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Welcoming Immigrantsand
Advocating for Partners’ Interests
November 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 TiesEcclesiological AffinitiesTheological 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’ Interests
November 20, 2008Mutuality of Mission Event