2008 National Multicultural Conference

... Gather All Nations and Tongues: Good News for All Congregations ...

Presbyterian Multicultural Network group. Photo by Jan Sullivan.San Antonio, Texas
April 10–13, 2008
Hilton San Antonio Airport

A look back

Now that you are home, let us thank you with a deep sense of appreciation for your participation in this Ninth Multicultural Church Conference. We truly hope that you enjoyed every minute of the event, and while the conference may not have answered every question you had, we sincerely pray that we helped you in finding some answers as you continue to journey side by side with us in this new and sometimes unfamiliar world — a world that God gave birth to and to which God is calling us to serve.

Joseph Kimatu singing. Photo by Evan Silverstein.We encourage you to browse this material and use it in your ministry if you were unable to join us for the conference or have wanted to listen again to exciting models, actual and inspiring experiences of multicultural worship, practical approaches to community building and innovative ways to reach out to the growing diversity in your community as you seek to live the vision of a multicultural church.

Attendees in their own words

Conference attendees stop for a group photo. Photo by Clemente “Andy” AnzalduaMany of those who attended the 2008 Multicultural Conference found it to be an exciting, educational and moving experience. Below is a look at some of the positive feedback we received after the conference:

I really enjoyed the 2008 National MC Conference in San Antonio. I learned so much and I felt strengthened in my faith.  I meant to thank you a few days ago for sending me one of your power point presentations. I made the presentation to our session and made copies for members to take home and read at their convenience.  They appreciated the information and have a better understanding for what a multicultural church is and how it could function. I thank you most sincerely for sharing your hard work and inspiration with us.  
– Mary D. Guidetti-McColl

The Reverend Rhashell Hunter leads attendees in prayer. Photo by Clemente “Andy” AnzalduaI wanted to extend my thanks and appreciation to you for all your assistance with the Multicultural Conference. I found it to be educational, enlightening and encouraging. Please extend thanks to the planning committee for the excellent event.

I am spreading the word here with faculty and students about this great event and how much can be learned which will be helpful to future pastors. I have already recommended that Dubuque Seminary plan to send representatives to the 2010 event in Chicago. Again thanks for all your hard work, it was a wonderful, spirit-filled event.

—Teresa Bartlett

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to attend the Multicultural Conference this past weekend. It was my first and one of the most rewarding experiences of my faith journey. I will always remember this.
 
—Princeton E. Abaraoha 

Tai Chi at the pool. Photo by Jan Sullivan.It’s been a few days since we all got home from San Antonio.  I just want you to know how much I enjoyed the conference …

—Pastor K.O. Noonoo, The Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Kansas

This Conference was the best I have ever attended — a glimpse of heaven, with people from "every tongue, tribe and age" leading worship, worshiping and studying together — the future of the church, I pray … The PC(USA) is leading many to Christ (and transforming churches to reflect the will of God) through its Multicultural Movement. 

—Jan Sullivan

Native American Group – Photo by Clemente “Andy” AnzalduaThank you for such an uplifting, energizing, and helpful conference.  I left feeling that Eliot is supported not only by GA but by so many others across the country.  Being the only urban, immigrant, multicultural church in a presbytery of mostly small town and rural, nearly all white churches has been difficult for us since this presbytery simply does not understand who and what we are about.  So this conference came at the right time. 

—Rev. Dr. Ted Zaragoza, Eliot Presbyterian Church

Thank you and your colleagues who put on the Multicultural Conference — for the beautiful print, "Symbols of the Dance."  It is beautiful in its own right, but it is also a wonderful reminder of the tremendous gift of diversity God has given us in the PC(USA) and of the marvelous ministry in which you and your colleagues are engaged on our behalf.

