Building Intercultural Competence for

MinistersSample for Training Workshop

Committee On Cultural Diversity in the ChurchUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Catholic Families in the United States

According to Cultures/Ethnicities

• African American Family• Asian Pacific Islander Family• European American Family• Hispanic Latino Family• Native American Family• Migrants, Refugees, People on the

Move

U n d e r p i n n i n g s T h e o l o g y

fo r I n te r c u l t u ra l M i n i s t r y

• Christian Anthropology - (A Christian

Understanding of the Human Person)

• Ecclesiology: The Church as Communion

• Catholicity: Universality, Unity in Diversity

• The Church as missionary

Intercultural Competence is the capacity to: • Communicate… • Work… • Relate…

…across cultural boundaries.

Intercultural Competence

• Prejudice, Stereotyping, and Discrimination

• In-Group and Out-Group Dynamics

• Ways We Judge the “Other”

Chapter Outline

Iceberg Concept of Culture

Behaviors/Actions

Materials/Objects

PerceptionsAssumptions

Values

Attitudes

Beliefs Thought Patterns Concepts

Competencies in Intercultural Group Communications

Dealing with Conflict

Communication Styles Based on Face Management

Meeting and Decision Making

Leadership

The Mutual Invitation Method(Eric Law)

RESPECTFUL COMMUNICATION GUIDELINE

R: take RESPONSIBILITY for what you say and feel, and speak with words others can hear and understand

E: use EMPATHETIC listening, not just words but also feelings being expressed, non-verbal language including silence

S: be SENSITIVE to differences in communication styles

P: PONDER on what you hear and feel before you speak

E: EXAMINE your own assumptions and perceptions

C: keep CONFIDENTIALITY

T: TRUST the process because we are NOT here to debate who is right or wrong but to experience true dialogue.

Encounter with Christ – Catholic Identity: Conversion means to “turn one’s mind and heart around.”

Communion: The communion of the Church, rooted in God’s love, is called to offer all people the sense of identity, purpose and community they seek.

Solidarity: “a firm and persevering determination to commit one-self <and a whole faith community> to the common good”

CatholicIdentity

Belonging

Ownership

From Newcomers to Stewardsof the Faith Community

Stewardship

Integ

ratio

n/In

clusio

n

Cycle for Ecclesial Integration/Inclusion

OwnershipSense of belonging

Hospitality

Catholic Identity

Stewardship

Communion

Conversion

Mission

Solidarity

Encounter

Recognize and affirm cultural, linguistic and racial differences as a gift from God not a problem to be solved

Promote the formation of culturally specific ministries, parish groups and apostolic movements as means for conversion and community building

Avoid the temptation to expect others to assimilate into a one-size- fits-all youth group, program or activity

Articulate a vision of ministry based on ecclesial integration/inclusion

Foster the inculturation of the Gospel in all cultures

Be aware of your own cultural heritage Use the concept of inculturation of the Gospel Be willing to be a bridge builder rather than a gate-

keeper Avoid the tendency to see your culture as better or

more valuable than the cultures of others, and the we—they language

Commit to the spirit of mission of the New Evangelization and its ongoing transformation of all cultures by the Gospel values

First listen and welcome the unique perspectives of diverse parishioners you are trying to reach

Include them, from the beginning, in the development of plans, programs and activities

Avoid planning for others and judging them when they don’t show up to your activity

Plan with the people,not for the people

Broaden your understanding of ministry groups, programs, and structures, and cast a

bigger

Recognize the unique experiences, needs, and aspirations of each cultural/ethnic community in your parish

Understand that the existence of more than one cultural group in your parish as a blessing

Promote the formation of culturally specific groups and apostolic movements

Avoid the perception that allowing the formation of culturally specific groups creates division or separation

Commit to creating welcoming spaces for all Catholic people living in your parish

Understand the way in which people from different cultures view leadership, organize themselves and make decisions

Identify indigenous leaders and mentor them into leadership positions in ministry within their own cultural/ethnic community and in the parish as a whole

Avoid a mentality of scarcity- ‘there is not enough for everyone’- and foster a vision of mission and growth that generates more resources

Empower people from the different cultures/ethnicities into leadership positions