Ethnic Flames of the Burning Bush

Why are the policies of a church at national level, which seek to bring together people of different cultures and ethnicities as one people in Christ, so seldom reflected in local congregations and parishes?

New Zealand Presbyterian minister Rev Dr Tokerau Joseph shares the insights gained from his doctoral research into this topic.

While his study focussed on the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ), his findings are also relevant to other denominations with multi-cultural and multi-ethnic parishes and congregations.

This exercise in practical theology examines the tension between two realities. On the one hand, there are the stated policies of the PCANZ that encourage its members to live out a diverse life together. On the other hand, there is the reality that PCANZ congregations reflect ethnic homogeneity rather than diversity.

The author observes the extent to which the ethnic composition of congregations is influenced by people's theological understanding of the church and of their Christian identity, as opposed to tendencies affirming their ethnic/cultural identity.

Tokerau Joseph challenges and encourages people in congregations to learn to live out more faithfully our ecclesiology of unity in diversity. This will involve re-evaluating our Christian identity, cross-cultural engagements, a pan-Pacific model of church, and the sacrament of Holy Communion. He hopes that this book will be thought-provoking and impactful for change in people's lives.

Key topics discussed are:

• Ethnicity matters
• An ecclesiology of unity in diversity
• The historical development of PCANZ ethnic components
• Ethnic relations in congregations, and
• Rethinking our fellowship

The book includes a full bibliography and references.