Leading Intercultural Ministries Webinar
Monday, July 22 @ 5PM Pacific Time via Zoom
A dialogue between Dr. Brian Leander, BST’s Director of Intercultural Leadership, and Rev. Dr. Angie Barker Jackson, VP Institutional Advancement. Together, they will review the program and address your questions.
A graduate leadership certificate program designed for faith-based ministry and community leaders who prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in their organizations.
The Leading Intercultural Ministries program prepares participants for roles that emphasize inclusive leadership. The goal of the program is to provide leaders with the necessary awareness, knowledge, skills, and experience to provide effective intercultural leadership.
Background
Current trends suggest that a significant number of faith-based ministry and community organizations are overcoming the limiting effects of racial conflict, prejudice, and discrimination. Intercultural ministries, despite the challenges they face, while addressing the inevitable conflicts between different people groups, are some of the fastest-growing Christian ministries in the United States.
What is an Intercultural Ministry?
An intercultural ministry fosters understanding and unity among diverse cultural groups within a faith community. It emphasizes inclusivity, celebrating cultural diversity through shared worship, education, and service. This ministry aims to build bridges, promote mutual respect, and enrich spiritual experiences by embracing and integrating various cultural traditions and perspectives.
Motivated by biblical mandates for reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21) and justice (Mic. 6:8) an intercultural ministry participates in God’s mission to redeem people from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue (Rev. 7:9). In these ministries, members and leaders promote value and respect for perceived and actual differences between a wide variety of people, work to intentionally share leadership among the diverse constituents present and seek to participate in meaningful life experiences together.
Motivated by biblical mandates for reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21) and justice (Mic. 6:8) as they participate in God’s mission to redeem people from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue (Rev. 7:9), these churches express value for diversity in their vision and mission, ministry and leadership practices, communal life and worship, and community engagement. In these organizations, members and leaders promote value and respect for perceived and actual differences between a wide variety of people, work to intentionally share leadership among the diverse constituents present and seek to participate in meaningful intercultural life together.
Rationale
As the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion further take hold in the United States, there will be a greater need for competent intercultural leaders. As with many other examples of effective leadership, leaders of intercultural ministries must practice and preach what they believe about the inclusion of all kinds of people in keeping with their mission.
Program Participants
Each year a cohort of 15 participants will begin the three-phase, nine-month-long learning and development program followed by the completion of a capstone project.
Eligibility
Applicants should meet the following qualifications:
- Interest in developing intercultural leadership competencies with peers
- Possess an undergraduate degree or higher
- Have expressed support of their organization’s leadership
Women and people of color will be strongly encouraged to apply. Scholarships are available.
Learning Objectives
The learning objectives of this program follow a “be, know, and do” approach to leader learning and development as follows:
Phase 1: Personal Development
The personal development process includes self-awareness, goal setting, continuous learning, and practical experience. It focuses on developing critical thinking, Cultural intelligence, communication skills, and decision-making abilities, empowering individuals to lead with confidence, integrity, and vision.
Phase 2: Leadership Development
Applying leadership principles to increase participants’ leadership capital (knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with formal leadership roles).
Phase 3: Organizational Leadership
Setting shared strategic goals for a ministry while including, motivating, and inspiring individuals within the group to become active participants in the process.
Logistics
Leading Intercultural Ministries uses an interactive method for leadership development based on a collaborative style of learning to address a range of characteristics, competencies, skills, and practices. The cohort of fifteen participants will meet in a concurrent hybrid format (via Zoom and in person at the BST campus) once a month for nine months supported by weekly engagement with learning material (articles, books, video, etc.) and facilitated online discussions. The curriculum and schedule take into consideration the busy lives of participants; therefore, the program consists of:
- One group session (4 hours) per month, in person or online (if the participant lives beyond a reasonable commute to Berkeley)
- Full access to the BST’s library resources (includes extensive electronic resources)
- Facilitated online discussion forums
- Professional mentoring
- Webinars that supplement on-site learning
- Case studies to reinforce learning outcomes and enhance the learning experience
- Networking sessions with program faculty and guests
Work and learn with our outstanding faculty and develop new colleagues!
Sept 2024 start date —(specific meeting dates TBD)
Cost and Credit
- 6 credit hours
- Certificate at the end
- Tuition $4500
- Scholarships available
Faculty
- Rev. Dr. A Brian Leander
- Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri
- Rev. Dr. Valerie Miles-Tribble
One of the Most Interculturally Diverse Seminaries in the Country
Since our founding 150 years ago, the core values of soul freedom, service leadership, social justice, public witness, religious liberty, and the centrality of the Word (written and spoken) still guide and sustain BST to this day. These Jesus-centered values, rooted in our inclusive inter-cultural heritage, have made BST an attractive school for students of many faith and denominational affiliations.
Here you will truly enter a spiritual “world-house” of teaching and learning, with a world-class faculty and students from every habitable continent on earth.
