Diversity and Cultural Consciousness: A Case Study of Challenges of Interculturality in Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Samonda, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Intercultural competence and diversity management strategy are necessary for 
effective leadership in any human organization that is characterized with 
cultural diversity. In a multicultural organization like church, leaders, 
particularly pastors, bear the responsibility to manage diversity of human 
experiences, promote intercultural understanding among the congregations, 
and mobilise them toward achieving common goals. This responsibility, 
however, requires a certain degree of cultural consciousness. This paper focuses 
on the challenges of managing Interculturality in the Redeemed Christian 
Church of God (RCCG) Samonda, Ibadan. It is concern with the cultural 
consciousness and challenges among the diversity of the congregants. The paper 
is based on focused group interviews conducted among pastors in the parish, 
primarily to measure their level of cultural consciousness and awareness of 
cultural diversity among their parishioners. The findings of the paper –
multiculturalism due to globalization, diverse cultural background, adherents 
to culture and beliefs, trying to unify through gifts-sharing accounts for the 
challenges of interculturality in a culturally diverse organization, particularly, 
the challenges that pastors encounter with multicultural worshippers. The 
paper therefore concludes that the lack of cultural consciousness and willingness to adopt culturally–appropriate methods may result into cultural dissonances and disunity among the congregation and, ultimately, hamper the 
mission goals of the church. The study recommends that the promotion of interculturality among the congregations, pastor’s education on intercultural strategy requires an unwavering attention.