Multicultural Church Sunday, May 15, offers congregations all across the PC(USA) an opportunity to celebrate the Biblical vision of a united community, which welcomes, celebrates, and incorporates God’s people of all cultures and languages in one place. As we strive together as Presbyterians to live out our church-wide calling toGrow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide in diversity, Multicultural Church Sunday allows us to reflect on the three main goals of that emphasis:
1) Welcome everyone
2) Learn from others
3) Reflect the cultural, socio-economic and ethnic diversity of God’s people in the world
What is a Multicultural Church?
A Multicultural Church is a congregation that intentionally seeks to recognize, celebrate and incorporate a diverse membership:
• in worship by using all-inclusive music, languages, arts and theological expressions,
• in a creative and meaningful evangelism by providing the good news in a cup that people recognize with great respect and appreciation for their racial and cultural backgrounds, and
• in leadership by intentionally and willingly sharing power and resources and advocating for justice and equal representation in sessions, church committees and executive positions.
How to Become a Multicultural Church
By preaching the good news to all By embracing diversity By reflecting diversity in worship By sharing power
By hosting strangers and aliens By breaking the barriers of race and fear
Models of Multicultural Churches
Bi-cultural congregations
Congregations with one cultural majority and significant influence from other cultures
Congregations with no one cultural majority Nesting churches that provide homes for congregations of different cultures New churches beginning as multicultural congregations Churches being redeveloped in changing neighborhoods
Download our “Suggested Readings” (http://www.pcusa.org/media/uploads/multicultural/pdf/suggestedreadings.pdf) to find resources and liturgies to help you to interpret the Multicultural Church Sunday emphasis in your own congregation. Also use this list of books and resources as you plan your celebration.
Consider joining or renewing your congregation’s membership in the Presbyterian Multicultural Partnership Fund or sending a team to one of many multicultural church leadership events this year. Download a Save-the-Date flier that lists many upcoming events.
Plan on using the article from The Thoughtful Christian entitled, “What is Multicultural Worship?” for adult Sunday school classes on May 15 by downloading the leader’s and participant’s guides. The Rev. Barbara Anderson – who has co-pastored the Pasadena Presbyterian Church with her husband, the Rev. Mark Smutny for nearly 15 years – recalled that the congregation’s vision began with just such a Bible study. “The multicultural ministry did not exist in any of our minds,” said Anderson. “It could have been possible only in the mind of God.”
We pray that on this Multicultural Church Sunday – and every day – that we may all work together with God’s help to continue to envision and shape a church that more nearly reflects the reality of our world, our faith, and what is possible in the mind of God.