Starting a Multicultural Church Robert D. Goette.

Starting a Starting a Multicultural Multicultural

ChurchChurch

Robert D. GoetteRobert D. Goette

Definitions for todayDefinitions for today• MultiethnicMultiethnic: A church with one language, : A church with one language,

one predominant culture but significant one predominant culture but significant percentages of people with various ethnic percentages of people with various ethnic & racial backgrounds& racial backgrounds

• MulticulturalMulticultural: A church with one : A church with one predominant language (second language predominant language (second language for many) and various cultural influencesfor many) and various cultural influences– Doesn’t have to be in EnglishDoesn’t have to be in English

• What we don’t mean byWhat we don’t mean by– Multiethnic Multiethnic – a sprinkling of diversity – a sprinkling of diversity – Multicultural Multicultural – a church sponsoring various – a church sponsoring various

language groupslanguage groups

Various Blends of Ethnicity Various Blends of Ethnicity & Culture& Culture

Mono-ethnicMono-cultural

Mono-ethnicMulti-cultural

Mono-ethnicMono-cultural

with a sprinklingof diversity

MultiethnicMulti-cultural

MultiethnicMono-cultural

Biblical Basis for a New PerspectiveBiblical Basis for a New Perspective(Defining Moments in the 1st Century Church)(Defining Moments in the 1st Century Church)

• Acts 2:5-12 (An ethnic group can be multi-lingual)Acts 2:5-12 (An ethnic group can be multi-lingual)• Acts 6:1-6 (Conflict happens & can be resolved Acts 6:1-6 (Conflict happens & can be resolved

between ethnic/cultural people groups)between ethnic/cultural people groups)• Acts 10:34-35 (God is also interested in others)Acts 10:34-35 (God is also interested in others)• Acts 15 (They don’t have to follow our culture)Acts 15 (They don’t have to follow our culture)• Gal. 2:7-9 (There are different callings) Gal. 2:7-9 (There are different callings) • Acts 21 (Freedom & conformity can co-exist)Acts 21 (Freedom & conformity can co-exist)

Assimilation GuideAssimilation Guide

NuclearEthnics

Fellow Travelers

Marginal

Alienated

LanguageLanguage

BilingualBilingual

MulticulturalMulticultural

WASPWASP

Peter WagnerPeter Wagner

Advantages of a Advantages of a Multicultural ChurchMulticultural Church

• A taste of heavenA taste of heaven• You can invite people of difference You can invite people of difference

racial & cultural backgrounds to racial & cultural backgrounds to church and they won’t stick outchurch and they won’t stick out

• Bridges to many different parts of Bridges to many different parts of the worldthe world

• It’s easier to become a World It’s easier to become a World ChristianChristian

Who does a multi-cultural Who does a multi-cultural church attract?church attract?

• Inter-racially married familiesInter-racially married families• People that live and work in the midst of People that live and work in the midst of

diversitydiversity• People who have a hard time finding People who have a hard time finding

people like themselvespeople like themselves• ““Third Culture Kids”Third Culture Kids”• International students & familiesInternational students & families• People turned off by a mono-ethnic church People turned off by a mono-ethnic church

and/or racismand/or racism

Is a Multi-cultural Church Is a Multi-cultural Church for everyone?for everyone?

• Absolutely notAbsolutely not• Some need to experience it for a whileSome need to experience it for a while• It can catalyze ethnic-specific, other- It can catalyze ethnic-specific, other-

language congregations language congregations

NOTE:NOTE:A Multi-Cultural Church most likely will A Multi-Cultural Church most likely will NOT NOT

effectively reach 1effectively reach 1stst generation peoples generation peoples unless their native language is the same unless their native language is the same used during the corporate worship used during the corporate worship experience.experience.

Challenges of a Challenges of a Multicultural ChurchMulticultural Church

• Understanding & Appreciating Understanding & Appreciating Various CulturesVarious Cultures– Relationship stylesRelationship styles– ValuesValues– Conflict stylesConflict styles– Leadership stylesLeadership styles– Learning stylesLearning styles– ExperiencesExperiences

Layers of CultureLayers of Culture

HiddenAssumptions

Values

Norms

Behavior

Artifacts

Major Multicultural Issues Major Multicultural Issues in Starting a Multicultural in Starting a Multicultural

ChurchChurch• Planter selection (Spouse & children too)Planter selection (Spouse & children too)• Core group selectionCore group selection• Keeping first things firstKeeping first things first• RelationshipsRelationships

– Building relationships & teamworkBuilding relationships & teamwork– Dealing with conflictDealing with conflict

• Styles: Relational, leadership, decision-Styles: Relational, leadership, decision-making, teaching, preaching, worship, making, teaching, preaching, worship, prayer, food, dress, etc.prayer, food, dress, etc.

• Value transferenceValue transference• Cross-cultural CounselingCross-cultural Counseling

Planter SelectionPlanter Selection• A missionary to many nationsA missionary to many nations• Constant learner without being Constant learner without being

paternalistic or patronizingpaternalistic or patronizing• International stomachInternational stomach• Flexible leadership & relational & ministry Flexible leadership & relational & ministry

stylestyle• Can explain one’s own culture & other Can explain one’s own culture & other

cultures and evaluate them all critically in cultures and evaluate them all critically in the light of God’s wordthe light of God’s word

• Willing to share leadership with people of Willing to share leadership with people of all backgroundsall backgrounds

Planter SelectionPlanter Selection

Stages ofStages ofIndividual DevelopmentIndividual Development

Developing Intercultural SensitivityDeveloping Intercultural Sensitivity

DenialDenial DefenseDefense MinimizationMinimization

AcceptanceAcceptance AdaptationAdaptation IntegrationIntegration

Ethnocentric StageEthnocentric Stage

Ethnorelative StageEthnorelative Stage

Denial: no recognition of cultural or other differencesDenial: no recognition of cultural or other differences







Defense: there is a minor recognition of differences, Defense: there is a minor recognition of differences, but the differences are evaluated negatively.but the differences are evaluated negatively.







