Several 2005 delegates asked for clarification of the terminology the committee considered and uses. For the purposes of the committee's work, "cultural" groups refer to ethnic/racial cultures.
Cross-cultural: Potentially limited to one cultural group seeking understanding of and relationship with another. The second culture may not see these efforts as a mutual relationship.
Multi-cultural: Potentially two or more cultural groups on parallel paths seeking understanding of each other, but not necessarily relationships with one another.
Intercultural: Two or more cultural groups seeking a mutual understanding of and relationship with one another.
The Intercultural Study Committee sees mutuality in relationship as the key to a faithful response to the two queries.
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2 comments:
From a strictly Christian perspective, keeping our focus on the cross can't be bad. Thus, a Cross-cultural terminology is desirable, since Christ
removed all barriers when he died on the cross and shed his blood which we all now share. He broke down the barriers which we as humans fight so hard to put back. Yet when we find ourselves under the cross of Christ, we weep and embrace whoever is there crying with us. Yes, I know this only really works in English, but its a thought.
This distinction between cross-cultural, multi-cultural and intgercultural is helpful. I have always seen the words as interchangable. These definitions help clarify the discussion and may help avoid misunderstandings.
Thank you.
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