Evaluates cultural competence as a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together and are translated into specific standards, policies, practices, and attitudes used in appropriate cultural settings to increase the quality of ministry. Students will assess the effectiveness of operating in different cultural contexts beyond knowledge, sensitivity, and awareness through the use of creative arts therapies.
The course provides an examination of cultural competence as separate and distinct from “cultural diversity” or “cultural sensitivity.” It asserts that cultural competence goes beyond mere awareness and focuses on the actual effectiveness of working with various cultures. While the aim of “diversity training” was knowledge of other cultures and the goal of “sensitivity training” was not to offend others, the goal of “competence” aims to consciously achieve effectiveness while working with others. The course requires the student to both apply methods of cultural competence within creative art therapies and assess their own level of cultural competence. Cross cultural skils applied within creative art therapies will be a valuable and transferable skill for any student who takes the course.
This course goes beyond the cultural diversity training and cultural sensitivity training of previous generations. It provides the latest approach in working with other cultures by assessing the effectiveness of cross cultural interactions, a skill that is of the utmost importance in personal ministry. Course concepts will be examined specifically through the lens of creative arts therapy, which is a very effective cross-cultural intervention in and of itself.
This course will rest on verses in the Bible that talk about being effective (e.g., 1 Peter 1:8, 1 Corinthians 11, James 5:16).
This course will be missional in that it will require students to consider what is effective ministry. There is no point in ministry if it is ineffective.
This course will examine the use of creative arts therapy within the context of cross-cultural competency, and also require students to evaluate their own effectiveness in the context of various cultures.
This course will be intercultural by nature, as it will deal directly with how students work with various cultures.
The course is practical in that it addresses the most up-to-date approach on working with other cultures, surpassing cultural diversity training and cultural sensitivity training of previous generations. It will equip students to assess their effectiveness, which is practical and valuable in today’s society.
Creative arts, by nature and definition, is an experiential medium. Students will be equipped to take the lessons learned from the course and apply them directly in their church or missionary assignments.
