Responses to the Fracturing of Religious Life

“…Moreover, the idea of "welcoming the stranger" has within it the idea that Latino immigrants are "strangers"-they are not like "us". As noted earlier, many of the Protestant congregation members told me they believed that the Latinos in their community would never join their church, that they were "different" in ways that created a disconnection (Rehwaldt 2015).…”

“…Some individuals recognize the conflict between theological concerns for the stranger and socio-political fear of outsiders. Yet for many, the socio-political narratives ultimately carry more weight, which will lead to a change in the theological narratives (Rehwaldt 2015).…”

“…All of this will mean that the counterpoint to narratives of exclusion are the narratives of inclusion, the attempts by individuals and groups to create communities where all feel both welcome and valued. Religious communities can provide a sense of social and even political belonging for immigrant and refugee groups (Rehwaldt 2015). The social belonging can give a voice to political participation that creates an even greater sense of being a part of the whole of American society among non-Christian communities (see for example the Center for American Islamic Relations and the Anti-defamation League among others).…”