Intercultural Ministry Separate No More

Intercultural Advisory Committee Present Today Robert Jackson Nadine Monn Pastor Dennis Webb Rubén Deoleo, Intercultural Ministries Director Jonathan Shively, CLM Executive Director Remaining Members Founa Augustine Barbara Daté Pastor Thomas Dowdy Pastor Marisel Olivencia Pastor Gilbert Romero

Our Journeys Robert Jackson Nadine Monn Pastor Dennis Webb Rubén Deoleo

Consultation Purpose Healing and support “Sacred space” for face-to-face relationship-building Education and invitation for denomination to grow together in our diversity

Mission Statement We are called to enrich and strengthen the Church of the Brethren by our unity as people of all colors, modeling for the larger church the blessings of being one as God’s people. Adopted October 2000 Revised February 2010

Consultation Years and Sites 1997: Pleasantdale CoB, Decatur, IN 1998: Annual Conference, Orlando, FL 1999: First Central CoB, Kansas City, KS 2000: Mack Memorial CoB, Dayton, OH 2001: Pomona Fellowship, Pomona, CA 2002: Germantown CoB, Philadelphia, PA 2003: Camp Ithiel, Orlando, FL 2004: Iglesia Castañer, Castañer, PR

Consultation Years and Sites 2005: Bethany Seminary, Richmond, IN 2006: Lancaster CoB, Lancaster, PA 2007: New Windsor, New Windsor, MD 2008: National Offices, Elgin, IL 2009: Miami Hatian & First CoBs, Miami, FL 2010: Camp Harmony, Hooversville, PA 2011: His Way CoB, Hendersonville, NC

Pivotal Events 1996 Denominational Redesign 1998 Annual Conference in Orlando

First Consultation October 1999 in Kansas City, KS: Tone of gathering was fearful and bitter General Board had not treated them fairly with redesign CoB in the US did not want to include people of color or who spoke different languages

First Consultation Outcomes: Hold future events to unify across ethnic groups Nominate qualified individuals to AC Nominating Committee Provide events on themes of leadership development, creative fundraising, and church planting and growth

12 Years of History Significant milestones Lessons learned

Separate No More Paper Approved by 2007 AC Recommendations for: Denomination Districts Congregations Individuals/Families

IDI Survey Results “The assessment indicates that more than 90% of those surveyed tend to engage cultural difference using their own cultural lens (i.e., a monoculture lens). Specifically, 2/3 of the respondents utilize a posture that minimizes cultural differences.”

IDI Survey Results

October 2009 Meeting Majority of committee met face-to-face First time in many years Shared our personal histories in CoB New possibilities for national events!

What We Hear Today Affirming to see many Anglos join us for AC luncheon Wish more Anglos could join us for consultation Seek more invitations for full participation in the CoB Sense the CoB’s search for radical change

What We Hear Today All called to be members of CoB Bring relevant “New Testament” opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ work in the membership Help CoB be vibrant and intentionally growing into a more inclusive and fully intercultural church

What We Hear Today Looking to our history, we see slow progress Looking at the data, we most often feel discouraged Are hopeful Through all this, our love for one another strengthens each of us, and the Spirit of God helps us to remain hopeful and to support one another.

Questions for Reflection Assuming we, the COB, want to increase denomination-wide attendance at Annual Conference, how might the annual theme, schedule, format, and workshops be revised in a way that affirms common goals across cultures and invites the unique God-given gifts of each and all?

Questions for Reflection How can we plant new congregations in non-traditional settings and locales and strengthen the existing congregations in a way that integrates diverse cultures successfully into the CoB?

Questions for Reflection To which and/or how many of the following might we want to dedicate financial and other resources in order to facilitate growth in a culturally responsive manner for and among laity and clergy: mentoring, training, educational materials, etc.?

Questions for Reflection How will the Mission and Ministry Board lead the Church of the Brethren toward the intercultural vision expressed in Separate No More, the statement on becoming an intercultural church adopted by Annual Conference in 2007?

Questions for Reflection How can the denomination, Bethany, districts, and congregations be more proactive in utilizing technology (e.g. social networking sites, webcasts like the 2009 consultation in Miami, etc.)?

Questions for Reflection Should we or how can we make the same commitment to intercultural churches in the U.S.A. as we make to overseas missions (Sudan, Nigeria, India, Brazil, Dominican Republic, and Haiti)?

Future Direction Rubén Deoleo Intercultural Ministries Director

2010 Consultation Join us! April 22-24, 2010: Camp Harmony in Hooversville, PA (Western PA District) Registration open through March 26.