ucanz hui wellington, new zealand friday 16 th october 2015
TRANSCRIPT
UCANZ HUI
Wellington, New Zealand
Friday 16th October 2015
How smaller churches could deal with the
multicultural society we live in
ONE
Celebrate and recognise the diversity
within the church and
the society.
How do we• accept• acknowledge• recognise• celebratethis reality?
By learning our history
By
• learning our history: knowing
what has gone before
• discovering what has
changed:
- how our cultural mix has
evolved
- how our ways of worship
have changed
Then we must:Celebrate the reality of the
multicultural nature of the Church that we belong to and the society we now live in.
How do we do this?
By providing opportunities for various cultures to share each culture by means of:- music- singing- drama- sharing language- preparing and eating special foods - shared worship in multicultural services
TWO
A place where all are welcomed
Offer a creative and inclusive environment
Within a multicultural church
• No church not culture should dominate
• Opportunities should be provided to EVERY church or culture to organise and lead and worship
The church’s style of ministry needs to remain broad enough to minister to all people and groups:
every • culture • colour • ethnicity • gender• theology• sexuality
THREEDemonstrate respect for each and all people and accept them for who they are.
How do we do this?
By • being sensitive to each person’s rights• avoiding any unkind or demeaning words• not making any cultural jokes about a particular culture• giving everyone equal opportunities to participate in conversations and activities
FOURGetting to Know, learn and understand the cultures of the people, their needs and expectations
How do we do this?
By including all cultures in our- school teams or groups- church activities- community support & pastoral teams- sports- choirs or orchestras- prayers for other peoples of the world
FIVEDifferent stripes: seek diversity in leadership
How do we do this?
By • encouraging all cultural groups to offer their skills and experiences to leadership roles• providing training opportunities for all• ensuring fair processes for selection of leaders and representatives• support those in leadership roles to give their best
FIVE: Conclusion
In today’s New Zealand, with
expanding diversity, the multicultural
church is the church which has the best
opportunity to represent God’s vision.