Building Multicultural Churches is a flawed call for diversity

Tony Thompson’s Building Multicultural Churches tackles the challenges of building ethnically diverse congregations with passion and honesty. But while his insights are often powerful, some sweeping generalisations risk alienating the very audience he hopes to inspire

Tony Thompson’s Building Multicultural Churches (Malcolm Down) bravely addresses a topic many would prefer to avoid.

Thompson rightly tackles the subject of racial diversity head on, with admirable forthrightness and energy. Aimed at Christian leaders, his book challenges British churches to pursue greater diversity and confront the perceived shortcomings in how race and ethnicity are handled within the body of Christ.

Thompson is well positioned to write this book, having pastored a church in Luton, one of the UK’s most diverse cities. His firsthand experience of both blessings and challenges shines through in the many personal anecdotes and quotes included from minority ethnic congregants. His main argument is summed up in a single line from the introduction: “I believe that the wisdom of God is found in the coming together of people from different ethnic and social backgrounds bringing their distinct contribution to the family of God.”