Multiracial Ministries: Church BibliographyA multiracial church can be defined as a congregation in which no one racial group is 80 percent or more of the congregation; the phrase multiracial diversity is used to describe a church with no majority racial group, which implies more than two racial groups with no group making up more than 50 percent of a congregation--now that's diversity! ArticlesKeep an eye on Congregational Music and Racial Diversity, a project being coordinated by Gerardo Marti of Davidson College. From the abstract about it: "This study explores the relationship between worship music and congregational diversity. Although we are coming to understand more about multiracial congregations, for example the rarity of such churches (DeYoung et al. 2003; Emerson and Smith 2000), the appropriation of theology in promoting integration (Becker 1998), the nature of identity negotiation within such churches (Marti 2005), and the perceived costs and benefits of membership (Christerson et al. 2005), ultimately we know little about how multiracial congregations emerge. Given that many congregational leaders are taking on the challenge to diversify their churches, it is important to identify congregational factors that stimulate (and perhaps accelerate) diversification. Building on preliminary findings from my own case studies of two multiracial churches, this study seeks to determine how congregational music helps or hinders ethnic and racial diversification."  Sociologist's Book Explores Keys to Multiethnic Church Membership (Davidson newsletter, September 2004). Introduction to Gerardo Marti's new book, A Mosaic of Believers: Diversity and Innovation in a Multiethnic Church. Read a review of this book by R. Stephen Warner in The Christian Century. Leading Multi-Ethnic Congregation from an Assemblies of God perspective. Excerpt from Church Planting Voices, by Michael Noel (1998)--"A church targeting internationals runs counter to the church growth principle of homogeneous groups." One Lord, One Faith, Many Ethnicities. A great interview with InterVarsity about how it became one of the few ethnically diverse Christian organizations (CT 12/30/03). Color-Blinded: Why 11 O'Clock Sunday morning Is Still a Mostly Segregated Hour. An excerpt from Divided by Faith, by Michael O. Emerson and Christian Smith (Christianity Today, October 2000) A Multiethnic Model of the Church, by Russell C. Rosser (Direction Journal, Fall 1998). "The inverted norm: the formation and functioning of racially mixed congregations in South Africa." In Cousineau, Madeleine (ed.) 1998. Religion in a Changing World (Westport, CT: Praeger, pp. 69-78). "A global perspective on racial and linguistic integration in South African Christian congregations."Journal of World-Systems Research 5, 3 1999:521-553. "Silencing Babel: Language preference in voluntary associations - evidence from multi-cultural congregations." Society in Transition 29 (1-2) 1998: 22-39. "Mending the multi-coloured coat of a rainbow nation: cultural accommodation in ethnically mixed urban congregations." Missionalia 23 (3) 1995: 312-338. Choices for Congregations: Creating Multicultural and Multigenerational Congregations (Word DOC) by George Bullard.  God's New Community: The Challenges and Hopes for Multi-racial Churches in America. Jeff Bailey interviews Dr. Michael Emerson, author of Divided By Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America (Cutting Edge, Fall 2002). Learning to Live Together: An Inside Look at One of the Most Culturally Diverse Churches in the Vineyard. An Interview with Steve Nicholson, Senior Pastor, Evanston (IL) Vineyard (Cutting Edge, Fall 2002). Living in America: Becoming a Multi-Cultural Movement, by Mark Fields (Cutting Edge, Fall 2002). Being the People of God: Dealing with the Dividing Walls of Hostility. An interview with Mark Fee and Chuck Sullivan, pastors at MetroNorth Vineyard, Melrose (MA) (Cutting Edge, Fall 2002) "The most segregated hour in America": A look at three churches that worship the multicultural way (inthefray.com, Nov. 2001). How multi-cultural is the postmodern church? Really. (Next Wave, Mar. 2001) . Hues in the Pews: Racially Mixed Churches an Elusive