Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 1-1-2018 Key Components of a Culturally Relevant Multiethnic Church Model Pablo Morales [email protected] This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Morales, Pablo, "Key Components of a Culturally Relevant Multiethnic Church Model" (2018). Doctor of Ministry. 260. http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/260 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY KEY COMPONENTS OF A CULTURALLY RELEVANT MULTIETHNIC CHURCH MODEL A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF PORTLAND SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY PABLO MORALES PORTLAND, OREGON MARCH 2018 Portland Seminary George Fox University Portland, Oregon CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ________________________________ DMin Dissertation ________________________________ This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of Pablo Morales has been approved by the Dissertation Committee on February 14, 2018 for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Global Perspectives. Dissertation Committee: Primary Advisor: Clifford Berger, DMin Secondary Advisor: Sarita Gallagher, PhD Lead Mentor: Jason Clark, DMin Copyright © 2018 by Pablo Morales All rights reserved Contents Illustrations ........................................................................................................................ iv Abstract ...............................................................................................................................v Introduction ....................................................................................................................... vi Section I. A Rationale for a Multiethnic Church Model Chapter 1. The Need for a Multiethnic Church Model .................................................2 The Ministry Problem ..............................................................................................2 The Ethnos Bible Church Story ..............................................................................2 The Ethnos Bible Church Demographic Context ...................................................5 Two Ecclesiastical Approaches to Ethnic Diversity ...............................................9 A Case for Pursuing a Multiethnic Church Model ...............................................13 Conclusion ............................................................................................................18 Chapter 2. A Biblical Rationale for a Multiethnic Church Model .............................19 Diversity in First-Century Palestine ......................................................................19 Segregation in First-Century Palestine .................................................................22 Segregation in the Early Church ...........................................................................26 A Theological Framework to Counteract Segregation .........................................36 Four Key Components of a Multiethnic Church Model .......................................48 Conclusion ............................................................................................................51 i Section II. Components of a Culturally Relevant Multiethnic Church Model Chapter 3. First Component: Counteract Segregation ...............................................53 My Personal Story .................................................................................................54 Race and Segregation ............................................................................................58 Slavery and Segregation .......................................................................................68 Gender and Segregation ........................................................................................75 Conclusion ............................................................................................................81 Chapter 4. Second Component: Cultivate an Identity of Inclusion ...........................82 Thematic Elements in the American Narrative of Segregation ............................82 Cultivate Acceptance: Treat People as Fellow Human Beings ............................85 Cultivate Validation: Acknowledge People’s Pain .............................................. 91 Cultivate Engagement: Value People’s Contribution ........................................... 97 Cultivate Transcendence: Prioritize Heavenly Citizenship ................................ 102 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................107 Chapter 5. Third Component: Implement a Multilingual Platform ........................109 The Need for a Multilingual Ministry .................................................................109 U.S. Reactions to Immigration and Multilingualism ..........................................114 A Case for Multilingualism as a Ministry Strategy ............................................117 Understanding the Relationship Between Language and Identity ......................127 Understanding Multilingual Systems ..................................................................135 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................143 ii Chapter 6. Fourth Component: Form a Multiethnic and Culturally Intelligent Leadership Team ..........................................................................................................144 Qualities of an Effective Leadership Team .........................................................144 Two Traits of Effective Teamwork .....................................................................150 Benefits and Disadvantages of a Multicultural Leadership Team .................... 152 Strategies for Leading a Multicultural Leadership Team ...................................156 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................162 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................163 Appendices .....................................................................................................................166 A: ROUTE 352: The Unique Journey of the Multiethnic Church .......................166 B: An Anatomy of Segregation ...........................................................................175 C: Reinforcing an Identity of Inclusion through Worship ...................................178 D: Ten Cultural Differences in Multicultural Teamwork ....................................184 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................188 iii Illustrations Tables 2.1 An Anatomy of Segregation 35................................................................................................................................ 2.2 A Theological Framework to Counteract Segregation ...................................48 4.1 Narratives Comparison ...................................................................................83 Figures 1.1 A Comparison of Texas Demographics from 1960 to 2010 .............................8 3.1 An Overview of Slavery and Racial Segregation in the United States ...........75 3.2 An Overview of Women Exclusion in the United States ...............................80 5.1 Language and Religion Ideology (LRI) ........................................................131 5.2 Generational Assimilation Scale ...................................................................134 5.3 Multilingual Systems .....................................................................................136 5.4 Scale of Desired Integration (SDI) ...............................................................137 5.5 Understanding Multilingual Systems .............................................................138 5.6 Graduating Inclusion (GI) .............................................................................140 6.1 Spectrum of Six Cultural Values ..................................................................156 iv ABSTRACT The increasing ethnic and lingual diversity of the City of Richardson in north Texas is a microcosm of a social trend observed in the United States and around the globe. This demographic shift has propelled Ethnos Bible Church to pursue a multiethnic church model, yet, Ethnos does not understand the unique components of a culturally relevant multiethnic church. Therefore, this dissertation seeks to answer one question: What are the key components that Ethnos Bible Church needs to implement in order to cultivate a culturally relevant multiethnic church poised for ministry impact? This research reveals that although the current degree of ethnic diversity in the United States is unprecedented, the multiethnic church model is not a contemporary phenomenon. Rather, it is rooted in the early church. Based on biblical, theological, sociological, and linguistic studies, this research identifies and analyzes four key components in the ministry of