ME500: Serving and Communicating Cross-Culturally (4 units)
Betty
Sue Brewster, Associate Professor of Language and Culture Learning
Fall 2005 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
God’s heart is for
developing relationship with people whom He created, and for communicating His
message to them. In sending Jesus He gave us a model for communicating with
people in their own cultural context. People in ministry, cannot afford the
luxury of having a monocultural outlook. Skills in intercultural relationships
and in culture learning are essential, whether you are a pastor ministering in
a multicultural context or needing to give your congregation a missionary
vision, a Christian worker in the inner city, a cross-cultural missionary, or a
lay person planning a short-term ministry. This is a practical hands-on
culture-learning course to help develop cultural self-awareness, a positive
approach toward other cultures, and intercultural interaction and communication
skills.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Develop a holistic view of serving cross-culturally.
• Develop an initial understanding of doing mission in context.
• Learn the basics of communicating cross-culturally.
• Cultivate cross-cultural sensitivities.
• Develop an understanding of the role of culture in the communication of the
Gospel.
• Begin to apply skills of culture learning in intercultural communication.
COURSE FORMAT:
Class activities include
experiential culture learning activities, demonstrations, lectures, discussion,
and class member presentations. Small
groups meet regularly in class for discussion and prayer, and to plan and
debrief fieldwork.
REQUIRED READING:
Kraft, Charles. Communicating Jesus’ Way. William Carey,
1999.
Law, Eric H.F. The Wolf Shall Dwell with
the Lamb. St. Louis, Chalice Press, 1993.
Smith, Donald K. Creating Understanding. Zondervan, 1992.
Sogaard, Viggo. Media in Church and
Mission. Gabriel Resources, 1993.
Read biographies of at least 2 persons in cross-cultural ministry.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Hunter, David and MaryAnn B.
Foley. Doing Anthropology. Harper
& Row, 1976.
Lingenfelter, Sherwood. Transforming Culture. Baker Books.
Mains, David. 8 Survival Skills for
Changing Times (chapter 4). Wheaton, 1992.
Mains, David and Melissa Mains Timberlake. Getting
Beyond “How are You?” – Learning to Connect in a Disconnected World.
Wheaton: Victor Books, 1992.
Spradley, James P. The Ethnographic
Interview. Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1979.
Stafford-Yilmaz, Lynn. A to Zany
Community Affairs. U of Michigan Press, 1998.
Volf, Miroslav. Exclusion and Embrace.
Abingdon Press, 1996.
Zimmerman, W. How to Tape Instant Oral
Biographies. New York: Guarionex Press.
ASSIGNMENTS:
• Readings, reading interactions and class discussion.
• Plan and carry out regular fieldwork in community, reflect and report on what
has been learned, share the experience and reflections in small groups as well
as in class.
• A paper describing the participant’s strategy for cross-cultural
communication, learning, and ministry.
Th.M.: Greater analytical depth in
writing assignments. In addition, choose one of these:
• Complete one additional complete field experience, with written report
• Read 200 extra pages from the recommended readings with reading interaction
• Write an additional 1250 words for the strategy paper
PREREQUISITES: None. Auditors must get
instructor's permission. All auditors and non-credit people are expected to
fully participate in the fieldwork.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Required for MA-CCS and
MA-ICM programs.
FINAL EXAM: None.