Estranged Pioneers: Race, Faith, Leadership in a Diverse World

I’d been looking for a book that studied the lives of ethnic minority pastors who lead white majority, multiracial churches for a while. Yet I found Estranged Pioneers while looking for another book that had nothing to do with my two-decade journey pastoring such a church! Little did I know how much it resonated with my lived experience; I found myself nodding at almost every page.

Edwards and Kim delve into the notion that white majority multiracial churches are the solution to the racial divide that exists in most of the American Evangelical world. One of the main ingredients required was having these churches led by BIPOC pastors who provide needed leadership and represent the multiracial vision. This vision would strike a mighty blow against racism in America.

However, it’s not that simple. The authors found, through many in-depth interviews, that the pastors were often frustrated and blocked by white leadership the minute they stepped outside the “colorblind” vision of these churches. Yet multiracial pastors have the unique opportunity to be bridge builders and “pioneers.” Edwards and Kim concluded, “Regardless of the religious affiliation, pastors of multiracial churches were pioneers. They were going against the odds, doing something that few of their peers are doing.”

The book makes an excellent resource for church book clubs, church council conversations, and churches wondering about their local context that might be changing racially, or for personal enrichment and learning. (Oxford University Press)