My friend, Scott Williams, just released his first book, Church Diversity: Sunday the Most Segregated Day of the Week. I caught up with Scott earlier this week to ask him about the book and its challenging contents. Here’s the interview:
TONY: What’s the motivation for you writing this book?
SCOTT: As far back as I can remember I have always been intrigued and interested in issues of race an ethnicity. This is mostly due to my unique life experience, specifically as a minority interacting within the majority culture. Over the years that intrigue turned into a passion and calling. As a pastor, I truly believe if we want to have an opportunity to reach “everyone” or “all nations” for Jesus, diversity has to matter. Culture, corporate America, sports and almost every entity is beginning to figure this out — every entity except for the local church. Unfortunately, the local church is lagging behind. I want to be a part of elevating the conversation and share practical steps towards positive change.
TONY: This may be a surprise to you, but I’m very white. What are some first steps a guy like me can take to encourage diversity in my church?
SCOTT: Tony, I didn’t know that you were white. Just kidding! After confronting the elephant in the pew and acknowledging that lack of diversity is a problem, I think one of the first steps is to do what I refer to in the book as, “Check your heart.” Begin to ask basic “heart” questions about where you stand, where your ministry stands and where your leadership team stands as it relates to diversity. After you ask those questions you must be prayerful and intentional about making diversity a reality. Intentionality can come in the form of staff, media, print, teaching etc.
TONY: That said, diversity isn’t just a “white church” problem, is it?
SCOTT: It’s absolutely not just a “white church” problem. The traditional “Black Church” “Indian Church” or cultural churches are really challenged in this area. My analysis is that it’s a problem with the church in general and the concepts that I outline are universal for the most part. I even feature a church from Nigeria that illustrates diversity is more than just a white, black or brown thing, but extends to tribal differences as well.
TONY: My guess is if we’re serious about diversity, we may have to be flexible with some of our preferences. Music style may be an example of that. Do preferences get in the way of churches embracing diversity?
SCOTT: The short answer is absolutely preferences get in the way, because we all have preferences. There are many schools of thoughts as it relates to diversity and worship. In Chapter 7, I focus exclusively on worship and outline thoughts from worship leaders from around the country who have had success with diversity in worship. I definitely feel that there needs to be some intentionality in implementing diversity within the context of worship. The intentionality I’m referring to can be within the ethnic make-up of the members of the worship team, diversity of a music style, delivery and integration of other elements. I don’t think that you can pinpoint one particular way; however, intentionality and a genuine heart to embrace diversity must be at the core.
TONY: Why is diversity such an important issue for churches to wrestle with?
SCOTT: It’s biblical and the church must wrestle with it if we want to fulfill the Great Commission, which let’s us know that diversity matters to God. I truly believe that local church is the hope of the world, and the bottom line for the church is winning people to Christ. If we want to reach our modern-day Judea, Jerusalem, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the World, we must wrestle with this issue. It doesn’t make sense for us to turn our back to this real issue, when we live in the most racially inclusive time period in modern-day history. The church can’t remain stuck in the past. Author, William Inge says it this way; “The Church that marries the spirit of an age becomes a widow in the next generation.” We’ve got some work to do, the time is now and we are the change! Let’s Go!
Here’s my Amazon link to Church Diversity if you’d like to pick up your copy. I hope you’ll read it and be challenged by Scott’s writing.
What strategies are you implementing to encourage diversity in your ministry? Join the conversation by sharing your comment.
