Clergy and laity from across the Church of England joined together for the 2024 Oxford Intercultural Mission Conference this week, exploring the goal of intercultural mission:
To be intentional about reaching and integrating all people, regardless of their ethnicity and cultural difference, as they love God and love each other.
The conference took place on 1 October at St Paul’s Church in Slough, the Resourcing Hub for Intercultural Mission in the Diocese of Oxford. Led by Javed Gill - the Church of England’s first deanery lay chair of Asian heritage - the packed itinerary started with worship, and those present praised God together in English, Urdu, Farsi, Swahili.
Bi-cultural spirituality
The Revd Mark Nam, vicar of St John the Evangelist, Woodley, gave the opening keynote, exploring strategies for intercultural mission, with a focus on how subsequent generations of migrants are listened to and included within those strategies. Presenting an alternative perspective on the story of Moses, Mark reflected on how Moses’ upbringing closely resembles that of third- and fourth-generation migrants – people who are often left ‘in-between’ cultural groups, ‘not enough’ of one to be fully immersed in either.
Mark shared a personal story of how his grandfather hoped to travel from Shang Hai to America – and instead ended up in Birkenhead, Liverpool. On arrival, communication barriers meant Mark’s grandfather’s name, Nam, was assumed to be his family name. At Mark’s ordination, almost 100 years later, the bishop asked to ordain Mark using his full Chinese name. For Mark, being ordained under his full Chinese name, lost for so many years, was the moment of a profound encounter with God.
“Focusing on God’s covenant as a starting point of identity cuts across ethnic lines… Each and every person can seek healing of their fractured self through encountering the Lord.”
Rehearsing for Heaven
Lara Dean led a workshop on worship and languages, suggesting people should consider Sunday worship ‘a dress rehearsal for heavenly worship’ – extensive and inclusive, with ‘no bystanders’. The workshop closed in worship, singing in praise together.
Elsewhere, the Revd Sarah Flashman shared advice on growing new worshipping communities, encouraging people to work in their own unique contexts, calling on people to consider, ‘What have you got in your hands?’ Members of St Paul’s, Slough, also shared advice from their own experiences, recalling how their Asian fellowship began by going home to home for prayer groups and now meets weekly with a congregation of over 100.
Called as you are
The Revd Polly Falconer spoke on racial justice in a Church context, unpacking the challenges of racial bias.
“The thing about racial justice is that racial justice affects all of us, everywhere… If you’re in a minority it can be a problem, it isn’t always a black or white thing.”
Though the conference falls on the first day of Black History Month, Polly was clear that pursuing racial justice is something that needs to be done all year round, highlighting the recent linking with the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and the collaboration to come as the dioceses learn from each other.
The work doesn’t stop here
Plenary time included discussion on how to answer difficult or even upsetting questions with grace and connection, and how important it is to reach out directly to people to invite them to join in, rather than just assuming they will feel welcome.
The Revd Canon Janet Binns concluded the day’s learnings and commissioned those present before they left:
“This work doesn’t stop when we leave here today. We have planted seeds, yes, but these seeds need to be watered and need to be nurtured.”
The day closed with prayers for Bishop Tim Wambunya, vicar of St Paul’s, as he prepares for his move to Bishop of Wolverhampton, and the congregation sang The Blessing together before departing.
Racial justice in the Diocese of Oxford
We're committed, as individuals and as a community, to defending and advocating the rights and the self-determination of every person and group of persons. From welcoming our Racial Justice Adviser and UKME Chapter group to Black History Month events and a dedicated quarterly journal, find out more about racial justice across the diocese.