Last week, Geoff Holsclaw offered the first in a 4-part series on “The Scandal of the Evangelical Memory.” Many of the sentiments he offered there (and will offer in forthcoming posts) undergird the impetus for and ethos of Missio Alliance. That is, among other things, we seek to offer a “space” in which those of various “evangelical persuasions” might connect, share, listen to, learn from, sharpen, collaborate, and otherwise engage one another around shared questions, interests, and issues facing us in mission.
But reclaiming memory, necessary as it is, is only one part of the equation. As we look back, another, equally vital, part of the equation of faithfully navigating a rapidly changing North American context together is looking forward to a new future marked by new realities, challenges, and opportunities. On that horizon, one of the issues that seems to loom largest is the increasingly multi-cultural makeup of North American evangelicalism.
On that subject, we’d like to offer up this workshop led by Leroy Barber, Executive Director of Word Made Flesh and Gary Nelson, President of Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Ontario. Their presentations and the discussion they facilitate provide important touch-points for those interested in and seeking to engage mission from a multi-cultural perspective.
At the same time, we’d like to host a conversation on this subject – one that we think many are interested in and world benefit from…
What does “multi-cultural mission” look like in you context? What are you learning and who are you learning from as your encounter this issue and reality?
Workshop Description:
In days gone by, “missions” was premised on one culture (primarily Western) seeking to reach another culture (non-Western). Today however, there are fewer and fewer Western contexts that are not in and of themselves multicultural. In other words, the “borders” which once guided our perspectives and the work of “missions” are vanishing and questions remain as to how helpful they were to begin with.
This workshop will feature theological perspectives and experiential insights on what it might mean and look like for the Church in North America to grapple with its increasingly marginal and multicultural context. We will also discuss hindrances and opportunities for multi-ethnic missions.
The audio download of this workshop is available HERE and is available for free all day today, 9/9/13 (discount automatically applied when you add the workshop to your cart).
If you find resources like this helpful, there are many more available here. You might even want to grab a bundle all at the same time.
Missio Alliance Comment Policy
The Missio Alliance Writing Collectives exist as a ministry of writing to resource theological practitioners for mission. From our Leading Voices to our regular Writing Team and those invited to publish with us as Community Voices, we are creating a space for thoughtful engagement of critical issues and questions facing the North American Church in God’s mission. This sort of thoughtful engagement is something that we seek to engender not only in our publishing, but in conversations that unfold as a result in the comment section of our articles.
Unfortunately, because of the relational distance introduced by online communication, “thoughtful engagement” and “comment sections” seldom go hand in hand. At the same time, censorship of comments by those who disagree with points made by authors, whose anger or limited perspective taints their words, or who simply feel the need to express their own opinion on a topic without any meaningful engagement with the article or comment in question can mask an important window into the true state of Christian discourse. As such, Missio Alliance sets forth the following suggestions for those who wish to engage in conversation around our writing:
1. Seek to understand the author’s intent.
If you disagree with something the an author said, consider framing your response as, “I hear you as saying _________. Am I understanding you correctly? If so, here’s why I disagree. _____________.
2. Seek to make your own voice heard.
We deeply desire and value the voice and perspective of our readers. However you may react to an article we publish or a fellow commenter, we encourage you to set forth that reaction is the most constructive way possible. Use your voice and perspective to move conversation forward rather than shut it down.
3. Share your story.
One of our favorite tenants is that “an enemy is someone whose story we haven’t heard.” Very often disagreements and rants are the result of people talking past rather than to one another. Everyone’s perspective is intimately bound up with their own stories – their contexts and experiences. We encourage you to couch your comments in whatever aspect of your own story might help others understand where you are coming from.
In view of those suggestions for shaping conversation on our site and in an effort to curate a hospitable space of open conversation, Missio Alliance may delete comments and/or ban users who show no regard for constructive engagement, especially those whose comments are easily construed as trolling, threatening, or abusive.