Church leaders call for greater intercultural collaboration
More than 150 Christian leaders - including many Baptists - gathered at Gateway Church in Leeds for a one day conference to explore how churches can work better interculturally across the nation
The Intercultural Church and City Transformation event was hosted by a number of organisations including Gather Movement, the Bible Society, Afro Diaspora Mission Network, Churches Together in England, Intercultural Churches, Welcome Churches, Leeds Intercultural Forum, Agape and Share Jesus International on Saturday 20 January.
Baptist minister the Revd Osoba Otaigbe instigated the event. ‘The vision is an intercultural church that embraces different perspectives - fostering understanding, respect and unity in Christ,' he explained.
'It reflects the picture in Revelation where people from all backgrounds, nations, generations and class will one day worship together harmoniously.'
Stories were shared from various cities across the UK where churches have been working across cultural divides to see their places transformed socially, culturally and spiritually.
Insights were shared from Leeds where an Intercultural Forum has been in operation for 20 years with some ground breaking work with international students and intercultural worship.
Stories were also shared from Liverpool, where churches are collaborating to help every person hear the Gospel, and from London, where roundtable meals were being hosted regularly to listen intentionally to different cultural groups in order to foster better understanding and collaborative working.
Contributors included Les Moir, a key organiser behind The Blessing video, who talked about the importance of intercultural worship. The Revd Roger Sutton, co founder of the Gather movement and former minister at Altrincham Baptist Church, talked about the importance of churches collaborating to see their places transformed.
The Revd Joe Kapolyo, another Baptist minister, talked about the move from monocultural and colonial models of church to truly intercultural expressions, while the Revd Dr Israel Olofinjana, who chairs the One People Commission of the Evangelical Alliance, contributed to the intercultural congregations track.
Osoba Otaigbe (left) and Israel Olofinjana
The Revd Chi Wai Wu shared insights from the Chinese Church, which is the fastest growing Church in the UK. An estimated 30,000 Christians have migrated from Hong Kong to the UK over the last four years.
Following the conference, Osoba said, 'What a great privilege to host the Intercultural Church and City Transformation conversation in Leeds with over 150 leaders in the room with strong Baptist representatives as speakers and participants. It was an incredible gathering of individuals from diverse nationalities, ethnicities, races, ages, abilities, socioeconomic classes, church denominations and more.
'The energy and passion in the room were palpable as we embarked on thought-provoking discussions about what an intercultural mission and church could look like in our cities and the impact we could make together.
'The event was a vibrant tapestry of voices from the Christian community. We explored the transformative potential of fostering intercultural harmony, embracing our differences, and building strong, meaningful relationships across cultures.
'The discussions were invigorating, as we shared biblical and personal insights, experiences, and visions for a culturally inclusive church and mission. We recognised the power of creating spaces where people from diverse backgrounds can come together, celebrate their unique identities, and find a sense of belonging. By doing so, we can create a community that thrives on diversity and unity.
'It was inspiring to witness the collective commitment to breaking down barriers and building bridges that hinder cultural integration. We firmly believe that an intercultural mission and church can serve as a catalyst for positive change in our cities.
'By embracing cultural diversity, promoting inclusivity, and fostering dialogue, we can create an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to make a lasting impact on society.
'As we concluded the event, we made a resolute commitment to work together in realising our vision of an intercultural church and mission in our cities. Of course we know there is a lot of hard work and patience with one another to be done.
'Together, we can make a difference and shape a future where cultural diversity is celebrated and unity prevails.'
Osoba's call was supported by others present. Andy Frost, Joint CEO of Gather Movement, reflected, ‘We mustn’t repeat past mistakes when church doors were closed to the Windrush generation.
'We must take this opportunity to welcome and to work together interculturally for the sake of the Gospel.’
Mike Royal, General Secretary, Churches Together in England, said, ‘The intercultural church conference brought together a rich tapestry of the church here in England. Great conversations that have only just begun; I am excited about journeying together in the future.’
Osoba, a Baptist minister who works for the Bible Society as a Church Engagement Manager in the north of England and is also on secondment to Gather Movement as an Associate, is developing a number of resources to help church leaders to navigate what is happening interculturally and to support towns and cities in intentionally moving things forward.
He is the author of Building Cultural Intelligence in Church and Ministry and the host of Intercultural Church and City Transformation Gathering.
Baptist Times, 30/01/2024