Lutheran, UCC Social Ministry Leaders Say 'Diversity Works'

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Diversity Works: Developing Cross-Cultural Competencies for Effective Ministry" was the theme for The Forum 2000 here Nov. 2-3. About 70 leaders of faith-based health and human services discussed the cultural diversity of the people they serve, as well as the diversity and cultural awareness necessary in their workplaces.
Lutheran Services in America (LSA) and the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM) of the United Church of Christ (UCC) sponsored Forum 2000. LSA is an alliance of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and their 280 social ministry organizations.
About half of the participants came from UCC-related agencies, one sixth from Lutheran agencies, and one third from Lutheran-UCC jointly related agencies. They included board members and executive officers, as well as personnel, church relations and other staff.
"The forum was designed to provide an opportunity for faith-based health and human service providers to engage with one another on the subject of cross-cultural competency," said Ruth A. Reko, LSA director for leadership services, ELCA Division for Church in Society.
Three plenary speakers answered the question, "What do faith values have to do with diversity work?"
The Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, executive director, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries, Chicago, remembered growing up at a time and place where segregation was legal. The church and its agencies reflected that attitude, she said. "There was a huge gap between their creeds and their deeds ... mission statements and mission activities."
Bullock said her parents taught her to value and respect all people. "This was a faith value rooted in their Christian faith" based on "the creed where Christians confess that God is the creator of all things in heaven and earth," she said. "This faith value reminds us that we are inextricably tied together by virtue of our creation."
People have worked hard to deny those ties, said Bullock, limiting others' opportunities, demonizing the other and building barriers to keep others out. It will take even harder work "to embrace our diversity in the workplace and live in a mutually participatory relationship," she said.
"I am convinced that, as we embrace diversity in the workplace, we will do well to have more compassion for people than we have passion for programs," said Bullock. "The highest faith value is love."
The Rev. Lorenz W. Lutey, director for training and development, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Wheaton, retold the biblical story of Jesus' encounter with a gentile woman. Jesus was raised in a Jewish home, Lutey said, where "gentile" meant "stranger."
Lutey recalled the rules he taught his own daughters about strangers: Never talk to strangers. Never accept candy from strangers. Never go anywhere with a stranger.
Jesus' experience with the gentile woman reshaped those values, said Lutey. "She was a stranger. We know her, don't we? I do."
Lutey cited examples of people who seem "strange" and come looking for employment. He encouraged conference participants to "create an environment in your workplace that ... treats everyone with respect and justice" and told them such an environment "must be shared by example from the leadership, throughout."
"In the workplace where diversity works, no one is a stranger," said Lutey. "Jesus came here even for the strangers ... even those who are strangers for us."
Dr. Julia M. Speller, assistant professor of church history, Chicago Theological Seminary, recalled a proverb of the Bantu people of West Africa: "Those who never visit think mother is the only cook." She used it to illustrate how people who never look beyond the familiar miss many of the world's and God's opportunities.
Jesus' command to teach all nations meant crossing geographic and cultural borders, said Speller. She said the workplace must cultivate and sustain "cross-cultural competencies" among the employers, employees and trustees.
Speller had three pieces of advice for leaders of social ministry organizations. She said, "Name and eliminate the barriers that prevent diversity, cultivate attitudes that honor diversity, and create policies and procedures that will invite and support ongoing diversity."
"As overwhelming as it may seem, this task is not something we must do alone," said Speller. An advantage that faith-based organizations have over similar secular agencies is the ability to work together and to trust in the power of the Holy Spirit, she said.
Forum participants attended two of six seminars: + Removing the "Glass Ceiling" + Starting from the Top Down: Increasing Board Diversity + Building Cross-Cultural Competencies Among Staff + How to Establish and Develop Your Employee Diversity Training Program + Honoring Religious Diversity in Faith-Based Organizations + Developing Personnel Policies and Practices for a Diverse Workforce
The workshops were meant to help social ministry leaders "address the key issues facing their own organizations in the broad area of diversity," said Reko. "Leadership development, board recruitment, policy development and staff training were identified as hot topics," she said.
Participants toured Uhlich Children's Home, a member agency of the Council for Health & Human Service Ministries. St. Pauls German Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chicago, established the home in 1869 out of concern for children left orphaned by the Civil War. The congregation is now St. Pauls United Church of Christ, and the home is related to the UCC.
Uhlich cares for Chicago's neglected, abused and troubled children through an array of services: community-based counseling programs, professional and volunteer programs, residential programs, teen parenting services and the Uhlich Academy.
The Rev. Janet Hisbon, chaplain and director of pastoral care, Lifelink Corporation, Bensenville, Ill., and Margaret Wise, chaplain, St. Paul's House and Health Care Center, Chicago, served as chaplains for the forum, providing opening and closing devotions.

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