I was home this weekend and attended Sunday worship where I try to be at least once or twice a month:  Norridge Citadel Corps. 

The corps in Norridge is our home church, has been for several years since moving to the Chicago area from Detroit.  Friends, marvelous band, good preaching and pastoring, and recently a great Bible discussion group.  It gives us a sense of solidity in our decades of moving about.  Home for the homeless.

Ten individuals entered the ranks of The Salvation Army during this morning’s meeting as Soldiers and Adherents.  What I noticed about the ceremony was eight of the ten.  African-American, Egyptian, Hispanic and Asian.  In Salvation Army circles Norridge Citadel is likely not be considered multicultural.  But this morning 80% of its new enrollees weren’t white.

What happened at Norridge this morning reflects what is happening to urban areas in America.  Suburbs of our large cities have gained the diversity once thought to be the exclusive mark of cities.  American suburbs of the 21st century are not the monochromatic suburbs of 1957 and Leave It To Beaver.

As America changes, as our neighborhoods and communities change, do Salvation Army corps reflect the faces of our neighborhoods?  If a Salvation Army place doesn’t appear to represent those living next door and down the street, perhaps it’s time to ‘do something’.