An Intercultural Church For A Multicultural World

One of the Church of England’s central aims is that it should become more diverse. This book is a contribution to the debate on how the church nationally and locally might better represent the cultural diversity of the communities which it is called to serve. Originating from the experiences of one of the most multicultural dioceses in the country, it offers a series of reflections that will enable readers to consider how they might think and act with greater cultural sensitivity in their contexts. Central to the book is the theme of gift exchange. All of life is celebrated as gift where we experience diversity, the other, hospitality and God as gifts. It explores the possibilities of intercultural gift exchange in the practices of generous giving, radical receptivity and transformative thanksgiving.

An intercultural ministry expert demonstrates the necessity of Cultural Intelligence for effectively serving an increasingly diverse church and world.

Ride the subway or a bus in New York, London, Los Angeles, or any number of other cities around the country or around the world, and you will be impressed by a cacophony of languages, a crazy quilt of skin colors and a ceaseless array of cultural histories. Excitingly and sometimes confusingly, this is the world the church now serves. Pastor Stephen Rhodes, in whose congregation thirty-two nationalities gather weekly, fervently believes Christians should embrace the varied cultures that now surround us. In Where the Nations Meet he sets forth a biblical, ministry-tested pastoral theology of multiethnic ministry. He shows how God's creation was always intended to be multicultural, how the church is called to evangelize, serve and include all ethnicities, how the church can bring healing to increasing conflict in a world of so much difference, and much more. Peppered his prose with inspiring and challenging stories from multicultural congregations, Rhodes not only provides a theological basis for multicultural ministry but also suggests how such ministry can be successfully conducted in all churches. He offers a valuable guide for all pastors and laypersons who want their church to be a place of unbounded celebration where the nations meet.

The global village has arrived. Recent census figures show that communities in the United States are more culturally and ethnically diverse than ever before. And you may be just one of many who find it challenging to build relationships with people from backgrounds unlike your own. How do you befriend an international student or a new coworker from a different country? What can you expect when your church building is shared with a congregation from another cultural group? Why are your words and actions sometimes misinterpreted by others? Crosscultural specialist Patty Lane answers these questions and more. She shows you how to develop hands-on relational skills that build crosscultural friendships. And she provides practical resources to help you navigate multicultural environments with sensitivity and savvy. Filled with vivid stories of real-life situations, her helpful guidebook explains frequently misunderstood aspects of culture, debunks stereotypes and suggests ways to resolve crosscultural conflicts. Above all, Lane demonstrates God's heart for building bridges across cultures and shows how you can reach out to people of every nation, culture and ethnicity. Whether you are actively ministering to people of different cultural backgrounds, traveling to other countries for your business or simply want to make friends across cultural lines, this engaging handbook is a perfect introduction to the journey.

We live in a multicultural society. But Christians often do not know how to engage those of other faiths. As a result, many Christians hesitate to talk about Christianity with others in any kind of evangelistic way. Jay Moon and Bud Simon unpack the intercultural dynamics that Christians need to understand when encountering people from different communities and cultural backgrounds. Regarding evangelism from the perspective of four major worldviews (guilt/justice, shame/honor, fear/power, and indifference/belonging with purpose), this book demonstrates contextual evangelism approaches that are relevant, biblical, and practical. The authors draw on new research conducted with hundreds of participants that reveal concrete ways to communicate the gospel effectively across cultures. Sharing one's faith does not require attacking other religions; rather, we can engage at the worldview level in order to address people's deepest concerns. Greater understanding provides us with better skills for relational connection, empathy, and effective witness.

What new visions of church are emerging in the United Church today? Diverse voices, each taking a line from A New Creed, explore the interplay between our call to be the church and our commitment to become intercultural. As Rob Fennell writes in the Preface, "Sometimes these voices challenge us all to see with new eyes and to love with new hearts. Sometimes they push against our comfort zones. Sometimes these voices inspire deep hope and great excitement. In every case, each writers unique theological and spiritual understandings come through." Includes a study guide for individuals or small groups.