Abstract
Abstract
Multicultural Strategies for Developing a Church With Intentional
Multicultural Strategies for Developing a Church With Intentional
References to Diversity, Inclusiveness, and Structure as Modeled by
References to Diversity, Inclusiveness, and Structure as Modeled by
the All Nations Seventh-day Adventist Church, Berrien Springs,
the All Nations Seventh-day Adventist Church, Berrien Springs,
Michigan, 1979-2012
Michigan, 1979-2012
Afa'ese, Uatisone A
Afa'ese, Uatisone A
Doctor of Ministry
Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary
Andrews University, 2013
James J. North, Jr., Advisor
Kenley D. Hall, Advisor
Bruce L. Bauer, Advisor
Problem. The development of a multicultural church is a challenge because it requires a fusion of diverse
cultural entities into a single church. When the All Nations Church began in 1979 in Berrien Springs, Michigan,
church leaders discouraged its establishment, believing the experiment would be divisive, and encourage
dysfunction and misunderstanding. Members of other Seventh-day Adventist churches in the community
disapproved of the concept of a multicultural church within its boundaries. To date, no formal evaluation has
been done to determine the effectiveness of the multicultural ministry to the community.
Method. This narrative culture-inspired project is the report of a descriptive study that included a review of
current literature related to racial and multicultural issues in organizational development in the context of a
theological study of unity in diversity. The document includes responses to a survey distributed to core
members of the All Nations Church in Berrien Springs, the multicultural congregation that served as the
target population. Interviews were conducted that included leaders and individuals who contributed to the
formation of the All Nations Church and those who thought contrary to the need for its existence. Results
The survey and interviews identi�ed some of the successes and failures of establishing a multicultural church
in the context of the All Nations Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Given a study by DeYoung, Emerson,
Yancey, and Kim (2003, p. 165), a multicultural church congregations can be divided into assimilated,
pluralist, and integrated multiracial congregations. The study indicated that the current status of the All
Nations Church falls between pluralist and integrated.
Conclusion. For the past 32 years, the All Nations Church has claimed its reason for existence to be that of an
intentionally multicultural Seventh-day Adventist church, under the auspices of the Lake Region Conference.
The pioneers of the All Nations Church saw the need in the community for a multicultural church but the idea
of establishing such a church was going against the tide of public opinion. Presently, it seems that some of
the reasons for establishing such a congregation have disappeared, but the members indicate that it still
serves the original purpose, but the opinions are still mixed as to whether or not the church can be declared
a success.