Date of Award
2014
Document Type
Project
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Reconciliation and Intercultural Studies (MA-RIS)
Department
Theology
First Advisor/Committee Member
Brenda Salter McNeil, D.Min., Associate Professor of Reconciliation Studies
Keywords
Reconciliation—Religious aspects—Christianity, Ethnicity—Religious aspects—Christianity, Multiculturalism—Religious Aspects—Christianity, Image of God, Church and minorities, Church work with minorities, Categorization (Psychology), Community development, Social participation
Abstract
This thesis seeks to discover whether or not a focus on reconciliation in a local church can prompt the congregation to engage their multiethnic neighborhood and become a more diverse church. It argues that in the midst of a broken and hurting world the multiethnic congregation offers a reflection of the image of God and a message of hope to the world. Specifically, this project will explore the question, “Can a focus on reconciliation in the local church lead to an increase of social and cultural engagement by its congregants that produces positive change in the surrounding community?” As a result of this research, the scope of this thesis will also move to a more narrow focus that asks, “Can a focus on reconciliation with the staff of a local church lead to changes that produce an increase in the ethnic diversity of their congregation?” In conclusion, this thesis will demonstrate that an exploration of social psychology’s theory of categorization has direct implications for increasing the senior leaders’ role in developing a multiethnic congregation.
Recommended Citation
Gatlin, Jodi C., "The Multiethnic Church as a Reflection of God's Image: A Focus on Reconciliation in a Local Congregation" (2014). Seattle Pacific Seminary Projects. 1.
https://digitalcommons.spu.edu/spseminary_projects/1
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