Minimization: there is more recognition and Minimization: there is more recognition and acceptance of the superficial differences.acceptance of the superficial differences.







Acceptance: there is more recognition and appreciationAcceptance: there is more recognition and appreciationof differences in behavior and values.of differences in behavior and values.







Adaptation: there is the developing of communication skillsAdaptation: there is the developing of communication skillsto understand people better.to understand people better.







Integration: there is the internalization of the biculturalIntegration: there is the internalization of the biculturaland multicultural frames of reference.and multicultural frames of reference.

Resource for Planter Resource for Planter SelectionSelection

• The The Cross-Cultural Adaptability InventorCross-Cultural Adaptability Inventoryyhttp://assessments.ncspearson.com/assessments/http://assessments.ncspearson.com/assessments/tests/ccai.htmtests/ccai.htm

NCS 1-800-627-7271, ext. 5151 NCS 1-800-627-7271, ext. 5151

Core Group SelectionCore Group Selection

• Ethnically & racially diverseEthnically & racially diverse• Learners; especially in the area of Learners; especially in the area of

cross-cultural adaptabilitycross-cultural adaptability• International stomachsInternational stomachs• Gracious & humble & sacrificialGracious & humble & sacrificial• Passionate about the Lord and seeing Passionate about the Lord and seeing

all people reachedall people reached

Stages of Stages of Organizational DevelopmentOrganizational Development

ParochialParochial

EthnocentricEthnocentric

PolycentricPolycentric

SynergisticSynergistic

MulticulturalismMulticulturalism

““Our way is the only way.”Our way is the only way.”


ParochialParochial





““Our way is the best way.”Our way is the best way.”


ParochialParochial





““Our way is the best way for us;Our way is the best way for us; their way is the best for them.”their way is the best for them.”


ParochialParochial





““Our way and their way differ,Our way and their way differ,and we can learn from each other.”and we can learn from each other.”


ParochialParochial





““There are a multitude of ways,There are a multitude of ways,and there are a multitude of best ways;and there are a multitude of best ways;

we can learn from and complement one another.”we can learn from and complement one another.”

ResourcesResources

• Intercultural PressIntercultural Press - - http://www.interculturalpress.com/shop/diversityhttp://www.interculturalpress.com/shop/diversity.html.html

• Diversity seminarsDiversity seminars• Movies/film clipsMovies/film clips

http://www.interculturalpress.com/shop/http://www.interculturalpress.com/shop/ccthrufitext.htmlccthrufitext.html

• Cross-cultural reflection on many Cross-cultural reflection on many different parts of the Bibledifferent parts of the Bible

Keeping First Things Keeping First Things FirstFirst

• Most multicultural churches don’t Most multicultural churches don’t raise the multicultural flagraise the multicultural flag

• Loving God & Loving People in their Loving God & Loving People in their language of lovelanguage of love

• World Evangelization for God’s GloryWorld Evangelization for God’s Glory

Building RelationshipsBuilding Relationships

• Sharing historiesSharing histories• Building trust – confidentialityBuilding trust – confidentiality• Transparency is not always valuedTransparency is not always valued• Acceptance & appreciationAcceptance & appreciation• TIMETIME• Higher level of commitment to each Higher level of commitment to each

otherother

Dealing with ConflictDealing with Conflict(10 General Rules)(10 General Rules)

• Ask whether this is worthy of attention or should Ask whether this is worthy of attention or should be let go.be let go.

• Make your approach one of concern for the Make your approach one of concern for the person and for preservation of the relationship.person and for preservation of the relationship.

• Seek understanding through inquiry before Seek understanding through inquiry before forming judgments and making accusations forming judgments and making accusations (blaming).(blaming).

• Separate facts from rumor, partial information, Separate facts from rumor, partial information, feelings and interpretation.feelings and interpretation.

• Consider how much stress the relationship can Consider how much stress the relationship can bear; this will help you tell how much time and bear; this will help you tell how much time and sensitivity will be required.sensitivity will be required.

* From the last chapter of Duane Elmer’s * From the last chapter of Duane Elmer’s Cross-Cross-Cultural ConflictCultural Conflict

Dealing with ConflictDealing with Conflict(10 General Rules)(10 General Rules)

• Put yourself in the other person’s place and try to Put yourself in the other person’s place and try to appreciate his or her perspective on the matter.appreciate his or her perspective on the matter.

• Address behaviors rather than motivation.Address behaviors rather than motivation.• When you detect tense emotions or When you detect tense emotions or

defensiveness, back up and give assurances of defensiveness, back up and give assurances of friendship and your desire to understand.friendship and your desire to understand.

• Frequently acknowledge and summarize what the Frequently acknowledge and summarize what the other person has said to assure accuracy of other person has said to assure accuracy of understanding for both parties.understanding for both parties.

• Believe a win-win resolution is possible if both Believe a win-win resolution is possible if both parties can remain calm, understand each other’s parties can remain calm, understand each other’s interests and negotiate with integrity and interests and negotiate with integrity and fairness.fairness.

ResourcesResources

• Duane Elmer’s Duane Elmer’s Cross-Cultural Conflict: Building RelatCross-Cultural Conflict: Building Relationships for Effective Ministryionships for Effective Ministry

Value TransferenceValue Transference

• Not just the church’s core valuesNot just the church’s core values• Kingdom worldview & valuesKingdom worldview & values• Cross-cultural understanding, Cross-cultural understanding,

appreciation and integrationappreciation and integration

Starting a Multicultural Church Robert D. Goette.

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