May 24, 2020
The 223rd General Assembly (2018) approved the initiative to “Declare an Imperative for the Reformation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) in being a Transformative Church in This Intercultural Era.” The 223rd General Assembly also declared the period from 2020 to 2030 as the “Decade of Intercultural Transformation” by focusing on transformative priorities and initiatives across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The intercultural initiative calls for the PC(USA) to become a transformative church that is truly inclusive and genuinely appreciates each other’s distinctiveness and differences. The initiative makes it clear that living in an intercultural society brings opportunities for the church to engage in effective and relevant ministries that model God’s community, where mutual recognition and understanding of differences through self-examination, relationship-building and equitable access to power are not mere ideals but actual practices. Presbyterians are challenged to change by interacting and building deep relationships with people of different races and cultures, by educating in cultural humility and intercultural ministry, and by being involved in intercultural coalitions with other people of faith as allies, advocates and partners in making a reality the vision of becoming God’s intercultural community.
One of the intercultural initiative’s mandates is to urge all councils of the church, seminaries and other church entities to “take action to be intercultural in their life, work and worship.” Yes, it is time for Presbyterians to take decisive action to become a transformative church in this intercultural era. We pray that this initiative may be the beginning of a new Reformation Movement in the church where all of God’s people who have already come from the east, west, north and south sit together at the Lord’s table and welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us.
Lemuel García-Arroyo, Associate Director of Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, May 24, 2020, the Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year A)
First Reading Acts 1:6-14
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
Second Reading 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11
Gospel John 17:1-11
Today’s Focus: Intercultural Church Sunday
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Michelle Diallo, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
Christy Dickson, Presbyterian Foundation
Let us pray:
God of love, we give you thanks for all of the cultures, races, ethnicities and languages of your people. Give us the wisdom and the courage to be faithful to the call of loving all of your people as you have loved us and to be transformed into a church that truly reflects who you are and who you love.
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