Goal (Christian Century, Feb. 2001). Urban Cross-Cultural Church Planting Models, by Jerry L. Appleby (1986). Pictoral overview of church models progressing through cultural contexts. BooksA Church of Our Own: Disestablishment and Diversity in American Religion. R. Stephen Warner (September 2005); also in hardcover. The Multicultural Leader: Developing A Catholic Personality. Dan Sheffield (January 2005). A Mosaic of Believers: Diversity and Innovation in a Multiethnic Church. Gerardo Marti (January 2005). Excellent in-depth sociological analysis of Mosaic Los Angeles, an incubator of leading innovation; read a book review by R. Stephen Warner in The Christian Century. Multicultural Ministry: Finding Your Church's Unique Rhythm. David Anderson (April 2004). Great practical guide from a leading practitioner.  A Many Colored Kingdom: Multicultural Dynamics for Spiritual Formation. Elizabeth Conde-Frazier, Steve Kang, Gary Parrett (March 2004). "A Many Colored Kingdom explores Christian formation and teaching in the church, with a particular focus on intercultural and interethnic relationships. Well qualified to speak on issues of diversity. The authors describe relevant aspects of their own personal journeys, presented in compelling narrative form. They go on to identify key issues emerging from their Scripture studies and teaching experiences. A final chapter contains a conversation among the authors as they respond to one another's insights and concerns." United by Faith: The Multiracial Congregation as an Answer to the Problem of Race. Curtiss Paul Deyoung, Michael O. Emerson, George Yancey, Karen Chai Kim. Divided By Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America. Michael Emerson . One Body, One Spirit: Principles of Successful Multiracial Churches. George A. Yancey. Best book available that gives specific how-to principles of churches that are demonstrably racially diverse. Racism@Work Among The Lord's People. Robert Upton. No Partiality: The Idolatry of Race and the New Humanity. Douglas R. Sharp. Prejudice and the People of God: How Revelation and Redemption Lead to Reconciliation. Charles Ware. One New People: Models for Developing a Multiethnic Church. Manuel Ortiz (1996); IVP's preview. This excellent book shares case studies of churches. The Global God: Multicultural Evangelical Views of God. Aida Besancon Spencer and William David Spencer, editors (1998; Baker). What Color Is Your God?: Multi Cultural Education in the Church. James Breckenridge (1994). Includes excellent chapters on Asian American culture and social dynamics; the traditional ethnic Asian church is a multicultural setting, which implies cross cultural communication methods for ministry and teamwork. Where the Nations Meet Reaching the World Next Door. Stephen A. Rhodes (1998; IVP). Sets forth a biblical, ministry-tested pastoral theology of multicultural ministry. Strange Virtues Ethics in a Multicultural World. Bernard T. Adeney (1995). Racial Equality in the Church: A Critique of the Homogeneous Unit Principle in Light of a Practical Theology Perspective. Bruce W. Fong (1996). Makes a case for church life that balances between reality and theology, suggests possible models of mutual acceptance in the church, and wrestles with the question: "Are ethnic churches biblically justifiable?"  Embracing Diversity: Leadership in Multicultural. Charles R. Foster. "We're the Church Together." Foster & Brelsford Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research. Richard A. Krueger A Theology As Big As the City. Ray Bakke (1997). View IVP's preview). The Gospel in Black and White: Theological Resources for Racial Reconciliation. Dennis L. Okholm, Editor (1998). The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog (Third Edtion). James W. Sire (1997).View IVP's preview. Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions. Winfried Corduan (IVP, 1998). Not just a formal survey of world religious teachings, but how each religion is practiced in daily life. Cross-Cultural Conflict: Building Relationships for Effective Ministry. Duane Elmer (1994). View IVP's preview. Good handbook for conflict resolution across a wide variety of cultures; concepts such as truth, integrity, and accountability aren't so transcendent. Penetrating Missions' Final Frontier: A New Strategy for Unreached Peoples. Tetsunao Yamamori (1993). View
