interracial marriages and churches

This Asians in America post titled “Culture: Still a Deciding Factor for Dating?” prompted a question for me — how will the increasing number of interracial marriages affect the Asian American church?

With interracial relationships on the rise in the United States, the subject of interracial dating within the Asian or South Asian community is not as taboo as it might have been 10 or 15 years ago.

Here’s something outrageous: A Chinese woman dating an Indian man. Or how about a Turkish man dating a Chinese woman? Scandalous, isn’t it? If you’re not shocked, then you’re one of many Americans who are not. …

According to Population Reference Bureau (PRB), the percentage of interracial married couples has increased from 2.9 percent in 1990 to 5.4 percent in 2000. In addition, Americans’ attitudes towards interracial marriages are slowly improving: The percentage of adults that said they approved of interracial marriages increased from 70 to 83 percent from 1986 to 2003.

Ten years ago, when it came to interracial dating, Asian and South Asian American communities hesitated in allowing marriage outside of their respective cultures. Many such families in the United States were determined to keep tradition or keep the bloodline within their ethnic group. Yes, more parents and families today have become more open minded about accepting interracial marriages. … But some couples still find it difficult to even break the news to their parents.

Also see PRB’s U.S. Attitudes Toward Interracial Dating Are Liberalizing

What do you think? How have churches become more effective at reach mixed couples?