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Money &Cross-Cultural Partnerships --------- A Workshop For The Global Missions Health Conference Designed & Facilitated by Mary Lederleitner

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Who Is This Person? I Work In A Few Different Worlds The Wycliffe Global Alliance The Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College The Institute for Cross- Cultural Training Advisory Board for EMQ PhD Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

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During My Time With Wycliffe Asia Area Finance Coordinator Working with country directors, indigenous partners and funders. Head of Intl Audit Research Role Cross-Cultural Consultant

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Why I Wrote The book To reduce conflict in global partnerships To foster cultural understanding To encourage greater dialogue To equip lay people, mission pastors, mission practitioners, administrators, and foundation leaders

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Critical Question Why is it important to partner well in your context?

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Partnering Well Is Not Easy Collaboration often increases the amount of conflict. Article from the Harvard Business Review; March 2005, p. 93 Money is often at the center of the worst conflicts.

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Culture Is Often Pulling Our Strings

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There Is No One Size Fits All Partnering well with people from other cultures is incredibly complex. Someone preaching easy answers does not understand. Each partnership is a unique puzzle. Neo-colonialism is easy; partnership is not.

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We Are In Dire Need Of Cultural Intelligence Cultural intelligence is a blend of interpersonal skills and cultural awareness. It is more than dumping cognitive information into the brain to achieve competency.

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What Is Cultural Intelligence? It is having our behavior and instincts honed, over time and through practice, so we are a blessing and not a hindrance to Gods missional purposes in the world.

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The Goal For Our Time Together

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The Spectrum: Varying Degrees Of Individualism & Collectivism Whenever there is a difference there is potential for hurt feelings. There are country ratings but each person is a bit different.

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Working Through Differences Not understanding and truly respecting the difference between individualistic and collective world views is the reason many cross-cultural initiatives fail.

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Working Through Differences People assume that behaviors mean the same things across cultures. They assign meaning and motives to behaviors as defined by their own cultural context.

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Working Through Differences When money is involved this is especially common. Until we can step back and see things from a different and broader perspective, and feel our partners tensions, it is often hard to work through differences.

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Understanding Individualism It is the idea that the individual is the basic unit within a society. People are supposed to be able to provide for themselves. People are supposed to be financially independent and save for things like retirement.

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Individualism Personal goals are deemed to be good. People who fulfill their personal goals are respected and admired. The implicit assumption is that only by attending to ones own needs will society be OK.

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Individualism Family is defined primarily as the nuclear family. Children are taught to look out for themselves! They are also taught to think for themselves.

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Individualism Children are encouraged to be creative and distinguish themselves from others. They are viewed as being immature if, as they age, they continue to depend to much on others.

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Individualism Passages such as 1 Timothy 5:8 are interpreted to mean taking care of children until they reach the age of adulthood and providing for older parents in some capacity when they get to old to care for themselves.

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The Role of Money Most people believe on some level that it is embarrassing to be in financial need. It is only acceptable if there have been harsh extenuating circumstances like catastrophic health problems or other calamities.

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The Role of Money In individualistic societies money is very important. It is often on peoples minds and it is usually a key factor when making decisions. One characteristic of maturity is the ability to plan ahead.

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Scriptural Passages Matthew 25:1-13 Prudent & foolish maidens Matthew 25:14-30 Faithful & unfaithful stewards Luke 14:28-30 Wise versus unwise builders

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Scriptural Passages Romans 13:7-8 Pay taxes & owe no man anything Proverbs 13:22 Providing an inheritance implicitly affirms saving

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Root Of Security Simply put, personal funds often equal physical security in individualistic cultures. People are loyal to personal funds for without these they often cannot function or survive within their culture.

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Collectivism Collectivism works differently. People from collective cultures define themselves only in relation to others within their in-group or community.

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Collectivism People in these cultures do not reference I but we. Family is broadly defined to include many aunts and uncles and cousins. The responsibility of 1 Timothy 5:8 is broadly defined.

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Collectivism Children learn to get their ideas from the opinions of others. Children with dissenting views are often seen as having weak character.

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Collectivism Brooks Peterson, in his book Cultural Intelligence tells the story of children coloring in a country in Asia. Each child was taught to color exactly like everyone else so all the pictures displayed looked the same.

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Collectivism Because identity is tied to the group, people sacrifice personal conveniences and goals for the good of the whole. What is owned by one is often seen as a communal asset.

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Collectivism People are taught to rely and depend upon each other if financial needs arise. People look to others for help with medical bills, emergencies, funding the education of children and young people, and so forth.

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Collectivism Fulfillment, joy, and satisfaction come from meeting others expectations and being loyal to the group. Those with the most experience in the group, the elderly, are deemed with the greatest respect.

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Scriptural Passages Matthew 6:19-24 Do not store up financial wealth Matthew 6:25-34 Do not worry about the future 2 Corinthians 8:14-15 Resources should be shared so all are equal

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Scriptural Passages James 2:14-17 We should give every time we see a brother in need Acts 2:41-47 The outcome of true spirituality and revival is sharing all financial resources

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Root Of Security In collective societies relationships are seen as the only way to ensure security. Only relationships will protect a person from the hardships life might bring. Total loyalty to the group is expected.

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Concept Of Face Since relationships are the medium by which things are done, a persons reputation within the community is critical. Although deeper than mere reputation, face is the concept that rules these cultures.

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Concept Of Face Face is lost when a person is shamed. A person is shamed when he or she does not meet the expectations of others. These expectations are linked to a persons job and status in the group.

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Concept Of Face In many instances face becomes the currency of these cultures. Since face is needed to function effectively within the community, people will often take drastic measures to restore face if it is lost.

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The Greatest Sins The greatest sins in collectivistic societies are: Not sharing and helping others in the group; Causing another to lose face; and Disrupting harmony and creating conflict that damages relationships.

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Gods Admonition To Both Matthew 6:24 Love God more than money Matthew 10:37 Love God more than relationships with family members

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Thoughts? Stories? Questions?

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The Spectrum: Degrees Of Low And High Context Communication Is truth primarily found in words or is found primarily in non-verbal messages and behaviors?

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Low Context Communication Low context communication is the predominant form of communication in America. There is a high value placed upon words. Being direct is a sign of maturity.

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Low Context Cultures This belief system was instilled in us as children. Parents often admonish their kids by saying: Quit beating around the bush! Say what you mean! Get to the point!

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Low Context Cultures When someone is not direct they are often perceived as being shifty. Such behavior is often deemed as being untrustworthy.

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There Are Other Paths Many collectivistic cultures utilize high context communication. Words do not have the same value. Words are spoken but they are secondary to the true message.

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High Context Cultures Speaking directly to someone is often viewed as being disrespectful. Only children are spoken to directly. Adults are supposed to be sophisticated and discerning.

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High Context Cultures To speak directly to an adult is to insinuate they are immature and as simple as a child. Directness in adult communication is often viewed as a form of aggression.

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The Ironic Thing With Money Often The Rules Flip A conference in Thailand two years ago The Thai partner shared her experience In many countries people are very direct in asking what you earn or how much things you have cost. Yet we say we want transparency?

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Partnership Means Different Things We can use confusing nomenclature such as family or friend but then our expectations follow more of a business model?

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Loans Work Differently The Story of Daniel & James & The Story of The Inter-Agency Loan

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Stealing Is Defined Differently Two Very Different Stories

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Thoughts? Stories? Questions?

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What Messages Are You Sending?

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Contact Information: Mary Lederleitner Cell: (630)667-7690 Email: mary_lederleitner@wycliffe.net mary.lederleitner@wheaton.edu Skype: mary.lederleitner

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