CHICAGO (ELCA) -- About 45 leaders of faith-based health and human-service organizations discussed the cultural diversity of the people they serve, as well as the diversity and cultural awareness necessary in their workplaces. "Diversity Works: Developing Cross-Cultural Competencies for Effective Ministry" was the theme for The Forum 2001 here Nov. 16.
Lutheran Services in America (LSA), the American Baptist Homes and Hospitals Association, and the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries of the United Church of Christ (UCC) sponsored the day of worship, seminars and discussions. Participants represented Baptist, Lutheran and UCC agencies -- about half from offices in the Chicago area.
"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, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Church in Society. Cross-cultural competency is an organization's ability to employ and serve people of various cultures. A similar forum was held in November 2000.
"This year the focus was on the stakeholders who receive service from our agencies and institutions -- how we honor differences and support the development of culturally sensitive responses to their needs," said Reko.
LSA is the largest human-service network in the United States and Caribbean. Its nearly 300 social ministry organizations, in alliance with the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, form a national network of hospital, social service and long-term care programs, providing $6.9 billion in services in 3,000 communities each year.
One of those social ministry organizations is Lutheran Family Mission, Chicago. Nya Berry, executive director, and Emmett T. Vaughn, board chair, presented a seminar on "The Role of Governance in Evaluating Community Assets and Constituent Needs."
"We have to define our market and build our strategy around that," said Berry. Using traditional business models, she said human-service agencies can better meet the needs of their communities.
It's not unusual for social ministry organizations to address the needs in their communities by starting more programs and taking on more projects, said Vaughn. "We tend to get into more of what we know how to do," he said, needing more money to serve the same group of people.
Vaughn suggested adopting a business model to "get all the junk out of our way." Focus on running a few programs well, stop competing with other agencies, and look at the business of human services through a "diversity lens," he said.
The Rev. Jerry A. Wagenknecht, senior vice president for spirituality and health, Advocate Health Care, Oak Brook, Ill., is an ELCA pastor. He presented a seminar on "Exploring Ways That Church- Related Organizations Might Best Meet the Spiritual Needs of Persons Who Don't Share Our Faith."
"Lutheran" identity has been a concern for Lutheran social ministry organizations that serve only a few Lutherans and have only a few Lutherans on staff, said Wagenknecht. The agencies have maintained their Christian mission, while serving the spiritual needs of those who are not Christian, he said. Spirituality is the common ground of the various religions of the United States, he said.
"There is a growing concern about the issue of diversity exploding around us, and we will have to deal with it," said Wagenknecht. "Don't embark on this issue unless you are prepared for dialogue with all kinds of interesting dimensions," he said, warning participants that some Christians view welcoming people of other faiths as compromising their own faith.
Other seminars were held on: + Strengthening Public Relations and Public Policy Efforts + Recruiting and Developing a Governing Board More Reflective of Our Client Population + Preparing for a Future in Which Management Reflects Client Diversity + Cultural Competency Training in Faith-based Health and Human Service Organizations
Stephanie Spencer, program associate for Southern Asia, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Cleveland, offered a plenary session on "Helping Us Understand Islam."
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
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Candice Hill Buchbinder
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Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
