How do churches build immunity from racial and ethnic tensions that

threaten to divide rather than unite congregations? Jacqui Lewis and John Janka

believe that the answer lies in the development of multiracial, multicultural

communities of faith.

Born of the authors’

work with The Middle Project, an institute that prepares ethical leaders for a more

just society, The Pentecost Paradigm is a collection of wisdom

and best practices. Here you will find lessons, questions for conversation, and

spaces for journaling. Use the workbook with your planning team, board members, lay

leaders, and staff.

Ten essential strategies

are presented to help build communities that celebrate racial/ethnic and cultural

diversity:

Embracing Call and

CommitmentA

Casting the VisionA

Managing Change and ResistanceA

Creating Congregational IdentityA

Building CapacityA

Cultivating CommunityA

Celebrating in WorshipA

Understanding Congregational ConflictA

Communicating and

Organizing

Collaborating in the Public

Square

In welcoming

communities of faith where everyone is accepted just as they are, we can lead the

way toward racial reconciliation and dismantle the prejudices that segregate our

houses of worship.