ipl-logo

How To Grow Intercultural Churches In Against All Odds

594 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Theories and Models of Multiculturalism

In Against All Odds, Brad Christenson, Korie L. Edwards, and Michael O. Emerson use case studies of several churches and college ministries to reveal the sociological, economic and cultural effects that make it difficult to create racial integration in religious organizations. These sociological studies reveal that forming multi-ethnic congregations would be difficult without the plethora of ecclesial, theological, and historical issues that have led to the segregation of the church. However, the research from growing intercultural churches in Against All Odds describe and prescribe the goals, successes, and failures of growing multi-thnic churches that can be studied in the construction of future churches and ministries with similar goals. In order to reflect on the writing and content of Against All Odds we must first review the authors’ goal and deem its success. …show more content…

This suggests that one cannot simply find a church location where there will not be any struggle integrating a church. The example of Messiah Fellowship, the small Flipino congregation, faced similar struggles as Brookside Community church, the majority white church which has segregated services. This reveals that people from similar cultures, ethnicities, and socio-economic levels often are drawn to worship communities with people that resemble them. Friendship became a major theme in this book and in many cases people’s close friends did not include much diversity. The authors explain that these friendships often derive from people looking for a church where they fit in. “We found the racial diversity of these organizations complicated the ability to find belonging within them.” This reveals that creating inter-racial groups often causes people to leave what they are most culturally

Show More
Related
998 Words | 4 Pages

Isidore E. Sharpe Professor Kenneth Yelverton CH 103: African-American Church History 18 January 2018 African-American Church History Mid-Term • Describes the Dialectical Model of the Black Church There are surly other models that describes and provide a snapshots of the Black Church. The “Dialectical Model” offers the most positive understanding of the Black Church, as an ethnic community-prophetic” model. This model is closer to the Nelsen’s model. Black churches has been confronted with persistent series of dialectical tensions, which is related to the reasonable discussion of ideas and opinions. This is no new model by far.

Read More
831 Words | 4 Pages

In the first chapter, Mayorga-Gallo examines multicultural neighborhoods and their experiences, “This book unpacks the meanings white and non-white residents attach to this multiethnic space and their experiences within it” (Mayorga-Gallo 4). She unpacks interracial relationships in multiethnic neighborhoods by studying an annual picnic in a typical multiethnic neighborhood in North Carolina called Creekridge Park. She guides us (the readers) through the experiences of Black, White, and Latino/a residents. She also includes racial, gender, and age demographic charts to inform the reader. She included demographics to make a point that although neighborhoods are integrated, it does not necessarily mean that that will increase positive interracial relations.

Read More
954 Words | 4 Pages

In The Last Segregated Hour Stephen Haynes records the plight of white churches claiming a defense of religious liberty to ensure they remain segregated in the midst of the 1960s Civil Rights struggle. Haynes’s account reveals that in the midst of the abominable treatment of African Americans by many southern government systems, many white Southern Christian churches were practicing equally heinous, racist behaviors while prohibiting black worshippers from entering worship services. Through recording this continuing ledger of racist, sinful offences committed by many white churches, Haynes reveals the often hidden racial tension of white Christianity that was perpetrated in the post-slavery era and which implicitly (or in some cases explicitly)

Read More
100 Words | 1 Pages

David Berreby touches on man-kind’s need for a sense of belonging in “It Takes a Tribe”. More specifically, he takes on the sense of belonging that people invent at college. This need for association, no matter how trivial it may seem, has a large effect on the subconscious. Berreby argues that once an individual realizes that they have been placed in a union, they segregate themselves unknowingly against those not in the union. Berreby concludes that while people may not be passionate about all the groups they are placed in, the groups they identify with stay with them for life.

Read More
1180 Words | 5 Pages

World War I, or the Great War, was a major international conflict that began in 1914, that was fought between the Central and Allied Powers—the main countries in the Central Powers being Germany, the Ottoman Empire, and Austria-Hungary, while the main countries in the Allied Powers were France, Great Britain, and Russia. However, the United States, which didn’t take part in the war for a few years, decided not to get involved in the war and its alliance system since the war posed no danger to the U.S. It remained that way until the U.S. began to realize the effects of the war after attacks from Germany, where lives were threatened and property was destroyed. When the U.S. joined the war, its contribution to the Allies made a major impact, both militarily and economically, during and even

Read More
540 Words | 3 Pages

In this analysis of religion in the Civil war south, Paul Harvey uses race and culture in describing southern religion in both priestly and prophetic. Paul Harvey argues the profound faith of believers in the civil war south. Harvey bases his analysis on three major points. First, theological racism, second racial interchange and third, Christian interracialism. Harvey concludes that even though theological racism dominated in the beginning, interracial exchanges and Christian interracial encounters fueled the civil rights movement and reversed racism in the post civil war south.

