S3E26 Polyphonic God, with Rev Dr Israel Olofinjana

In this conversation, Melanie Cave and Revd Dr Israel Olofinjana explore intercultural church, the significance of Black History Month, and the importance of decolonizing theology. Israel shares his journey as a reverse missionary and discusses the challenges and opportunities that arise in diverse church settings. They emphasise the need for churches to embrace a global perspective, recognise the contributions of various cultures, and create welcoming environments for newcomers. The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding migration in the context of the Global Church and the necessity of integrating diverse voices into theological discourse.   Takeaways

• Israel Olofinjana's journey reflects the role of reverse missionaries in the UK.
• Intercultural churches go beyond mere representation to meaningful integration.
• Diversity in churches should lead to mutual learning and communal sacrifice.
• Black History Month is an opportunity for churches to learn from diverse histories.
• Decolonizing theology is crucial for understanding the Global Church's context.
• 'The Polyphonic God' concept emphasizes the richness of diverse theological perspectives.
• Church leadership must adapt to be inclusive of different cultural practices.
• Welcoming newcomers requires understanding cultural differences in hospitality.
• Migration is a significant theme in the Bible and should be addressed in churches.
• Theological education should include voices from diverse backgrounds.

Sound Bites

• 'We are all sacrificing together.'
• 'We need a radical ecclesiology.'
• 'God speaks more than just English.'

Keywords African theologies, intercultural church, reverse missionaries, multiculturalism, Black History Month, decolonizing theology, global church, leadership, migration, Polyphonic God   Chapters 00:00 Journey to Ministry and Reverse Missionaries 02:49 Understanding Multicultural vs. Intercultural Churches 05:14 The Role of Leadership in Diverse Churches 07:54 Migration and the Global Church 10:42 Decolonizing Theology and Its Importance 13:34 Polyphonic God: Embracing Diverse Theologies 16:09 Black History Month and Its Significance 19:05 Creating Welcoming Spaces in Churches   Show notes

• Israel's blog
• Centre For Mission from the Majority World
• One People Commission Evangelical Alliance
• Queens Foundation for Ecumenical Theology
• Israel's new book: Polyphonic God: Exploring Intercultural Theology, Churches and Justice   
• Roots' article on Black History Month by Richard Reddie
• Roots Watchnight article by Harvey Kwiyani
• www.rootsforchurches.com