Multicultural Kingdom: Ethnic Diversity, Mission and the Church

by Harvey Kwiyani

Christianity in the UK today is faced with growing cultural and religious diversity. Christian migrants bring with them new ways of doing theology, new styles of worship, and new expressions of the faith. Increased levels of migration mean that the Church needs to reconsider what a ‘mission-shaped church’ looks like. ‘Multicultural Kingdom’ explores some of the causes and implications of ethnic diversity on the British Christian landscape – and the implications on the landscape of theology itself. Why, it asks, do we prefer to remain segregated in our ecclesiology? Why indeed, do several churches of different ethnic heritage use the same building for services on Sunday but do not get to worship together? Articulating for the first time an extensive ‘multicultural missiology’ for the UK church, the book will offer an essential new perspective for scholars and practitioners alike.

256 pages, Paperback

Published April 30, 2020

Reviews

[Edwin David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important book which catches the most essential issue facing evangelicalism in the UK today – an issue which is widely ignored. If you lead a church in a large town or city, you should read this book. Don’t argue, just buy it!

The book is a paperback of just over 250 pages long. The style sits somewhere between academic and popular. Academic in that there is a fair sprinkling of footnotes and a good section of references, and popular in that it is a fairly easy read with not a lot of technical language or jargon. Unfortunately, the book will set you back around twenty pounds for a hard copy and slightly less for the electronic version. This pricing is unfortunate as it will discourage some buyers – but it shouldn’t, it is worth the price! My full review can be found here: https://www.kouya.net/?p=12133

[Josh Trice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kwiyani gives a challenging, hopeful and insightful overview on what is holding the church (or individual churches) back and what they could be.
I think Kwiyani paints a beautiful picture of what the church will (and can) be. As he says throughout the book, Revelation is a description of what is attainable, what is expected. It is not impossible, and even quite beautiful, to embrace all people and all cultures.

[Jessie T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to hear about ethnic diversity and the monocultural churches in the UK today, and the case for multicultural churches. A bit academic to begin with, but it’s not too difficult to read. I enjoyed learning more about Malawian culture too.