Crossing the Ethnic Divide: The Multiethnic Church on a Mission (Aar Academy Series)

While religious communities often stress the universal nature of their beliefs, it remains true that people choose to worship alongside those they identify with most easily. Multiethnic churches are rare in the United States, but as American attitudes toward diversity change, so too does the appeal of a church that offers diversity. Joining such a community, however, is uncomfortable-worshippers must literally cross the barriers of ethnic difference by entering the religious space of the ethnically "other." Through the story of one multiethnic congregation in Southern California, Kathleen Garces-Foley examines what it means to confront the challenges in forming a religious community across ethnic divisions and attracting a more varied membership. "Through the story of one multiethnic congregation in Southern California, Kathleen Garces-Foley examines what it means to confront the challenges of forming a religious community across ethnic divisions and attracting a more varied membership." "Drawing on an in-depth study of Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles, a predominantly Asian American church that actively welcomes other ethnic groups, Garces-Foley argues that a new generation of Christians, raised in diverse urban settings and shaped by the multicultural curriculum of public schools, has become the driving force behind the formation of multiethnic churches. But the youthful energy and open-mindedness of this new generation is only one element in Evergreen's success. The church has turned the challenge of a multiethnic identity on its head by insisting that its members accept the discomfort of cross-cultural exchange as integral to Christian discipleship. This "theology of discomfort" calls on the members of multiethnic churches to bear the costs of diversity and take the commitment to racial reconciliation beyond church walls. Garces-Foley shows how multiethnic churches like Evergreen participate in a larger social discourse and argues that they will play a positive role in the future of our multi-ethnic society."--Jacket Contents......Page 10 Introduction: Looking for the Promised Land......Page 14 1. For the Healing of the Nations......Page 30 2. The Racial Reconciliation Movement......Page 46 3. The Reconciliation Generation......Page 66 4. Becoming a Multiethnic Church......Page 90 5. The Dividing Lines......Page 114 6. The Culture of Discomfort......Page 132 7. The Multiethnic Church in Society......Page 150 Appendix A: Methods......Page 162 Appendix B: Comparing Models of Ethnically Diverse Congregations......Page 166 Notes......Page 170 Bibliography......Page 184 D......Page 190 K......Page 191 V......Page 192 Y......Page 193 Contents 10 Introduction: Looking for the Promised Land 14 1. For the Healing of the Nations 30 2. The Racial Reconciliation Movement 46 3. The Reconciliation Generation 66 4. Becoming a Multiethnic Church 90 5. The Dividing Lines 114 6. The Culture of Discomfort 132 7. The Multiethnic Church in Society 150 Appendix A: Methods 162 Appendix B: Comparing Models of Ethnically Diverse Congregations 166 Notes 170 Bibliography 184 Index 190 A 190 B 190 C 190 D 190 E 191 F 191 G 191 H 191 I 191 J 191 K 191 L 192 M 192 N 192 O 192 P 192 R 192 S 192 T 192 U 192 V 192 W 193 Y 193 Kathleen Garces-foley Challenges The Accepted Wisdom And Puts Forth An Alternative Hypothesis About The Role Of A Multi-cultural Ideology In Integrating A Range Of Ethnic And Generational Groups. Introduction: Looking For The Promised Land -- For The Healing Of The Nations -- The Racial Reconciliation Movement -- The Reconciliation Generation -- Becoming A Multiethnic Church -- The Dividing Lines -- The Culture Of Discomfort -- The Multiethnic Church In Society. Kathleen Garces-foley. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [173]-178) And Index. In this book Kathleen Garces-Foley challenges the accepted wisdom and puts forth an alternative hypothesis about the role of a multi-cultural ideology in integrating a range of ethnic and generational groups.