Creating Intentional Inclusive Environments: A Multicultural Church’s Journey to Diverse Representation

Creating diverse and inclusive environments is an intentional act. One of the places I see this put in to practice is my church. I know, this is likely not what you thought I was going to say, but keep reading and you will see why. I’m not talking about the Bible here. I’m referring to the organizational structure being the foundation to having good representation.

Inclusion starts at the beginning

The church I attend is multicultural, and the pastor often talks about how the church began. He is black and mentions how he wanted a place of worship with people from all different backgrounds. While at seminary school he met a few other individuals who were white. They, along with his wife who is Korean, saw the vision and began to help him build the church. The pastor was very intentional about who he brought to the table in the beginning. He sought out those who could be supportive of the organization’s core values, yet still bring their unique perspectives. The result: a church with over 52 nations represented from all over the world.

Inclusive environments are visible right away

If someone sees your organization for the first time, do they view it as inclusive? And when they connect with people who represent your workforce, do they hear it, too? In my youth, I attended a predominantly black place of worship. We were lucky if we had someone else from another background visit. My mother and sister, visiting from Michigan, accompanied me to church one Sunday. One of the first things they noticed as they entered was how many different types of people they saw. They also heard the accent of people from various counties. My family immediately remarked on how refreshing and enjoyable this opportunity was.

Inclusive environments increase understanding

Inclusive environments offer diverse groups the opportunity to connect and have their voices heard. My church makes sure it’s inclusive of several cultures at different points in the service. The singers and drama ministry all consist of people of different backgrounds. At some point during a church service, we may sing a song in Korean, Spanish or Arabic. It’s encouraging to see a skit highlighting how different racial groups see police violence and how the church should respond. Because each voice is heard, those in attendance gain different perspectives. For many, this provides a greater understanding of a complicated issue.  

Inclusive environments attract

It is often said, “ 11 am on Sunday morning is one of the most segregated times in the country.” Yet, my church has managed to create a multicultural worship experience people flock to week after week. By being intentional about the community and the people the pastor placed in leadership, the church has now grown to over 3,000 members. It has attracted those who have the same desire to learn and grow, with the Lord and as people.

Organizations desiring to create inclusive environments should start by answering these three questions:

• What does our organization look like when inclusion is a priority?
• Does our leadership team and structure reflect the type of inclusive environment we want to create?
• What can we do make sure each of our team members feel like they have a voice, as well as an audience?

Though a church is this example, success can also be seen in schools, programs, and other businesses. The keys to success? Being intentional when creating inclusive environments. Create spaces where all are welcome, respected and contributors to the team.

Cory J. Anderson writes about practical ways to think about and implement equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. He has always lived in a multicultural environment which he credits as his inspiration to bring diverse groups of people together. Cory is passionate about using facilitated conversations as a tool to increase understanding and personal development. He has held various leadership positions with several nonprofit organizations and universities facilitating multicultural education. He is the founder of Identity Blueprint, an organization focused on breaking down barriers one conversation at a time.  Follow him on Twitter @mrca12.