The following eight principles are presented in the book Breaking Down Walls, by Glen Kehrein and Raleigh Washington. Each one is listed below with a key biblical verse relevant to the principle.

1. Commitment to Relationship
Racial reconciliation is built upon the foundation of committed relationships. (Ruth 1:16)

2. Intentionality
The purposeful, positive, and planned activity that facilitates reconciliation. (Eph. 2:14-15)

3. Sincerity
The willingness to be vulnerable, including the self-disclosure of feelings, attitudes, differences, and perceptions, with the goal of resolution and building trust. (John 15:15)

4. Sensitivity
The intentional acquisition of knowledge in order to relate empathetically to a person of a different race and culture. (Eph. 4:15-16)

5. Interdependence
Interdependence recognizes our differences but realizes that we each offer something that the other person needs, resulting in equality in the relationship. (2 Cor. 8:12-14)

6. Sacrifice
The willingness to relinquish an established status or position to genuinely adopt a lesser position in order to facilitate a cross-cultural relationship. (Phil. 2:3-4)

7. Empowerment
The use of repentance and forgivenesss to create complete freedom in a cross-cultural relationship. (2 Cor. 8:9)

8. Call
We are all called to be involved in the ministry of reconciliation, but some are gifted with a special call to be racial reconcilers. (2 Cor. 5:17-21)