Presbyterian Church Embraces its Ethnic Diversity

7 October 2014

In celebration of the increasing number of ethnically diverse congregations in its midst, the Presbyterian Church today declared itself to be a cross-cultural Church.

On Tuesday 7 October the Church’s General Assembly agreed unanimously to adopt a new policy statement that declares the Church to be “a cross-cultural and multicultural Church with a bicultural commitment”.

The Church’s decision to adopt a statement embracing cross-culturalism is a continuation of its long history of respecting diversity. The Presbyterian Church has an existing bicultural covenant with its Maori Synod, Te Aka Puaho, and the new policy statement is expressed within the context of that relationship.

“The new policy goes beyond simply recognising that we are multicultural. It is a commitment to crossing over the barriers between cultures in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” says the Rev Dr Colin Marshall, Convener of the Church’s Council of Assembly.

“It embodies the spirit of creating a church community where there is cross-pollination of new ideas. It reflects our intention to build a church that values, listens to and reflects together upon what each cultural or language group brings to the table.”

“With this statement, we recognise the spiritual insight and cultural richness that can be found in the sharing of experiences, wisdom and learning from many different cultures.”

“In affirming the Church to be cross-cultural, we are deliberately affirming our belief that the Christian gospel creates a unified and harmonious community across cultures.”

“The Church stands in opposition to any view that favours one culture over another as holding a monopoly on the interpretation or transmission of the Christian Gospel.”

Over coming months, congregations will be looking at how they can give effect to the new policy. Suggestions made by congregations during the preliminary round of consultation included implementing flexible meeting and church structures that recognise different cultural decision-making processes, considering where the use of more than one language would be appropriate, identifying and celebrating events important to different cultures, and strengthening our welcome and hospitality to be more welcoming to people of all cultures.

The Presbyterian Church is home to around 400 congregations. Of recent significance is the emergence of the growing Asian and immigrant communities within the Church, alongside the already significant Maori and Pacific membership.

The Church is responding to the needs of this growing community by providing a place of welcome and belonging. A number of new Asian, particularly Korean, congregations have been welcomed into the Presbyterian Church since 2011, and there are many examples of congregations reaching out to migrants in their communities to support them in making Aotearoa New Zealand their home.