As Christians across denominations face increasing ethnic diversity in their cities and neighborhoods, they are forced to reconsider the purpose of church and what kind of church they wish to be a part of. Homogeneous churches are by far the norm, but there is notable interest in ending ethno-racial divisions among Christians, and a growing number of churches are finding some success in this endeavor. This article examines the multicultural church as a new social institution developing in response to the growing ethnic diversity in the United States and new attitudes toward diversity. Multicultural churches challenge their members to engage with the ethnically “other” and develop civic skills for living in a diverse society.
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