One of the exciting developments in the European context is the emergence of intercultural ecclesiology as a new approach of doing church. As this approach of church continues to gain momentum in Europe, what are the theological resources shaping intercultural conversations? One of such is Transforming into an Intercultural Church in Multicultural Europe: Theological Roots and Practical Reflections from Central Europe and Finland edited by Jorma Kuitunen. Below is a review of the book by Reinhard Leistner.

Book Review: Transforming into an Intercultural Church in Multicultural Europe, Theological Roots and Practical Reflections from Central Europe and Finland.
Edited by Jorma Kuitunen, published in 2025 by the Pentecostal Church of Finland, 292 p.

Transforming into an Intercultural Church in Multicultural Europe is a collective volume examining how European churches can adapt to increasing cultural diversity. The book builds on the  Finnish volume Home for All Peoples – The Church in Multicultural Finland (2019) but has been newly edited for the European context and has been expanded  through new chapters like one from Germany.

This timely volume gathers contributions from scholars and practitioners across Finland and Central Europe who reflect on the biblical imperative for the Church to become a “home for all peoples.” The book’s five parts move from biblical and theological roots, re-examining the intercultural essence of the Early Church, to concrete recommendations for local congregations.

Kuitunen and his colleagues argue convincingly that intercultural transformation is not optional but integral to the Gospel itself. Drawing from the early Church’s cross-cultural identity, they challenge congregations to rediscover the Kingdom of God as an “ideal culture” transcending ethnicity, language, and tradition. Case studies show how inclusion, leadership engagement, and mutual learning can reshape church life, adding joy, vitality, and fresh perspectives“ to the lives of its members. Later chapters explore practical issues such as hospitality, youth caught between two cultures, volunteer burnout, and media representation of migrants.

What makes this book particularly valuable is its blend of theological depth and field-tested insight. Most chapters include “Key Insights“, „Reflection Questions“ and “Tips for Application,” making the work not merely theoretical but a hands-on guide for pastors and leaders.

In an age when migration continues to redefine Europe’s social fabric, Transforming into an Intercultural Church offers a hopeful, Spirit-filled vision of unity in diversity—an indispensable guide for any congregation seeking to embody the Kingdom of God in a multicultural Europe and  embracing migration as a catalyst for ecclesial renewal.

It deserves a place on the reading list of anyone shaping the future of European Christianity.

Link for online purchase: https://a.co/d/6h71r1p

Reinhard Leistner, Director of VM-International, Germany