Congregational Vitality

At the Crossroads of Ubuntu and Koinonia: Building a Multicultural, Pro-Reconciling Community
A reflection by Rev. Trish Thompson-Winters, Pastor of Community Christian Church in Tempe

On Monday of our General Assembly, forty of us sat in a chilly conference room and wondered together, at the guidance of Rev. Vinnetta Golphin-Wilkerson, minister of Granger Community Christian Church in Salt Lake City: What does it really mean to be a multicultural, multiethnic, anti-racist, and pro-reconciling community of faith?

In short, it means stepping into the sacred intersection of Ubuntu—“I am because we are”—and koinonia—deep spiritual fellowship. It means not just welcoming difference, but respecting it, learning from it, and allowing it to reshape us into something more whole. It means reflecting the full image of God. 

In Acts 6:1–7, we see an early example of this kind of transformation. We know, change was in the air. New people had joined the movement and misunderstanding and tension followed. Some widows were being neglected and the new church was called out. Instead of defending the status quo, the new church got honest, got creative, and formed new roles and practices to make sure no one was left out. The result? The word of God spread.

Inclusion wasn’t a distraction from the mission—it was the mission. When we are authentically engaged with one another across lines of difference, the gospel comes alive.

It sounds ideal, right?! But Rev. Vinnetta assured us that though this is holy work, it is not easy. 

So she encouraged us to begin, by asking ourselves – and our communities of faith – some difficult questions:

Do we look like the community around us?

Are we willing to change so that others can truly belong, not just fit in?

How far are we willing to go?

When we’ve taken those questions seriously, we can begin the four part process of creating sacred, whole, kin-dom. 

So what does it take?

Intentionality

We must ask what we’re really trying to do—and be clear about why it matters. Building a multicultural community isn’t about optics or checking boxes. It’s about embodying the kin-dom of God more faithfully.

Information

We don’t know what we don’t know. And we won’t learn unless we’re willing to listen, read, visit, and pay attention. Be in spaces, where you are the minority. Attend worship services in languages that are not your own (and trust the Holy Spirit to move even when we don’t understand the words). Read books. Study under theologians that don’t look like you. be in relationships where you can ask questions. 

Implementation

Change doesn’t happen without action. We have to do more than plan, hope or dream…we have to live it. We need to interrogate our tools.  (One example: Robert’s Rules of Order is intrinsically centered on whiteness and is often weaponized or treated as universally sacred). We need to honor the differences in communication styles in different ethnic and social groups (one example: for some, sign-up sheets are a barrier, not a bridge). And we need to wonder about the thinks we hold sacred: worship order, songs and hymnody, visitation, spaces in our building, etc. 

Investment

This work requires sacrifice. It requires truth-telling. It requires language that binds us together (“we” and “us”) instead of language that separates (“them” and “those people”). It demands that we stop generalizing and instead, that we speak specifically and truthfully.

So, how do we begin?

Start with relationships. Share space. Ask honest questions: Why do we do it this way? Why do you?

Resist the urge to anoint a single person as “the expert.” Instead, create a culture of mutual learning. 

And above all—show up. Show up in unfamiliar spaces. Pay attention to what you feel, what you see, what you hear. Don’t confuse spectacle for solidarity. 

Remember:

• Representation matters—but tokenism is an insult, not inclusion.
• Visual symbols matter—but they must reflect lived values, not surface diversity.
• There will be a tendency to wonder about the “why”.  For example: Spanish translation may seem unnecessary when you don’t have anyone in your congregation that needs it…until someone does! Rev. Vinnetta used the example of your Thanksgiving meal preparations…you form a menu and a shopping list, weeks in advance of actually needing the items! Folks in your community of faith may wonder “why” we need to do something (change music style, offer sign language, etc) and it’s a great moment to talk about “why”. 

Above all, Rev. Vinnetta reminded us that this work is spiritual. It is strategic. It is slow. And we will fail…we will fail at being authentic, at communicating well, at getting it “right.” But we fail forward. Fail faithfully. Keep failing at love, until love takes root and grows.

Because the gospel cannot spread if someone is still being left out.

---

The Arizona Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team is committed to the growth of its leaders and their participation in Reconciliation Ministries work in the wider church. This reflection was made possible in part by Arizona Reconciliation Ministry Grants which helped assist Arizona Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation leaders attend General Assembly.