Transcultural Experiences
Revised February 15, 2008
Each student in the Master of Divinity program at United Seminary must complete an approved transcultural experience. This is a component of the Contextual Education Intercultural Program.
The primary purpose of the Transcultural Program is to provide each student with another perspective from which to view his or her ministry.
Transcultural Experience trips for Summer 2008
Chicago, Illinois | Lowell, Massachusetts | Vietnam and Cambodia
Chicago: SCUPE M 302 Cross Cultural Ministry Intensive
Map of Illinois compiled from maps at the National Atlas of the United States; used with permission.
When: June 2-6, 9-23, 2008 (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily)
Instructor: Cynthia Milsap
Cost: Approximately $1,000 plus room and board, and transportation to/from Chicago
What: Using the city as a multicultural global laboratory, this two-week intensive:
- Provides a practical theology for ministry in a multicultural context
- Engages biblical study of the early church’s struggle with cultural barriers
- Encourages respect and appreciation of world-views and value systems different for one’s own
- Offers anti-racism training
- Building skills in movement and communication across cultural divides
- Exposes students directly to a wide variety of ministries in diverse cultural settings
Lowell, Massachusetts: Eliot Presbyterian Church
Map of Massachusetts compiled from maps at the National Atlas of the United States; used with permission.
When: June 14-24, 2008
Instructor: Edward C. (Ted) Zaragoza, pastor of Eliot Presbyterian Church and former Associate Professor of Church History at United
Assisting: Thysan Sam, Cambodian Parish Associate and Gerson Roca, Director of Brazilian Ministries
Cost: $1,500/person plus transportation to/from Lowell
What: Eliot is a multicultural church; the congregation consists of Africans, Anglos, Brazilians, Cambodians, Hispanics, African-Americans, and Taiwanese. This transcultural immersion will focus on the people of Eliot who have come from around the world to find a home in this family of God.
Together we will experience and reflect theologically about:
- Models for multicultural ministry
- How current attitudes and laws affect real immigrants
- Ways of practicing multicultural worship
- Styles of pastoral leadership for power-sharing and joint decision-making
- On-going problems with paternalism in the larger church
- Understanding the differences among assimilation, integration, and separation
Students will:
- Ponder: “Who are you culturally and what are your biases about the church?”
- Lead worship
- Meet with leaders of our major cultural groups
- Visit with the disadvantaged and homeless at our St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen
- Participate in Brazilian worship
- Enjoy a “pot luck supper” with the congregation
- Discuss immigrant issues with local advocacy groups
- And much more!
Vietnam and Cambodia
Map of Vietnam and Cambodia compiled from The World Factbook; used with permission.
When: July 3-16, 2008
Instructor: Dr. Andrew Sung Park, Professor of Theology at United and Rev. Terry Heck, pastor of Bellbrook United Methodist Church in Dayton, OH
Cost: $2,700; includes transportation, lodging, and meals
What: The group will leave the U.S. on July 3 and fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Dr. Andrew Sung Park will teach the Vietnamese pastors July 7-11 while United students travel to ministry sites to learn how the United Methodist Church is developing in Vietnam. The students may also have an opportunity to help with the training of the pastors. The group will then travel to Cambodia on July 12 and spend three days there seeing mission sites and Ankor Wat.
Contact Persons: Terry Heck, pastor@bellbrookumc.org, and Elizabeth Rand, deaconliz@englewoodconcord.com of the West Ohio Conference, United Methodist Church