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