United Methodist StudiesThis manual is designed to help clergy and denominational personnel understand the context, theology, ministry, and mission of cross-racial and cross-cultural pastoral appointments in The United Methodist Church.This book is written by persons who have successfully served in cross-racial and cross-cultural appointments. In a sense, it is what they wished they had known before they began and it is what they believe the church needs to understand in order to fulfill her theological mandate of inclusivity.As the face of American Christianity becomes increasingly complex, there will be more and more cross-racial and cross-cultural pastoral appointments. This will be especially true for The United Methodist Church because because of the ecclesial commitment to insure the equal treatment of all clergy irrespective of race, ethnicity, or gender.