'A vibrant exploration of cultural diversity, unity, and hope'

Osoba Otaigbe reports from the 2025 Intercultural Church and City Transformation Gathering

More than 230 church, charity, and community leaders gathered at London’s All Nations Centre on 31 January and 1 February, for this year's Intercultural Church and City Transformation Gathering, with the theme: One Body. Many Parts. 

From every nation, tribe, people, and language, the conference celebrated the power of intercultural church engagement to transform towns and cities. It was a vibrant exploration of cultural diversity, unity, and hope, leaving attendees inspired and equipped to foster meaningful change in their communities. 
 

A vision of seeing, valuing and celebrating cultural diversity 

The conference opened with a reminder from myself as the convener, with a quote by Anthony De Mello:

“The finest act of love you can perform is not an act of service but an act of contemplation, of seeing. When you see people in their inner beauty and goodness, you transform and create.”

These words set the tone for the event, challenging attendees to truly ‘see’ one another—to look beyond surface-level differences and recognise the beauty in cultural diversity.

I emphasised that cultural diversity is a gift from God, not just a challenge to overcome, and urged everyone to embark on a journey of “unlearning, learning, and relearning” to foster intercultural interactions and engagement. 


Theological foundations for unity

The conference was built on the idea that the church is like a body or a temple, made up of many parts, each with its own gifts and role. This metaphor resonated throughout the event as contributors explored what it means to be an intercultural church that reflects the biblical call to love one another. 

Prof. Paul Williams, one of the keynote speakers, delved into the biblical foundations for diversity, referencing passages like 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 2, and Revelation 7.

He highlighted Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17 and introduced three key theological principles: 

• Perichoresis: The mutual interdependence within the Trinity, which serves as a model for the church. 
• Hypostasis: The idea that equality does not mean sameness; God values uniqueness. 
• Koinonia: The love, communion, and relational unity that should characterise the church. 

These principles underscored the importance of unity in diversity, challenging attendees to reflect on how their communities could better embody these values. 

Dr. Raj Saha expanded on this theme by likening the church to the human body, where diverse parts work interdependently. He reframed diversity as a gift rather than a challenge, emphasising that unity in diversity is protective, restorative, and crucial to the church’s health. Just as blood unites the body, the blood of Christ unites His people. 

 
Challenging dominant narratives 

The Revd Dr Israel Olofinjana brought a critical perspective to the discussion, posing thought-provoking questions about the cultural shaping of theology: 

• Who is asking the questions? 
• Who is providing the answers? 
• Who decides what is considered acceptable theology? 

He critiqued the historical dominance of Western theology and encouraged deeper engagement with African, Asian, and Latin American perspectives. Dr. Olofinjana affirmed that theology is inherently diverse and called for a more inclusive approach to theological discourse. 
 
A panel discussion featuring the Revd Joe Kalpoyo Dr. Mija Wi, Natalie Williams, Paul Williams and Canon Victor Darlington explored how cultural lenses influence biblical interpretation. Key takeaways included: 

• There are deposits of grace in every culture
• All interpretations are shaped by context, not just those labeled “contextual.” 
• Working-class voices are underrepresented in UK churches. 
• The church must bridge class divides and empower those who feel excluded. 

 
The conference featured four dedicated tracks focusing on key aspects of intercultural work: Intercultural Competence for Ministry, teaching leaders to navigate and appreciate cultural diversity; Intercultural Theology, exploring how diverse cultures enrich faith understanding; Intercultural Mission, developing inclusive outreach strategies; and Intergenerational Engagement, amplifying voices from all ages.

Each track included workshops, discussions, and collaborative sessions, equipping leaders with practical tools to foster unity. The event concluded the first day with a United in Worship evening, a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity through music, dance, and art, creating a joyful, hopeful atmosphere that transcended cultural boundaries and highlighted the beauty of unity in diversity.

 

Practical tools for transformation

One of the most significant outcomes of the conference was the launch of a free Intercultural Readiness Check Toolkit.

Created by CCSLD Consulting, this Toolkit includes three key assessment quizzes to help churches and individuals kickstart and evaluate their ability to engage and celebrate cultural diversity as a gift from God. This toolkit is part of the Intercultural Church and City Transformation Learning Journey


1. Intercultural Church Readiness Assessment Quiz
This quiz helps churches assess their ability to welcome and support people from different cultural backgrounds. It identifies strengths, areas for improvement, and practical steps to become more culturally inclusive. This quiz serves as a roadmap for churches looking to grow in cultural inclusivity and strengthen their impact. 

2. Individual Intercultural Competence Assessment Quiz
This self-assessment tool helps individuals measure their ability to interact effectively across cultures. It evaluates key skills such as cultural awareness, communication, adaptability, and inclusivity. The results highlight strengths and areas for growth, offering guidance on how to develop intercultural competence in leadership, ministry, and community engagement. 

3. Cultural Preferences Quiz
This quiz helps individuals understand their natural approach to life, work, and relationships across cultures. It explores: 

• Personal Orientation– How we view work, relationships, and interactions. 
• Unconscious Biases – Potential cultural biases that shape our interactions. 
• Conflict Management – How we handle differences in church and work settings. 
• Cultural Orientation – Recognizing that cultural differences are not about right or wrong, just different. 

 
 
A call to action 
As the conference came to a close, one thing was clear: unity in diversity is not just a nice idea—it’s essential. The body of Christ is incomplete without the contributions of every culture, every generation, and every individual.

The message of the weekend was one of hope and love, reminding us that we are stronger together. 
 
Baptist minister the Revd Joe Kalpoyo, one of the contributors, summed it up perfectly: 'The things that impressed me most include the tremendous diversity in every department; the leadership team was diverse as well as the speakers. The second thing is more subjective: the fact that I felt no awkwardness at all. Great conference. Well done Osoba and your team.'
 
Andy Frost also concluded: 'The ICCT conference is a unique moment on the calendar to wrestle through what it means to be truly intercultural.

'This year’s rich and diverse input leaves me both deeply challenged and deeply encouraged that God is doing something beautiful as He invites us to work together like never before.'
 
The ICCT conference was more than just an event—it was a call to action. It challenged leaders to return to their communities and build bridges, celebrate diversity, and work toward transformation.

With the tools and insights shared over those two days, more than 230 leaders are equipped to make a difference, one step at a time.
 

For more details about the tool kit email: osoba@icctgathering.net, or visit icctgathering.net
 
The Revd Osoba Otaigbe is Church Engagement Manager (north) at Bible Society, a Gather Movement associate, and a Baptist minister.

He is the author of Building Cultural Intelligence in Church and Ministry and passionate about fostering unity, diversity, and transformation within the Church and the wider community.

He is the convenor and host of the Intercultural Church and City Transformation Gathering

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