Support for Multicultural and Global Churches

Rationale

A truly multicultural congregation is more than ―token‖ participation of racial/ethnic persons, but grounded in racial equity that incorporates into the worship style, leadership, and entire ministry cultural and language elements of the different racial/ethnic/tribal groups present in the congregation thus ensuring that everyone has a place at the table where power is shared (resources and decision-making) and where conflict is managed in a culturally proficient way. Congregations thrive where everyone brings gifts to the mutually ―owned table,‖ and where the entire congregation is shaped by all in an equitable manner and not by one dominant group. Multicultural ministries have sometimes been placed in opposition to the continued development and strengthening of racial/ethnic local churches and historically marginalized communities. Multicultural ministries are often being used to dismiss the uniqueness of the different groups and/or simply as a superficial face make-up (a few different faces in the congregation) that does not impact the life, language, leadership style, and decision-making of the congregation. In these cases, multiculturalism can be a disguised form of racism and ethnocentrism. The General Commission on Religion and Race is mandated by the Church to ensure the equal participation of all believers as members of the same body that is the body of Christ and the question of multicultural congregations or ethnic/culturally specific congregations is not an either/or proposition but rather two distinct paths needed to achieve the inclusive spirit revealed to us at Pentecost, when people understood each other, not through a common language, but through the power of the Spirit who affirmed and embraced everyone. Multicultural ministries should be looked upon as one of the models of the inclusive and multicultural church and there are many ways in which the Church can be multicultural and inclusive without being together in the same worship service always, such as community work, mission, children and youth, church governance, etc.

Action

The United Methodist Church’s commitment to inclusiveness and racial equity affirms the continued development and strengthening of the racial/ethnic congregations as well as the development and strengthening of congregations that are culturally aware, modeling racial equity and becoming truly multicultural congregations as defined above; The Council of Bishops provides direction to annual conferences on matters of multicultural and ethnic specific ministries so that local churches are provided with resources and guidance in their efforts to respond to diverse communities; The General Commission on Religion and Race will partner with the General Board of Global Ministries, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, the General Board of Church and Society, and the General Board of Discipleship in the development of resources that undergird the creation and the strengthening of multicultural and ethnic specific ministries; The United Methodist seminaries will incorporate into their curriculums cross-racial and cross-cultural competencies needed to prepare students who will be able to minister in diverse settings.

See Social Principles, ¶ 162A