Starting a Multicultural Church

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Starting a Multicultural Church

• Robert D. Goette

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My Role

• I am not
• An expert I do have experiences
• A veteran church planter of multi-cultural
  churches I have been a part of multiethnic,
  multi-cultural church plants and worked in
  cross-cultural settings
• I am
• A learner
• A facilitator pulling together collective
  wisdom hoping to network some of you

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My Assumptions about you

• Some of you
• Know more than I do about this field
• Most of you
• Are not going to be planting a multi-cultural
  church but will be resourcing church planters in
  this area
• All of you
• Are willing to share your knowledge and resources
  with the rest of us

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Definitions for today

• Multiethnic A church with one language, one
  predominant culture but significant percentages
  of people with various ethnic racial
  backgrounds
• Multicultural A church with one predominant
  language (second language for many) and various
  cultural influences
• Doesnt have to be in English
• What we dont mean by
• Multiethnic a sprinkling of diversity
• Multicultural a church sponsoring various
  language groups

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Various Blends of Ethnicity Culture
Mono-ethnic Mono-cultural
Mono-ethnic Multi-cultural
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Biblical Basis for a New Perspective(Defining
Moments in the 1st Century Church)

• Acts 25-12 (An ethnic group can be
  multi-lingual)
• Acts 61-6 (Conflict happens can be resolved
  between ethnic/cultural people groups)
• Acts 1034-35 (God is also interested in others)
• Acts 15 (They dont have to follow our culture)
• Gal. 27-9 (There are different callings)
• Acts 21 (Freedom conformity can co-exist)

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Assimilation Guide
WASP
Alienated
Multicultural
Marginal
Fellow Travelers
Bilingual
Nuclear Ethnics
Language
Peter Wagner
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Advantages of a Multicultural Church

• A taste of heaven
• You can invite people of difference racial
  cultural backgrounds to church and they wont
  stick out
• Bridges to many different parts of the world
• Its easier to become a World Christian

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Who does a multi-cultural church attract?

• Inter-racially married families
• People that live and work in the midst of
  diversity
• People who have a hard time finding people like
  themselves
• Third Culture Kids
• International students families
• People turned off by a mono-ethnic church and/or
  racism

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Is a Multi-cultural Church for everyone?

• Absolutely not
• Some need to experience it for a while
• It can catalyze ethnic-specific, other- language
  congregations
• NOTE
• A Multi-Cultural Church most likely will NOT
  effectively reach 1st generation peoples unless
  their native language is the same used during the
  corporate worship experience.

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Challenges of a Multicultural Church

• Understanding Appreciating Various Cultures
• Relationship styles
• Values
• Conflict styles
• Leadership styles
• Learning styles
• Experiences

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Layers of Culture
Artifacts
Behavior
Norms
Values
Hidden Assumptions
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Major Multicultural Issues in Starting a
Multicultural Church

• Planter selection (Spouse children too)
• Core group selection
• Keeping first things first
• Relationships
• Building relationships teamwork
• Dealing with conflict
• Styles Relational, leadership, decision-making,
  teaching, preaching, worship, prayer, food,
  dress, etc.
• Value transference
• Cross-cultural Counseling

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Planter Selection

• A missionary to many nations
• Constant learner without being paternalistic or
  patronizing
• International stomach
• Flexible leadership relational ministry style
• Can explain ones own culture other cultures
  and evaluate them all critically in the light of
  Gods word
• Willing to share leadership with people of all
  backgrounds

