Separate No More: Understanding and Developing Racial Reconciliation in Your Church

Peart, creator of Grace Ministries and founding pastor of a multiracial church, offers a passionate challenge to church leaders to take up the cause of racial reconciliation in their congregations. Yet Peart speaks exclusively to the tension between African-Americans and whites, limiting the book's usefulness. The first five chapters recapitulate the history of black-white relations in the United States, and while much of this is interesting and fresh, it will not be helpful to churches that are addressing race relations among Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans or other ethnic groups. Peart's constant editorializing detracts from the book's impact, and readers will wish for a more nuanced approach than is evidenced by subheadings such as ""White Christians Must Understand."" (Peart's call to ""inHIMtegration""Dintegration in ChristDis also a bit plastic.) The closing section offers general advice on racial reconciliation, calling on church members to become personal reconcilers, be consistent, motivate others with the message of reconciliation and select dynamic leaders. More specific recommendationsDsuch as encouraging the inclusion of different musical or preaching stylesDwill be most helpful to those churches that are already integrating their African-American and Anglo members and not just contemplating the possibility. Since Martin Luther King Jr.'s observation that 11 a.m. on Sunday is ""the most segregated hour in America"" still holds true for much of the country, this book, however well-intentioned, will have limited readership. (Nov.)