Read More
917 Words | 4 Pages

There are many sources that express the importance of social and economic integration to further social equality, but Americans seem to have trouble conforming to living with differences. Whether that may be values, beliefs, religion, or race, we must get better if we want to improve equality. After reading Perry’s analysis of the ethnically and economically mixed neighborhood of Riverwest, Milwaukee, I now understand the importance of community. These residents manage to maintain their social stability while holding onto their diversity. Evelyn Perry very clearly shows she divulged herself into her work.

Read More
855 Words | 4 Pages

In Methodists and the Crucible of Race Peter Murray offers a review of the historical race relations of the denomination that has been integral to my education and employment the past couple years. Murray’s chronicling explains the events that have caused the modern reality of a segregated denomination contrary to those who still proclaim Methodists as United. Methodists and the Crucible of Race reminds Methodists that while our denomination has made attempts for intercultural ministry, the church still remains guilty of sins of racial injustice throughout history. This insight allows Methodists to end their conformity to culture’s race barriers and attempt counter-cultural conversations of reconciliation and desegregation. In order

Read More
925 Words | 4 Pages

In her essay, The Risks of Multiracial Identification, Naomi Riley argues that people are unlikely to be around people of distinct culture and color. Throughout the text, Riley fails to support her argument because she conflicts anecdotal evidence with statistical statements. She based her argument on an anecdotal evidence from a Harvard newspaper. She supports her claims based on an interview of a handful of college students who felt excluded from their student clubs, which does not necessarily imply that this is the case for every American college. The arguments that Riley makes by saying that people are unlikely to be around others from a distinct culture are disproven by the fact that more interracial marriages are occurring.

Read More
998 Words | 4 Pages

I will demonstrate this by exploring Europeans immigrants settlement in America. I will then discuss religious diversity in individual colonies. I will finally discuss those who had unorthodox beliefs and how this affected religious diversity. As we journey throughout American history we will see diversity forming as new immigrants settle in American.

Read More
451 Words | 2 Pages

In Working Together: Crossing Color Lines at Work, Cynthia Estlund discusses that U.S. universities and Fortune-500 companies endorse diversity because it advocates for cross-racial understanding and eliminates racial prejudicial views. She stresses the importance of integration as being a societal goal, and even claims that there has already been “avenues of progress” in the modern-day workplace. Although humans typically isolate themselves from different ethnicities during their leisure time, workers must friendly interact and cooperate with others in a demographically diversified setting. The author claims American social criticism is created by declining levels of civic engagement, such as not interacting with our neighbors, as well as

Read More
881 Words | 4 Pages

Theodore W. Anderson merged other denominational churches into the ECC in the post-WWII era, which greatly expanded the cultural diversity of the church during the 1960s. This shift away from “isolation’ provided a more dynamic and integrated evangelical community in the ECC for Americans of all differing ethnic backgrounds. This form of foundation dispensational ideology marked a major transition in the Church during the mid-20th century. This new trends in the merger of differing denominational backgrounds into the ECC provided platform for greater racial diversity in the evangelical style of Lutheranism in the late 20th century. In the 1970s and 1980s, the growth of women’s conferences and the inclusion of African-Americans and Hispanic believers into the ECC provided an important and positive development that shifted away from the primarily Swedish ethnic foundations of the church.

Read More
1641 Words | 7 Pages

Since more cultures are crossing geographical boundaries, it seems that it would be much easier to be a servant for Christ. Elmer says, the “focus is relational

Read More
1146 Words | 5 Pages

African-Americans tend to be much more religious and attend church more often than their white counterparts. Given the challenges that African-Americans, it makes sense that they would seek religious outlets during their troubles. Combined with experiencing their challenges, religion African-Americans a sense of community with one another and thus social integration. Caucasians tend to be less religious, and result have one less avenue for social integration than

Read More
233 Words | 1 Pages

Another form of therapy used to treat anorgasmia is sex therapy. Typically you attend these sessions with your primary sexual partner, because many people believe sexual dysfunctions should be viewed as a two-person problem. During therapy, some of the topics that are worked through could be conflicts, disagreements, and communication skills. There is also some physical “homework” to do with your partner at home. Some of these things may include systematic desensitization, Kegel exercises, and masturbation techniques.

Read More

More about How To Grow Intercultural Churches In Against All Odds

Related Topics

Open Document