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Planter Selection
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Stages ofIndividual DevelopmentDeveloping
Intercultural Sensitivity
Denial
Defense
Minimization
Ethnocentric Stage
Acceptance
Adaptation
Integration
Ethnorelative Stage
Milton Bennetts Model
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Stages ofIndividual DevelopmentDeveloping
Intercultural Sensitivity
Denial
Defense
Minimization
Ethnocentric Stage
Acceptance
Adaptation
Integration
Ethnorelative Stage
Denial no recognition of cultural or other
differences
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Stages ofIndividual DevelopmentDeveloping
Intercultural Sensitivity
Denial
Defense
Minimization
Ethnocentric Stage
Acceptance
Adaptation
Integration
Ethnorelative Stage
Defense there is a minor recognition of
differences, but the differences are evaluated
negatively.
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Stages ofIndividual DevelopmentDeveloping
Intercultural Sensitivity
Denial
Defense
Minimization
Ethnocentric Stage
Acceptance
Adaptation
Integration
Ethnorelative Stage
Minimization there is more recognition and
acceptance of the superficial differences.
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Stages ofIndividual DevelopmentDeveloping
Intercultural Sensitivity
Denial
Defense
Minimization
Ethnocentric Stage
Acceptance
Adaptation
Integration
Ethnorelative Stage
Acceptance there is more recognition and
appreciation of differences in behavior and
values.
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Stages ofIndividual DevelopmentDeveloping
Intercultural Sensitivity
Denial
Defense
Minimization
Ethnocentric Stage
Acceptance
Adaptation
Integration
Ethnorelative Stage
Adaptation there is the developing of
communication skills to understand people better.
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Stages ofIndividual DevelopmentDeveloping
Intercultural Sensitivity
Denial
Defense
Minimization
Ethnocentric Stage
Acceptance
Adaptation
Integration
Ethnorelative Stage
Integration there is the internalization of the
bicultural and multicultural frames of reference.
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Resource for Planter Selection

• The Cross-Cultural Adaptability
  Inventoryhttp//assessments.ncspearson.com/assess
  ments/tests/ccai.htm
• NCS 1-800-627-7271, ext. 5151

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Core Group Selection

• Ethnically racially diverse
• Learners especially in the area of
  cross-cultural adaptability
• International stomachs
• Gracious humble sacrificial
• Passionate about the Lord and seeing all people
  reached

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Stages of Organizational Development
Parochial
Ethnocentric
Polycentric
Synergistic
Multiculturalism
Adler 1991, Cox 1991, and Permutter, 1969
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Stages of Organizational Development
Our way is the only way.
Parochial
Ethnocentric
Polycentric
Synergistic
Multiculturalism
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Stages of Organizational Development
Our way is the best way.
Parochial
Ethnocentric
Polycentric
Synergistic
Multiculturalism
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Stages of Organizational Development
Our way is the best way for us their way is
the best for them.
Parochial
Ethnocentric
Polycentric
Synergistic
Multiculturalism
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Stages of Organizational Development
Our way and their way differ, and we can learn
from each other.
Parochial
Ethnocentric
Polycentric
Synergistic
Multiculturalism
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Stages of Organizational Development
There are a multitude of ways, and there are a
multitude of best ways we can learn from and
complement one another.
Parochial
Ethnocentric
Polycentric
Synergistic
Multiculturalism
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Resources

• Intercultural Press - http//www.interculturalpres
  s.com/shop/diversity.html
• Diversity seminars
• Movies/film clips
• http//www.interculturalpress.com/shop/ccthrufite
  xt.html
• Cross-cultural reflection on many different parts
  of the Bible

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Keeping First Things First

• Most multicultural churches dont raise the
  multicultural flag
• Loving God Loving People in their language of
  love
• World Evangelization for Gods Glory

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Building Relationships

• Sharing histories
• Building trust confidentiality
• Transparency is not always valued
• Acceptance appreciation
• TIME
• Higher level of commitment to each other

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Dealing with Conflict(10 General Rules)

• Ask whether this is worthy of attention or should
  be let go.
• Make your approach one of concern for the person
  and for preservation of the relationship.
• Seek understanding through inquiry before forming
  judgments and making accusations (blaming).
• Separate facts from rumor, partial information,
  feelings and interpretation.
• Consider how much stress the relationship can
  bear this will help you tell how much time and
  sensitivity will be required.
• From the last chapter of Duane Elmers
  Cross-Cultural Conflict

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Dealing with Conflict(10 General Rules)

• Put yourself in the other persons place and try
  to appreciate his or her perspective on the
  matter.
• Address behaviors rather than motivation.
• When you detect tense emotions or defensiveness,
  back up and give assurances of friendship and
  your desire to understand.
• Frequently acknowledge and summarize what the
  other person has said to assure accuracy of
  understanding for both parties.
• Believe a win-win resolution is possible if both
  parties can remain calm, understand each others
  interests and negotiate with integrity and
  fairness.

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Resources

• Duane Elmers Cross-Cultural Conflict Building
  Relationships for Effective Ministry

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Value Transference

• Not just the churchs core values
• Kingdom worldview values
• Cross-cultural understanding, appreciation and
  integration