As Emmaus Ministries communities, our mission is grounded in being ecumenical, interracial, and international, yet we recognize a pressing challenge: many communities today are predominantly made up of members of a single denomination or race. How can we fully live into our founding vision of unity amid diversity? How can we better reflect this diversity on Boards of Directors, Event Teams, participants, and relationships within communities worldwide?
In the first article of this four-part series, we explored the Gospel’s call to unity and diversity. In this second installment, we will highlight barriers to ecumenism and diversity and invite honest reflection and action.
As Emmaus Ministries, we are called to embody the unity and diversity of the body of Christ. Yet, for many of our communities, the vision of being ecumenical, interracial, and international remains an aspiration rather than a reality. Why is that so?
Becoming a diverse and inclusive community is not simply a matter of good intentions. Among other things, it requires intentional effort to identify and address the barriers that keep us from fully living into this calling. Recognizing these barriers is the first step toward breaking them down and moving closer to God’s vision for the Church and for the various ministries that contribute to fulfilling the Great Commission.
One of the most common barriers to diversity is the tendency to remain in cultural comfort zones. These are spaces where language, traditions, and worship styles feel familiar and comfortable. While these zones provide a sense of safety and belonging, they can also prevent us from reaching out to those who are different from us.
These zones are often times accompanied by a fear of change. Questions like, “What if this disrupts the way we’ve always done things?” or “Will we lose our identity if we bring in new voices?” or “Will we have to eat tacos and soul food?” can hold communities back. Yet, amidst this fear and questioning, God calls us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace the richness of diversity in language, foods, and styles of worship.
Another significant barrier is the existence of denominational silos. These silos arise when communities or community members prioritize loyalty to a specific denominational tradition over building relationships with others. This is not in keeping with the spirit of the Emmaus Ministries.
Doctrinal differences or misunderstandings can sometimes create walls, and as we all know, these walls limit the full expression of the body of Christ. All this changes when we focus on what unites us — the transformative Agape love of God through which we are saved due to our faith in Jesus Christ. This opens the door to deeper collaboration and mutual growth within groups made up of persons from various denominational backgrounds.
One community member threatened to leave the Event Team on which she had been invited to serve. She had gotten wind that one participant was probably coming from a church that was not part of the “pond” from which the community usually sourced its participants. In her mind, the community was inviting chaos by allowing such a person on the weekend. It turned out that the pilgrim was praised for her maturity, presence, and contribution over the 72 hours.
Implicit bias — unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions — can also hinder diversity. Without us even realizing it, these biases may influence decisions about who can lead, who should be included, and who can participate.
A lack of diverse representation in leadership roles often perpetuates homogeneity. When people don’t see themselves reflected in leadership, they may feel that the community isn’t open to them.
One community recognized this issue and made a deliberate effort to invite people from various cultural and racial backgrounds to be not only tokens but fully involved at all levels of the community. This decision enriched their leadership team and sent a powerful message that everyone is welcome and valued in the community. They understood that you become what you platform — as a community, you become what people see you demonstrating.
Socioeconomic differences can unintentionally exclude certain groups. For example, the cost of attending an Emmaus Ministries weekend might be prohibitive for some, or the location of events may not be welcoming to all.
Language diversity can also be a barrier. Communities that primarily use one language in worship and communication may inadvertently exclude those who speak a different language.
To address these barriers, some communities have implemented scholarships to ensure no one is excluded due to financial constraints. Others have implemented sub-committees through which they organize and offer non-English events, using team members from the specific language group. Other communities have introduced bilingual worship services to make their gatherings more inclusive. These small but significant steps help bridge gaps and foster a sense of belonging.
As we consider these barriers, it is important to recognize that they are not just structural or cultural. They are also spiritual. Indeed, in many instances, the spirits of pride, division, and fear are what really create these obstacles to unity. For this reason, in the letter to the Ephesians, the writer urges us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace,” (4:3). This, my friends, requires humility, prayer, and a willingness to rely on God’s grace to provide us with the ability to let go of and do away with that which keeps us from truly being in the image of Christ.
Acknowledging these barriers can be uncomfortable, but it is an essential step in our journey toward becoming more ecumenical, interracial, and international. This work requires courage, humility, and a willingness to listen and learn. It’s not about assigning blame or feeling ashamed. Rather, it is about growing together in Christ and aligning our communities with His vision for the Church and our communities.
As you would imagine, this stage of recognizing barriers is not the end of the journey — it’s the beginning. Identifying what holds us back opens the door to transformation and growth. By identifying our growing edges, we can intentionally pull down walls and build Emmaus Ministries communities that reflect the unity and diversity of God’s kingdom. Friends, let us walk this path with courage, trusting that God will guide us and equip us for this work.
The next article in this series will explore practical strategies for building bridges and fostering inclusivity in your community.
The community can host a workshop or discussion on implicit bias and cultural diversity to raise awareness and promote understanding.
You may gather your leadership team or a small group to discuss the barriers outlined in this article. Discuss how these challenges may apply to your community and brainstorm practical steps to address them.
Reflection Questions
Together, let us break down the walls that divide us and move closer to God’s vision for Emmaus Ministries communities and local churches.
Loading more...