Methodists with a white past and a black future

I have just finished the book, 'Methodists with a white past and a black future' by Simanga Kumalo - having borrowed a copy after my own 'went missing'! Simanga Kumalo led our synod devotions last year and I first heard the title of this book when they introduced him to us. I was already feeling quite insecure being in a very small white minority at synod and the title of this book really made me want to give up and go home. There was clearly, in my mind, no space for white people in the Methodist Church. However, it might have been better if Rev Kumalo had put a question mark at the end of the title of his book, because if his book is an answer to that question, then the answer is 'No'. Methodists are not a people (in South Africa) with an only white past or an only black future. Both people have been active throughout Methodist history in Southern Africa. The first half of the book is basically a history of Methodism in South Africa, especially in KwaZulu-Natal. The second half is the history of the Central Methodist Church in Durban from about 1960 until now. The first part is interesting as a summary of Methodist history and particularly as it details the struggles around apartheid. The second part is a really honest look at black/white dynamics within the Methodist Church - and also at black dynamics. For anyone who is interested in the Methodist Church or in doing 'multi-cultural' church this is a very good book to read.