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United by Faith: The Multiracial Congregation As an Answer to the Problem of Race

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A multiethnic group of authors (white, black, asian) tackle the topic of multiethnic Christian congregations (defined as congregations where no race makes up more the 80% of the congregation). These churches are rare today, and the authors lay out the argument for the need and benefit of multiracial congregations. From the sound theological basis the authors lay out to vignettes about successful multiethnic churches to debasing contemporary arguments in support of segregation, this book has it all. You will come away with a better understanding of the multiethnic church and the need for more such churches today, as well as an excitement for the task ahead.

This book stands as a profound appeal to North American Christians to accept the Church's unique challenge to offer a Biblical social vision to the larger culture. The authors' hermeneutic argues for an often overlooked understanding of the true multicultural people of God. The Church in its diversity can present a new cultural alternative by visibly demonstrating that the "wall of separation" has indeed been removed by Christ. Not claiming to have all the answers, the authors seek to help develop new sensibilities in Christians that will recognize and confront the pervasive influence of cultures of origin.

The book's outline of the problem, its biblical exposition, and its narratives of possibility lay a strong foundational argument for greater, wider reflection from Christians in North America, and elsewhere for that matter. Further consideration of diverse forms of congregational tradition and cultural context could enhance a continuing discussion, but the authors have already succeeded in their inspiring call for a greater engagement and faithfulness by the Church. This book should be read and discussed in real-life congregations.

I would like to be more positive about this book than I feel able to be. It asks some good questions and it does tell some great stories. The cause of desegration in church and society, and the need for credible multicultural Christian witness certainly requires a combination of theology, history and sociology such as this book attempts. However in my view the overall treatment is unnecessarily disappointing.

Difficulties relate to taking Christian support for desegration as the exegetical key to the authors' historical and biblical understanding, a naive hermeneutic between New Testament past and contemporary present, a somewhat populist and slightly moralistic tone, and an inability to come to terms with the size of the multicultural issue. In addition some overaching difficulties derive from the authors' apparent assumption that the congregation is the fundamental unit of church, the one in which the cultural diversity of the church always needs to be represented. A wider view of what constitutes church and a less simplistic linkage between past and present would have greatly improved the quality and application of their research.

The North American historical experience at the heart of the their concern is, however tragic, neither universal in the problems it created nor of global relevance in the solutions it has tried. The reading of history through the lens of this experience has not only affected the reading of biblical and historical sources, it has also led to a new paradigm of what the authors believe to be a Christian imperative. How quickly we have moved from justification of "homogeneous unit principles" to the equally inadequate idea that all congregations must be multiracial! There seems to be a lack of understanding about what is involved in applying examples from the New Testament era into patterns of church life today. Can't we do better than this?

The development of governance and worship cultures for multicultural congregations is more difficult than seems to be acknowledged. I agree many more congregations and denominations need to face that challenge. However there also need to be times and places where the other things that have to be addressed in Christian life can be dealt with without a constant stretch to accommodate a different way of doing things. Both multicultural and monocultural are important, and at different times each has their place. Denominations in particular need help at working with multiple cultures which do not just make assumptions that one dominant culture knows what is best for the rest. Power easily lies in the hands of just one cultural group. I do not get a sense of the authors coming to terms with these dimensions too much. Something is needed beyond toleration and compromise to actually finding a way through it all. A bit less prophetic imperative for a new model church and bit more sophistication about what realising Christian values actually entails would help the credibility of their passionate concern.

While there are moving stories of courageous efforts and symbolic actions in support of racial desegration, the long haul remains complex. Sometimes it is the needs of minority cultures not just the prejudice of dominant cultures which lead to different groups having their own churches.

This may be a book which should not be ignored, and it will hopefully inspire work which is more sophisticated in its hermeneutics. We need to look to global as well as USA experience to delve more deeply into what is actually involved in making Christian multiculturalism work. The authors are right about one thing. Our churches do not find it easy to embody at one place and at the same time the diversity of cultures that are part of the Body of Christ.

Emerson has convened a multicultural team of co-authors to follow-up his earlier work "Divided by Faith." In "Divided by Faith," Emerson argues that Evangelicals, when they have done anything at all to work toward racial reconciliation, have been too individualistic in their approach.

"United by Faith," then argues that the biblical and effective approach is the multi-cultural congregation in which no one race makes up more than 80% of the congregation. The authors explain the biblical and social need for such congregations. They then follow with hope-giving success stories which provide the philosophy, principles, and practices necessary to obtain the biblical social vision of the multicultural people of God.

Implied, but not highlighted or extracted in detail, is the truth that such congregations can and should then do two things: 1.) Be a visible testimony exhorting the world to "go and do likewise." 2.) Take a stand against societal racism and promote racial reconciliation and justice.

The strength of the book is the theological/biblical development of the argument that God's purpose in history is united multi-cultural worship. From the first church in Jerusalem in Acts 2 to the eternal worship of the Lamb in Revelation 7:9-10, the authors highlight this eschatological goal of God.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Soul Physicians, and Spiritual Friends.