Becoming an Intentionally Intercultural Church

Session 3: Defining Values

“Going Intercultural” When a church “goes intercultural,” church leaders—and members— experience cultural difference! VALUESVALUES

Cultural Value Conflict VALUESVALUES

Cultural Value: a learned pattern that a particular group of people share, is of worth to them, and contributes to their identity. VALUESVALUES

Basic Cultural Values Basic values can be observed on a continuum, demonstrating a possible range of behaviour in each category. VALUESVALUES

Basic Cultural Values - Time: concern for punctuality and amount of time expended; tightly scheduled, goal- directed activities. - Event: concern for details of the event, regardless of time required; a “let come what may” outlook, not tied to any precise schedule. Time Event VALUESVALUES

Basic Cultural Values - Dichotomistic: Judgments are black/white, right/wrong; security comes from the feeling that one is right; information and experiences are systematically organized. - Holistic: Judgments are open-ended; the whole person and all circumstances are taken into consideration; information and experiences are seemingly disorganized; details stand as independent points complete in themselves. VALUESVALUES Dichotomistic Holistic

Basic Cultural Values Task Person - Task: focuses on tasks and principles; finds satisfaction in the achievement of goals. - Person: focuses on persons and relationships; finds satisfaction in interaction. VALUESVALUES

Basic Cultural Values - Achievement Focus: personal identity is determined by one’s achievements; the amount of respect one receives varies with one's accomplishments and failures. - Status Ascribed: personal identity is determined by formal credentials of birth and rank; the amount of respect one receives is primarily fixed; attention focuses on those with high social status in spite of any personal failings they may have. VALUESVALUES Achievement Focus Status Ascribed

Basic Cultural Values - Expose Vulnerability: Willingness to talk freely about personal life; ready admission of culpability, weakness and shortcomings; openness to alternative views and criticism. - Conceal Vulnerability: Vagueness regarding personal life; denial of culpability; withdrawal from activities in order to hide weakness and shortcomings; refusal to entertain alternative views or accept criticism. Expose Vulnerability Conceal Vulnerability VALUESVALUES

Canadian Values Mainstream Canadian culture tends toward the left side of the continuum. New immigrants tend toward the right side. These tendencies may cause tension and conflict in intercultural churches. VALUESVALUES

Personal Value System Each of us has our own personal culture and value system—which is the product of our family values, our cultural/national heritage, and the interaction of our accepting or rejecting the forces that have shaped us. VALUESVALUES

Activity Simulation: “Eastside Church Faces Conflict” An experience of cultural value conflict in a church setting VALUESVALUES

“Eastside Church Faces Conflict” Debrief: What feelings did you have as you listened to the instructions? As you participated in the simulation? What issues triggered conflict? VALUESVALUES

“Eastside Church Faces Conflict” Debrief (continued): Which category do most disagreements fall into? a) Clearly right b) In direct conflict with Scripture c) In a gray area (Christians disagree about it) d) In a neutral area (not clearly right or wrong) VALUESVALUES

Questions for Discussion 1) Describe a conflict of cultural values that you have experienced, or seen, in your church. Was the conflict resolved? If so, what made the resolution possible? If not, why not? What impact did this conflict have on the church? 2) How would you describe your own cultural values? Where did you get them from? 3) What will you do differently to accept people who are culturally different from yourself? 4) What might accepting people with different cultural values look like in your church? VALUESVALUES

Moving beyond Cultural Conflict or Staying Put (Firmly Fixed) The Choice Is Yours! VALUESVALUES

Steps to becoming a healthy intercultural church: Gain self-understanding Understand causes of cultural clashes Accept cultural difference Commit to change of attitude Intentionally build relationships Recognize power issues Find out what is truly Biblical Other possibilities? VALUESVALUES

Conclusion The healthy intercultural church brings glory to God, and is an effective, credible witness in the community! VALUESVALUES