One Body, One Spirit: Principles of Successful Multiracial Churches [Paperback]

George Yancey (Author), Michael O. Emerson (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2003

When the church began, an amazing diversity of people from different geographic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds gathered together to confess a common faith in Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul cast a vision of one body where Jew and Gentile would worship together in unity. The Revelation to John likewise foreshadows an eternal future where all nations will join together at the throne of the Lamb. Sadly, Christianity has not often lived up to this ideal. The history of the church has been marked by continued segregation, ethnic strife and racial division. But at the dawn of a new millennium, hopeful signs of change are emerging. As society diversifies, local churches find themselves interacting with people from every tribe and tongue. But not every church is equipped to handle the realities of ethnic and racial diversity in their congregational life. Sociologist George Yancey's groundbreaking research on multiracial churches offers key principles for church leaders who want to minister to people from a variety of racial and cultural backgrounds. Insights from real-life congregations provide concrete examples of how churches can welcome those who have been marginalized, giving people of all heritages a sense of ownership and partnership in the life of the church. Based on data from a landmark Lilly Endowment study of multiracial churches across America, this volume offers insights and implications for church leadership, worship styles, conflict resolution and much more. Here is an essential resource for pastors and church leaders committed to cultural, ethnic and racial reconciliation in their congregations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"George Yancey has written a remarkable book that makes a groundbreaking contribution. Drawing extensively on the first-ever national study of multiracial congregations, he uncovers seven main factors that these congregations have in common. He takes us through these commonalities, step by step, in an engaging and easy-to-read manner. Contained in the book is the very heart of what it takes to transform one's church into a multiracial congregation, and what it takes to develop together once a church is demographically multiracial." (Michael O. Emerson, R. A. Tsanoff Professor of Public Affairs and Sociology, Rice University, coauthor of Divided by Faith and United by Faith )

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading George Yancey's new book, One Body, One Spirit. I find this work to be extremely scholarly, helpful and inspiring. The book is a must for anyone interested in starting a multiracial ministry or concerned about race relations in the church. I have known George for a number of years and have seen his love for Christ and his dedication to the touchy issues of racial reconciliation. One Body, One Spirit will be a welcome resource for anyone who has made the courageous decision to go on this journey." (Kathy H. Dudley, Board Chair and Founder, Dallas Leadership Foundation )

"My heart soared with gratitude and renewed hope for the church's future as I read One Body, One Spirit. George Yancey's compelling call to build multiracial worshiping communities is healing, motivating and with the aid of his insights, realizable. This practical guide ushers us toward the heavenly worship that awaits." (Sundee Tucker Frazier, author of Check All That Apply: Finding Wholeness as a Multiracial Person )

"Dr. Yancey has provided a helpful volume for the church as it takes on the globalization of our communities. He provides much assistance in the 'how to' of the ministry of the church. One of the important areas that is extremely helpful is worship. Yancey's investigation has brought together numerous principles and illustrations on how best to develop the ministry of a multiethnic church. In the flow of things, it seems that he is deeply concerned that the multiethnic church not be an end in itself but a means to race reconciliation." (Dr. Manuel Ortiz, Professor of Mission and Urban Ministry, Westminster Theological Seminary, author of One New People )

About the Author

George Yancey (Ph.D., University of Texas) is associate professor of sociology at the University of North Texas, specializing in race/ethnicity and biracial families. He is the coauthor of United by Faith (Oxford), coeditor of Just Don't Marry One (Judson) and the author of Beyond Black and White (Baker). He is the founder of Reconciliation Consulting, helping churches and ministries develop and sustain a multiracial emphasis.

Product Details

• Paperback: 189 pages
• Publisher: IVP Books (August 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830832262
• ISBN-13: 978-0830832262
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #717,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Colorblindness, October 25, 2007

By 

Beryl Banks "BerylRB" (www.rca.org/netcommunity) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: One Body, One Spirit: Principles of Successful Multiracial Churches (Paperback)

George Yancey opens his book by reminding the reader that multiracial churches have existed throughout our countries history, and he proposes 7 principles of successful multiracial church leadership, which can alleviate "race fatigue" and lead to healthy sustainable churches in the future. The bulk of the book, chapters 5-12, is taken up with the proposing of 7 great principles of successful churches and unpacking the same. The principles are inclusive worship, diverse leadership, overarching goal, intentionality, location, personal skills, and adaptability. Yancey tackles the question of whether multiracial churches should exist by dispelling two formidable arguments from the church growth and cultural pluralism paradigms. As one author interviewed explains, "there are a lot of people in (urban cities) who will not believe in a message that is spiritual if it does not express itself in a global, holistic way." Despite the overwhelming biblical evidence presented for the planting and revitalization of churches to be multiracial, Yancey makes it clear that monoracial churches are not a "sin", in and of itself, saying, "Some churches do not have an opportunity to create racial diversity because there is not racial diversity in the community around the church." Yancey makes a marvelous point that the tendency of some to accept colorblindness as an aspect of anti-racism, are in effect discounting the very real racial alienation that exists in our society; hence, are injuring people of color similarily to how white flight injures by insult. That is "colorblindness" as an ideology implies ethnicity and culture do not matter, which is an insult. Yancey names another ideology that most are not even aware of - "the dirty little secret that we are a racially segregated society and we are comfortable with this segregation. Many people feel that to admit to this comfort is to admit to being comfortable with racism, and we do not want to be perceived as racist." Yancey has this advice for leaders of multiracial churches - one can continue to believe perspectives from their own racial culture but to be successful in a multiracial setting one must intentionally pursue a fusion of horizons with the perspectives of the other, not just accommodate but value the perspective of the other. One Body, One Spirit is a compelling must have resource for any one serious about the journey to a successful multiracial church. Yancey also supplies a rich appendix including the questions from his Lilly funded research.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real World Issues, June 20, 2007

By 

Jaime Case (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: One Body, One Spirit: Principles of Successful Multiracial Churches (Paperback)

Although almost intuitive, Dr. Yancey's study of multiracial churches confirms the nature of racially (and culturally) inclusive congregations. I have taken his 7 Principles and used a slightly modified version to describe multicultural churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, as well as to set goals for churches aspiring to be be multicultural. Dr. Yancey is also a good presenter. Very practical, very concrete, highly readable.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Roadmap for Diversity, July 12, 2008

By 

T. Stewart "Thotful Mom" (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: One Body, One Spirit: Principles of Successful Multiracial Churches (Paperback)

This was a wonderful book in provoking ideas how we can change the most segregated hour in America...the hour we are in our churches. However, it can be used to consider diversity in all of its shapes and sizes. Learning styles, gender, and ethnicity could be cracked open by a considered and dedicated attempt to become "multiracial." As a lay person, my challenge is how to gently prompt leadership into consideration of these ideas.