IVP's preview. Churchesdjchuang.com's index to multiracial churches  Bridgeway Community Church (sister organization of BridgeLeader Network), Columbia, MD. Pastor David Anderson is author of Multicultural Ministry: Finding Your Church's Unique Rhythm and coauthor of Letters Across the Divide: Two Friends Explore Racism, Friendship, and Faith. Mosaic (formerly Church on Brady; Los Angeles, CA; about 1/3 Latino, 1/3 Asian, 1/3 Anglo; Pastor Erwin McManus). Newsong Community Church (Irvine, CA; 35% Korean, 35% Chinese, 10% Asian, 17% White, 3% African-American and Hispanic; Pastor David Gibbons). Grace Bible Fellowship (Cary, NC). Pastor Norman Peart, author of Separate No More: Understanding and Developing Racial Reconciliation in Your Church . Glide Memorial United Methodist Church (San Francisco); news articles from 2002: Church gets leg up on inner-city outreach, Glide Memorial United Methodist programs, Radical church looks at its future, Interview with Cecil Williams. Gaithersburg Community Church (MD). Anitoch Bible Church (Bellevue, WA), Pastor Ken Hutcherson. Washington International Church (DC). Jubilee Christian Center (San Jose, CA; 35% White, 30% African American, 20% Hispanic, 15% Asian). Covenant Church of Pittsburgh (PA; 50% White, 50% African American). Armitage Baptist Church (Chicago; people from over 40 nations in attendance).  Christian Fellowship Baptist Church (Amherst, NY; 1/3 Black, 1/3 White, 1/3 Indian/Pakistani). Christian Fellowship Baptist Church (Kansas City, MO). Rock of Our Salvation (Chicago, IL).
Pastor Raleigh Washington (with Glen Kehrein; authors of Breaking Down Walls: A Model for Reconciliation in an Age of Racial Strife). South Main Baptist Church (Houston, TX). Wellspring Christian Church (Seattle, WA). Faith Christian Fellowship (Baltimore, MD). New Life Church of the Nazarene (San Francisco, CA). Westbury United Methodist Church (Houston, TX). Word of Life (Springfield, VA; over 100 nationalities in its international congregation). Websites, Blogs, and Other Links Mosaix movement: inspiring unity and diversity in the local church (a new network with Mark DeYmaz, George Yancey, and others) cf. Mosaix blog + Mosaix multi-ethnic ministry conference RECONCILIATION LIVE is a call-in radio show where you can ask tough and honest questions about race relations. Listen and talk with Dr. David Anderson, the leading practitioner and popular pastor of Bridgeway Community Church (Columbia MD). Tune in Sunday evenings from 9:00-11:00p.m. Eastern time on WAVA 105.1FM in the metro Washington D.C. area, XM Radio 170, or local Salem Radio stations. The BridgeLeader Network - Multicultural Leadership Summit. An annual event. Blended Church Network. A new multi-denominational network of pastors, churches, and leaders with resources for blended, multiethnic churches. Congregations.info. Best research project with quantified data about multiracial churches. The General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR). Acommission of the United Methodist Church; has an excellent bibliography on resources related to racial reconciliation. www.vividchurch.com. A (blog) conversation on multiculturalism and the church. Antioch Global Network Conference. Multi-ethnic/cross-cultural ministry conference.  Multi Cultural Ministry. Art Lucero. Multiethnicity at InterVarsity's Document Library; perhaps the leading organization that is living out, training, and mobilizing multiethnic leaders. Assisting Multicultural Churches with Their Various Expressions of Worship. Big list of links. Multicultural Church Network. Part of the AA Church Consulting website; ministry of Robert Goette, specializing in Korean/Asian Americans. Ethnic Harvest. Excellent resource center for serving the ethnic diversity already here in America. CultureAAAUnity: African and Asian American Unity Unblinded.com: Interracial Community ColorQ World. Interracial interactions between people of color. www.NewDemographic.com. Strategies for a mixed race society.
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