We live in an increasingly diverse nation. Even a small town like Rawlins Wyoming (pop. 10,000) boasts an Asian food market, authentic Thai food, top notch Mexican food, Chinese food, Cajun food, Italian food, and what's known as American food.

 

The funny thing is, the aforementioned choices are increasingly the preferred foods of many Americans. At numerous holiday tables in our Conference tamales, green chili, and enchiladas figure as prominently as turkey, stuffing, and ham. The Diversity Index in the United States is high and getting higher.

Not so in most of our churches. How can we welcome and embrace this rich diversity? Some say it can't be done. Shouldn't be done, even. I disagree.

 

In fact, I suspect that intentional building of multiracial, multiethnic churches could be what spells Holy Spirit renewal for the United Methodist Church.

The 14th Quadrennial Study of Ministry, highlighted in the November/December 2007 Circuit Rider, reminds us that we are a Church in search of an identity. Our ecclesiology is conflicted and undefined; our church numbers waning; our elders disappearing. While there are many reasons for that perhaps one of the causes is that we have set too low a goal for ourselves.

As United Methodists, we take our mission--To make disciples of Jesus Christ--from the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). That's a worthy goal. But is it enough? In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus commands us not only to make disciples in general, but specifically to "make disciples of all nations (ethnos)." Matthew 28:19a  Just as the Jewish disciples of old were to reach beyond their ethnic comfort zones, we're to do the same today.

So, how many nations or ethnicities are well-represented in your church? If yours is the typical UMC, the answer is probably only one. Too often our churches don't reflect the world around us. Even more, they don't reflect the world to come.

 

John of Patmos received a glimpse of that world: "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:9). As my mentor Rev. Aaron Gray said to the congregation when I-a lone, olive-skinned, pale face in a sea of coffee and chocolate-stood before Denver's Scott UMC to join this vibrant African-American church: "There isn't going to be a black heaven and a white heaven. We are all going to be together. We better get used to it now!"

Unfortunately, I think we've gotten used to just the opposite. We continue to worship in what sociologist George Yancey in his book One Body, One Spirit: Principles of Successful Multiracial Churches calls "monoracial" groups. We do so to our detriment.

 

Dr. Yancey, through research funded by a Lilly grant, discovered that all four types of multiracial churches grow. One type in particular, however, has "a strong propensity to grow," (p. 60). That's the "network" multiracial church. Network churches are those typified by members who have a strong network of diverse persons through marriage, work or play. That kind of social network combined with intentionality and diverse leadership-among other things-creates a hospitable setting where the fullness of the Great Commission can be lived out.

It's a great model for church growth and one that shouldn't be too hard for UMCs to emulate. Yet when my husband Jerry Gonzales and I do diversity training with churches, we discover that while most participants don't see themselves as prejudiced, they also don't have any good friends of a different race or culture. Their social networks are racially and culturally narrow.

Could it be this is one of the reasons our churches struggle to survive?

 

While our Church has found ways to nurture African-American, Tongan, Spanish-speaking, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese congregations, we have yet to develop much in the way of true Revelation-style multiracial, multiethnic congregations. In that, we have cut ourselves off from a natural source of growth. And a biblical model for Holy Spirit-inspired church growth.

Instead of lamenting our current state of affairs, though, perhaps repenting is a more useful practice this Lent.

 

In my book authentic discipleship begins with authentic friendship. So to dig into the fullness of the Great Commission, it seems we would do well to intentionally befriend persons of different nations and ethnicities. 

I'm a Jewish Christian, married to an Hispanic Roman Catholic. Together, our extended circle of family and friends is fairly diverse. Even our holiday table reflects this diversity. Nevertheless, I still get stuck in my own particular comfort zones--ones that limit my personal growth and by extension the growth of the Church.

This Lent I intend to stretch and live a more radical hospitality.

 

Here's how. Each day I'm going to make a point to connect with someone from a different nation, tribe, people or language than myself. Or to put it in contemporary language: with someone from a different race, ethnicity or culture than mine. And to treat them as a beloved one of the Messiah. Maybe it will be as simple as saying hola to a Spanish-speaker in the grocery store. Or maybe I'll actually walk into that Asian food store, strike up a conversation and walk out with a new recipe. Maybe I'll call up one of my black girlfriends and get to know her better. Or maybe in my travels I'll go to a restaurant where English is not the primary language spoken.

 

This might not sound like much. But who knows how the Spirit will move during the next 40 days? It could be revolutionary. Or even revelatory!

Now what if you tried this too? Or your congregation as a whole? I wonder what worship at our churches might look like on Easter morning.  Or at Pentecost.  Or next Christmas. It might just begin to resemble the diversity-rich, heavenly worship that John of Patmos glimpsed.

Look, we may or may not make lots of disciples during this season of repentance. But one thing is for sure: we'll become a better disciples, better friends. Ones who reach out to all nations/ethnos. And after all, isn't that what truly revitalizes the Church?