Just watched Brenda Salter McNeil’s DVD sermon on John 4 (the woman at the well). This is her website: http://www.saltermcneil.com/home.asp. She finds many principles for biblical reconciliation in the text. Reconciliation requires, from her point of view: A divine mandate from God (why did Jesus “have to go” through Samaria when every self-respecting Jew would have gone around?), A real need for people who are different from us (Why do we think we need some more _____ (fill in with your favorite ethnic group) around us? Do we have a real need for them or would it be just nice?), Leaving your comfort zone (you want to be with others who are different, you got to go to them, not expect them to come to you), Intentional interaction between diverse people, Risk-taking, Counter-cultural social action, Authentic spirituality (Jesus is able to get beyond the either/or question of where to worship that so often derails conversations like this and point to the bigger need to worship God in the right attitude), Reciprocity (similar to the real need point. Jesus allows the woman to help him with a drink. He is a male, a Jew, a rabbi, and God’s son and yet he does not merely tell her things and stand towering over her, but he engages in dialogue and real conversation), and Bridge people (The woman goes and gets her friends and brings them in ways the disciples probably couldn’t).
Definitely found it challenging in many good ways. The one particular principle I’ve been contemplating is the second, having a real need for people different from me. Why do we want diversity in the church, in the Seminary, in the community? WHY? If we don’t really have an answer, then probably its because we just think we’ll all feel better if we do. I think the answer that I’ve been burdened with is that I realize that my Reformed Theology is seriously lacking in certain areas and needs the facets of the Gospel that has been well-articulated and experienced by other ethnic groups.
Musings on Faith and Psychology 
I remember this video in the Ethics and diversity course last spring. Is racial reconciliation the same as diversity in the church? The issue of diversity in the church seems to take a back sit to the administrative aspects of traditional church management and missions. It is rare, in my experience, to see church leaders go out of their way to invite those who are ‘different’ into church. I wonder if this is due to the discomfort of the ‘paying’ congregation members, to whom the leaders hold allegiance, to have these ‘people’ in THEIR church. The follow-up concerns are that the wealthiest members may leave and the church will not be able to meet its obligations. Does it then go back to economic issues? Just as cultural diversity has energized and enriched the US (current furor about immigration, not withstanding) diversity in church has provided the same enrichment in the churches where it is actively sort after. Is it hard to extrapolate from the society to the church? But neither of them occur without major bruises and damages. This is the reason for the word reconciliation in this context. Hatred among races existed in the time of Christ and it exists now.
Dr. McNeil, in this video argues, that it is mandated by the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ through His messages and His actions that we pursue racial reconciliation. It is mandatory because it is our calling and it benefit humankind. Can a church be spiritually matured without active diversification and racial reconciliation programs? I think not. Cutural diaspora is alive and well in all nations of the world and the church can take a lead by showing that we are following Christ’s example and teaching if we actively strife for racial reconciliation and diversification. All needs of the church are provided for by our heavenly Father, when we trust Him, and not the earthly weallthy ones.
Bayo. Good points. I don’t think we can truly have diversity (at least meaningful) without reconciliation. There is a book, Breaking Down Walls, by Kehrein (sp?) and Washington about their experiences as being copastors of a multiracial church. The church had diversity but there was no real reconciliation and interaction. Thus, when troubles came, the church shrunk. What was left was built back up into a truly reconciled and connected diverse body of Christ.