Gather Nations, Gather Peoples

Laurel Underwood Brundage – Photo by Evan SilversteinThis year’s first-place multicultural hymn contest winner, the Rev. Laurel Underwood Brundage, is pastor of Pleasant Valley Presbyterian Church in Brodheadsville, Pa. She lives in nearby Saylorsburg, Pa. Her hymn “Gather Nations, Gather Peoples” was selected as one of two winners from among original entries submitted by more than 30 participants and was performed by the Multicultural Choir during the conference. She had this to say about the hymn:

The phrase that came to mind almost immediately was the ‘Gather nations, gather peoples.’ Which isn’t actually the phrase that was in the passage Isaiah 66:18, that was the theme of the conference that we were asked to reflect in the song. But that was the phrase that came to my mind and I had that circulating and maybe another few words came and I sat down at the piano and it came together and then it was like one verse So you gather nations, there’s good news, who else are you going to gather? And that became the friends and family and strangers never known and opening doors but who else do we need to gather? And that was the poor and the homeless and they need to hear and I wanted to have that sense, not just a little bit like we were just hearing. It’s not that it’s a duty to include them, we want them, these are special people to God. We want them near us because of the lessons we will learn from them. Because of the gifts that they bring that we have not been hearing. So we need them. Then this idea scripturally that Isaiah passage talks about the Lord is doing the gathering. So that part is God’s. But our job then is to welcome in all those people, to include them in every way that we can. Then the last two versus are what is this Gospel that we are preaching? It’s implied in all the opening doors and welcoming strangers and the love of the Lord for these people, but there is this good news and we are called to proclaim it. And it’s about salvation and it’s about a word of life and it’s about everyone knowing this good.”

The Multicultural Choir performs. Photo by Clementa “Andy” Anzaldua“I wanted a song that was reflective of the gospel, there’s lots of biblical references in there that was singable. I wanted a singable song and one that could be sung in any church. It can be sung in a traditional service. It can be sung in a contemporary worship style. I am Anglo. But I didn’t want it to just sound like your traditional hymn. But I didn’t want it to try and imitate and ethnic style that is not my roots. So I just tried to have something that would call to mind some. It would be close enough to a comfort zone that it would be singable but just enough different from our usually music and rhythm and harmonies that it would remind anyone who sang it that there are other ways of worshiping and praising in music then the ones we normally use.”

In addition to the Rev. Brundage’s “Gather Nations, Gather Peoples,” a runner-up was selected — “Good News on Every Tongue” by Nathan Crabtree. Copies of hymns are available to download, print and share with your congregation.

Download “Gather Nations, Gather Peoples” to print.
Download “Good News on Every Tongue” to print.

For further reading

9th annual multicultural conference kicks off in Texas
Evangelism in a multicultural world is the focus of gathering of all ‘nations and tongues’ – Presbyterian News Service, April 11, 2008

Good evangelism means heavy lifting and faith sharing
Reese tells multicultural conference that deep relationship with God is key - Presbyterian News Service, April 17, 2008

A Glimpse of the Kingdom
Linda Valentine reflects on the 2008 Multicultural Conference – April 24, 2008

The 2008 Multicultural Conference DVDs

Available now

The DVDs of the 2008 National Multicultural Conference are now available. There are eight DVDs, containing the following sessions:

1) Opening Celebration, Worship and Praise with the Rev. James Hickson Lee – April 10, 2008
2) Panel Discussion: “Stories, Models and Elements of Multicultural Ministry” – April 10, 2008
3) Worship and Praise with the Rev. James Kim – April 11, 2008
4) Panel Discussion: “The State of the Multicultural Church” – April 11, 2008
5) Worship and Praise with the Rev. Cyprian Kimathi Guchienda – April 12, 2008
6) Keynote: “Unbinding the Gospel” with the Rev. Martha Grace Reese – April 12, 2008
7) Multicultural Celebration (Part One) – April 12, 2008
8) Multicultural Celebration (Part Two) – April 12, 2008

We are asking for a minimum contribution of $5 for each DVD. Your contributions will help us in the production of new educational resources for congregations.

To order the DVDs, please download the order form or contact Janeth Nuñez via email or at (502) 569-5252.

Please make the check payable to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and mail it to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
100 Witherspoon Street, Room # 2069A
Louisville, KY 40202
Attention: Janeth Nuñez

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