Pastors' Intensive Seminar

Pastors' Intensive Seminar
Spring 2008

Creating Multi-ethnic Congregations

As a result of its universities, medical research centers, hospitals and health care centers, aeronautical and technological research centers, and expanding industries and job opportunities, Alabama has become home to people representing dozens of national, ethnic, linguistic and cultural groups. While some would see the inflow of numerous and diverse groups as a political and economic challenge, the Church should see it as an opportunity to extend the Kingdom of God, and to edify the Body of Christ among the many "nations, tribes, peoples and languages" in our communities. The world has come to us. The mission field is found outside our doors.

For years, the prevailing approach to ethnic ministries within our culture has been to organize "ethnic churches" within racial and language groups. So, we have "white churches," "African-American churches," "Hispanic churches," "Korean churches," etc., etc. Unfortunately, though perhaps unintentionally, this has reinforced divisions and even prejudices within the Body of Christ. Ethnically divided churches do not fully represent the truth that the "walls of partition" have effectively, once and for all, been broken down by the cross of Christ. In Christ, national, racial, ethnic and economic divisions have been erased. We are indeed one body in Christ.

Therefore, in many communities throughout our country a different approach is being taken to reach people of diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. That approach is to welcome them into our congregations. A multi-ethnic approach to worship and ministry has the potential to increase understanding and appreciation of our differences, and enrich our ministry and worship experiences. The resulting fellowship can nurture and strengthen the unity of the Body of Christ. It can also be a catalyst for mission endeavors in the native countries of those who live in our communities.

In our Spring Pastors' Intensive Seminar, we will consider the possibilities of creating multi-ethnic churches. Our guest speaker is Richard Stryker III, a native of Liberia, Africa. In October 1991, Brother Stryker became the interim pastor of Bethel United Methodist Church in Memphis. In June of 1992, Bethel UMC, an African-American congregation, and Epworth UMC, a predominantly Euro-American congregation, merged to form Good Samaritan UMC. He served as one of the two first pastors until June 1994, when he moved to Atlanta. Brother Stryker has also served as pastor in Birmingham and Sylacauga.

In June 2007, Brother Stryker was appointed Superintendent of the Southeast District of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church. He has degrees from the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary, Memphis Theological Seminary, and he is presently a doctoral student at The School of Theology, the University of the South. His doctoral project is on multi-ethnic churches.

We encourage you to be with us this weekend, Friday evening and Saturday morning, April 11 and 12. Registration will begin at 4 PM, and dinner will be served from 5- 6 PM. Preliminaries will begin at 6:30, and the seminar will begin at 7 PM.

Pastors' Intensive Coordinator,
Phil Pruitt

Richard L. Stryker - A Brief Introduction

The Reverend Richard Lane Stryker, III was appointed Superintendent of the Southeast District of the North Alabama Conference in June 2007. Prior to becoming a superintendent, he served as pastor of churches in Liberia, Tennessee and Alabama. He is married to Jennie and their son is Waddy.

Reverend Stryker is a graduate of the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary (Bachelor of Theology 1986), and the Memphis Theological Seminary (Master of Arts in Religion 1989 & Master of Divinity 1993). He is enrolled in the Doctorate of Ministry program at the School of Theology University of the South. His project is on Multi-ethnic churches in the United Methodist Church in the Southeastern United States.

In October 1991, he became interim preacher of Bethel United Methodist Church in Memphis. In June of 1992 Bethel UMC, an African-American congregation, and Epworth, a predominantly Euro-American congregation, merged to form Good Samaritan UMC. He served as one of the two first pastors until June 1994 when he moved to Atlanta, Georgia.

In North Alabama he served as pastor of Rising Star UMC in Hobson City (1997-2000) St. Paul UMC in Birmingham (2000-2002) and St. Thomas UMC in Sylacauga (2002-2007).
He is author of many articles, essays and a book entitled "Forged from Chaos: Stories and Reflections from Liberia at War.

He has received awards for evangelism, social justice and commitment to a better community.