In the Christian context, diversity is about accepting, respecting and valuing all people irrespective of their differences: age, culture, abilities, economic status, education, ethnicity/race, gender, social sphere or whatever the difference might be.
Respecting diversity, even celebrating it results in an inclusive ministry model and leads to compassionate relationships with others. Managing diversity well can result in a wonderful, productive unity.

A diversified ministry endeavors to utilize the gifts and talents of all members to challenge and empower people to accept Christ regardless of the social barriers. Diversity is more than political correctness, it is a divine imperative.

Seven Bible Passages on Diversity

1. Acts 10 and 11 -- Peter learns to be tolerant.
2. Romans 12:10-21 -- Live in harmony with one another.
3. 1 Corinthians 12:21-27 -- Have equal concerns for each other.
4. Galatians 3:28 -- We are all one in Jesus.
5. Colossians 3:11-15 -- Perfect unity in Christ's people.
6. Titus 3:1-3 -- Hatred enslaves us.
7. 1 John 3:11-23 -- We should love one another.

Five Ways to Bring Diversity to Youth Leadership

1. Be a lifelong learner. Take a course or workshop in meeting the challenges of diversity. Encourage others to do the same. Read the latest books and reports on the issue.
2. Meet with other youth leaders discuss diversity. Ask what they are doing to build unity and to combat racism and other stereotyping.
3. Actively recruit individuals for youth leadership positions from the cross-section of church members. Encourage divesity in elections to all church offices.
4. Use a variety of techniques and activities to deliver information. Different people have different learning styles.
5. Be sure that all your communication is gender-inclusive and sensitive to diverse groups.

Seven Programming Ideas to Celebrate Diversity

1.  Celebrate diversity annually with an event that highlights the personal and corporate spiritual benefits of diversity in Christian unity.
2. Provide opportunities for youth to examine and study their own cultures. Create a forum for them to report on their findings (a Sabbath School/potluck combinations always works well). Use national dress, music, art forms, food and language to highlight the culture.
3. Divide your members randomly whenever you divide into small groups for youth activities.
4. Be sure that program participants represent the diversity in your membership.
5. Have your youth report on the accessibility of your church to the physically challenged.  Blindfold them, cover their ears or let them use a wheelchair to their research.
6. Meet with a youth group from another culture.
7. Go on a mission trip. Watch for things you can learn.

In January, 1990, the members of the North American Division Materials Development and Marketing Committee voted to adopt certain resolutions to further the goal of breaking down "the walls of alienation and division by actively promoting healing and mutual respect between the gender, racial, ethnic, socioeconomics, and age groups within Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America."

To ensure that these attitudes of acceptance and understanding will be obvious in the Division's products and services, and to correctly portray the actual proportional representations of each group in the North American church rather than the percentages in the nations comprising the North American Division, the committee voted to recommend only those resources which met the following high standards:

1. Racial and Ethnic Diversity.
We will insist that all materials that come before us remove inadvertent racial or ethnic bias and we will actively seek the input and advice of minority members to achieve this goal. We will strive to remain conscious of the changing circumstances of minority communities within the North American Church, and will require that accurate, proportional representations of these minority communities be portrayed in approved materials. We accept the challenge to editorial timetables that this patient, balanced appraisal will require, for we affirm that fair and equal presentations of the church's many racial and ethnic groups is of immense value to the mission of the church.

2. Equality of Men and Women.
We will insist that all material brought before us for recommendation present a balanced, biblical understanding of the full church. We will not recommend materials that by role stereotyping and gender references suggest limitations on the full participation of woman in the life of the church. We will adopt gender inclusive language in our own communications as a committee, and will insist on the same in all materials under our purview.

3. Socioeconomic Diversity.
We will sensitize ourselves as committee members to the socioeconomic diversity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America. We will resist the tendency to generalize about the church in the middle-class or middle-income language, and will encourage material producers to present a variety of portrayals of Adventist life from all socioeconomic groups. We will encourage materials producers to give positive portrayals of each group within the church.

4. The Contribution of all Age-Groups.
We will actively encourage the production of materials that positively portray the abilities and contributions of persons of all ages to the church, especially including children, youth, and senior citizens. We will promote materials that feature the full inclusion of all age groups in church decision-making, service, leadership and witness.

Three Discussions Starters for Exploring Diversity

1.  Acknowledge the reality of prejudice. What world events drew your attention to prejudice this week? Discuss current events in the light of the need for diversity.
2. How would you respond to an act of discrimination? Where do we encounter such acts (racial or sexual jokes, for example)? What would you say to defuse the tension caused by such an act?
3. Tell the stories of discrimination. Invite people who have been the objects of prejudice to tell stories to your group. Be ready to ask sensitive questions.

From: ABZ’s of Adventist Youth Ministry
Permission to copy for use in the local congregation or group.