Most congregational leaders find it difficult to resist the dominant cultural expectation that different cultural and ethnic groups should stick to themselves–especially when it comes to church. But some congregational leaders have learned the secrets of breaking out of these expectations to bring together communities of faith that model God’s radical inclusiveness. What makes the difference? Jacqui Lewis explains that it resides in the stories these leaders tell: stories about who they themselves are, and what the communities they lead are about. These leaders are able to embrace the multiple, complex stories within these diverse communities, hearing in the many voices a particular echo of the living voice of the gospel.

In this book Lewis shares with the reader examples of congregational leaders who have successfully overcome the challenges of leading multicultural congregations, and the lessons that can be learned from them.

Review
This is one of the top 10 resources on leading multiracial/multicultural congregations for religious leaders. Rev. Jacqueline J. Lewis is herself a leader of a vibrant, dynamic congregation in the East Village/NYC where she carries on the legacy of Rev Gordon Dragt whose story of transformative ministry she describes in The Power of Stories. Each of the ministers profiled in The Power of Stories has a story of race, class and culture that has inspired their inclusive, multicultural ministries. There are no cookie-cutter, one-size fits all ministries in this book. The stories provide multiple paths and describes the leadership characteristics and congregational cultures that promote and support welcome and inclusion for people of diverse races and ethnicities, class statuses, and genders. Lay leaders will also find the book useful in identifying leadership qualities of ministers and the cultural characteristics of congregations that create living inclusive, multicultural community. If you’re looking for a checklist, this is not the book for you. But if you want a book that provides inspiration and direction for creating a vision for inclusive, multicultural ministries, use The Power of Stories to ignite this work in your congregation. ~ Taquiena Boston

Jacqueline J. Lewis is Senior Minister for Vision, Worship, and the Arts at Middle Collegiate Church in New York.