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Welcoming Immigrants and Advocating for Partners’ Interests November 20, 2008 Mutuality of Mission Event. Languages Spoken in the Hawai ‘ i Conference. English, Hawaiian
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Welcoming Immigrantsand Advocating for Partners’ InterestsNovember 20, 2008Mutuality of Mission Event
Languages Spoken in theHawai‘i Conference English, Hawaiian Cantonese, Mandarin Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, Ilocano, Visayan, Marshallese, Kosraean, Chuukese (2 dialects), Pohnpeian, Pingalapese, Samoan, Ni‘ihau Hawaiian
Greatest potential for growth in the UCC is in ethnic, immigrant or emerging communities.
Why affiliate with the UCC? • Historic Mission Ties • Ecclesiological Affinities • Theological Sympathies
The Multi-Racial, Multi-Cultural Church Is filled with: • Blessings • Challenges
How do we welcome, encourage, advocate? The more we know, the less we understand. We’re always learning something new.
How do we welcome, encourage, advocate? “Issues for Consideration by Committees on Ministry When Working with Underrepresented Individuals and Churches” Go to: www.ucc.org/ministers and click on “Ministry Issues Resource”
We learn from: • Mistakes, • Miscues • Misunderstandings
Mistakes, Miscues, Misunderstandings 1. Establish a Committee, Task Force, Board or Team Can lead to unintended results: “Let’s create an ethnic Association” “We’ve taken care of their needs.”
Mistakes, Miscues, Misunderstandings 2. Place Representatives on Boards, Committees, Task Forces The danger of tokenism. One person can’t advocate for the whole.
Mistakes, Miscues, Misunderstandings 3. Invite Them to Sing and Dance The insult of entertainment. Be ready to do the same.
Mistakes, Miscues, Misunderstandings 4. Ignore Practices, Rituals and Traditions Be sensitive to the degree of “push.”
Mistakes, Miscues, Misunderstandings 5. Privilege Culture and Tradition over Procedures and Law Bending over backwards can break your back.
Mistakes, Miscues, Misunderstandings 6. Don’t Visit the Church Presence goes a very long way. So does absence.
Mistakes, Miscues, Misunderstandings 7. Encourage Everyone to Speak Up or Out Propriety of speaking varies across cultures.
Mistakes, Miscues, Misunderstandings 8. Listen to One, Representative Voice One person can’t know it all and say it all.
Mistakes, Miscues, Misunderstandings 9. Speak on Behalf of Peoples Don’t mistake the silent or soft voice with having no voice.
Mistakes, Miscues, Misunderstandings 10. Don’t Contribute Money Don’t mistake generosity with self-sufficiency. Carry lots of dollar bills.
Mistakes, Miscues, Misunderstandings 11. Get Down to Business Observe the unwritten rules. Ceremony: “Greasing the wheels.”
Mistakes, Miscues, Misunderstandings 12. Don’t Ask Questions There is no universal. Ask lots of questions. Leave nothing to chance.
Welcoming Immigrantsand Advocating for Partners’ InterestsNovember 20, 2008Mutuality of Mission Event