In Canadian cities, some of which are among the most multicultural in the world, the Army has respectfully striven to meet the spiritual and language needs of newcomers by establishing culturally specific corps and encouraging multicultural corps.
How can a historically monocultural corps become more welcoming to people of various cultures? In a series of upcoming Salvationist magazine articles, I will share five capacities that a congregation can intentionally develop to embrace, implement and sustain multiculturalism. These include the capacity:
- to communicate meaningfully with each other
- to reconcile with each other
- to change where necessary
- to give and take (reciprocity)
- to share power
Before we do anything else, we must be willing to respond positively to the shifting cultural makeup of our neighbourhoods. Readiness involves examining our hearts and asking the Holy Spirit to break down any barriers―conscious or unconcious. To embrace people of other cultures, Christians must develop a heart like Christ's, a heart that embraces people as he does.
The New Testament describes the Church as the bride of Christ (see Ephesians 5:25-32). The "bride" is characterized by shining righteousness and glorious salvation, by love and compassion. She is holy, blameless and a lover of justice. Her clothing has no stain, wrinkle or blemish. She is beautifully dressed for her "husband" and glows with the desire to glorify him and fulfill his mission.
We must work to keep our clothing free from the stains of racism, prejudice, stereotyping or indifference. Even tolerance can be a stain. Friendliness is a blemish until it leads to friendship. Christ accepts, loves, values and includes believers of all cultures and races. So must we. Not only when we encounter our neighbours on the street, in the supermarket, or the workplace, but also when they come to our church.
The willingness to form friendships with people of other cultures is an attitude that makes the Church radiant. So are attitudes of appreciating, respecting, valuing and caring. When a congregation and corps leadership team reflects its multicultural neighbourhood, Christ will be delighted. He will love the "wedding dress" because He will know the heart that beats within.
The Church in Laodicea thought it was beautifully clothed (see Revelation 3:14-22). The people thought they were rich and needed nothing, but they were really "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." The Lord rebuked them and told them to become rich in the right way and to cover their nakedness with clean clothes. Perhaps we need to take an honest look at the way we value and include people of different cultures.
At a corps that successfully embraces multiculturalism, I asked a newcomer to Canada why he had chosen to make this congregation his church home. He said that when he first came and saw people of various cultures in uniform, he knew he would be fully accepted. What he saw was more than skin deep. Multicultural sensitivity is a matter of the heart―Christ's heart reflected in ours.
by Major Donna Millar, Divisional Multicultural Ministries Secretary, Toronto