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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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”

5. 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

6. 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).