Becoming Culturally Responsive— Intercultural Competencies Maria D.S. Andrade Johnson, Ed.D., M.A.

Characteristics of Culture Language (Formal, Colloquial, Slang) Shared ideas, values, behaviors, ways of living and being Approaches to the World Individual vs. Collective Hierarchy vs. Equality Low Tolerance vs. High ITolerance of Ambiguity Masculine vs. Feminie Understanding of Gender Roles Abstract vs. Lived Experience Stop, read “Cultural Parameters USCCB Hofstede,” discuss

Catechism on Culture “Culture is the particular way in which a human group interprets life and relates with nature, God, the world, and other peoples. Culture is not accidental, but an integral part of human life...It embraces the totality of life of the group and the life of each individual who belongs to it; therefore, all human beings relate and respond to God and express this faith from and within their culture.” Principles of Inculturation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, USCCB, 1994

Theology of Necessity of Cultural Responsiveness The Four Pillars of Evangelization Conversion: Encounter with Christ Encounter: Between a people’s rituals, symbols, and myths (narratives) and the Gospel, leading to transformation Liberation: Transformation of social, economic, and political systems in light of gospel values of life and human dignity Ecumenical and interreligious dialogue: work to bring about the unity of all peoples in pursuit of Jesus’ mandate USCCB and “Go and Make Disciples”

Theology of Necessity of Cultural Responsiveness Jesus in the Gospels mandates that we consider others as we consider ourselves. Yet...the challenge of “the Other” is always before us—we unintentionally use “othering” language which sets up barriers to inclusion. “Othering”: Generalizations, beliefs based on fear (demonizing the different), paternalistic attitudes (other as helpless), trivialize practices or traditions. Read PDF, “Voices on Racism context of St. Paul,” and Discuss

Theology of Necessity of Cultural Responsiveness Cultural Responsiveness, the development of intercultural competencies: “to enable, insofar as it is humanly possible, an understanding of what it means that Jesus Christ, the Word, is authentically experienced in each and every human situation“ (Gilliland, 2000, p. 8).  The Incarnation: In becoming human, Jesus comes into a particular cultural landscape, embracing and engaging it, and in so doing, taking humans and their cultures as blessed and holy (the Eucharistic movement of TAKEN and BLESSED). Paul and culture: When he proclaimed the Gospel to Jewish audiences, he centered on Scripture; when Gentile audiences, he centered on revelation. “While the human condition and the gospel remain the same, people have different worldviews which in turn impact how they interpret themselves, the world and the things you say” (Gilliland, 2000, p. 9).