Polyphonic God, Intercultural Church
This week, I got my hands on a copy of Polyphonic God, edited by Israel Olofinjana, David Wise and Usha Reifsnider. It is published by SCM Press and includes a chapter by my wife Catherine and me. In case you were wondering, the term Polyphonic God speaks to the idea of a God who is not limited to one cultural voice, but who reveals Himself through the rich, multi-voiced witness of His global Church. The book is a call for a reimagined, intercultural, and unified Church that can speak prophetically into a polarised world - by embracing diverse voices and living out a counter-cultural kingdom vision in multicultural Britain.
The Quiet Revival – and the Beautiful Convergence
The book launches against the backdrop of the recently released The Quiet Revival report - a wonderful reminder that the story of church decline in the UK is changing! As I read this report published by the Bible Society earlier this year, one truth struck me: we’re seeing a beautiful convergence. On one hand, there’s the vibrant faith of millions of Christians who’ve migrated to the UK; on the other, we’re seeing a rising spiritual hunger among UK-born young adults, including a renewal of faith among young White British adults.
Consider this: today, nearly one-third of UK churchgoers aged 18-54 come from global majority backgrounds. Among Black adults aged 18-34, almost half attend church monthly. And among White British men in that same age bracket, monthly attendance has grown sixfold since 2018 - from 3% to 18%. This is all very promising!
Are We Ready?
But with this growth comes a critical question: are our churches ready?
When it comes to the question of culture and ethnicities, many churches are still operate with a monocultural mindset – where one dominant style of worship, leadership, and theology prevails, and others are expected to adapt. That’s not just outdated. It risks stifling the very movement God is breathing life into.
From Multicultural to Intercultural
I believe the future of the UK Church isn’t merely multicultural - where diversity is present. It must become intercultural - where diversity is engaged, honoured, and transformative. In an intercultural church, cultures don’t sit side by side - they shape and enrich each other. That’s because leadership is shared, worship is beautifully varied, and theology is multi-voiced. And no one is asked to check their culture at the door!
This isn’t just strategy. It’s a kingdom vision. It echoes the one body with many parts (1 Corinthians 12), and it mirrors the heavenly gathering of every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 7).
Three Ways Forward
So, how can we steward this moment faithfully? This is where the new book will be an excellent resource, but for now let me offer three suggestions to help get us started:
1. Reimagine Leadership
We must seek to raise leaders from every background. Representation isn’t just about fairness - it’s about trust, credibility, and belonging.
2. Rethink Our Practices
Think about whether our worship, discipleship, and community rhythms reflect everyone in the room. Are we making space for people to bring their whole selves, or asking them - subtly or not - to fit a mould?
3. Grow in Cultural Intelligence
We need to remember that no single culture holds the whole gospel - but together, we reflect it more fully. This takes humility. It means listening deeply, learning from diaspora and global churches, and allowing these voices round the table to shape our theology and mission.
Let’s Steward This Moment
The UK Church is undergoing a quiet but unmistakable revival. We don’t need to manufacture it - but we are called to steward it. Let’s embrace the intercultural future God is unfolding. Let’s become the vibrant, diverse body we were always meant to be.
Grab your copy of Polyphonic God - and join the conversation shaping the future Church.
