Explores 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. Examines 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. The course addresses achieving this competence through a discussion of the methods of cultural competence from the lens of creative arts therapies. 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. 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 are examined specifically through the lens of creative arts therapy, which is a very effective cross-cultural intervention in and of itself.
This course rests on verses in the Bible that talk about being effective (e.g., 1 Peter 1:8, 1 Corinthians 11, James 5:16).
This course is missional in that it requires students to consider what is effective ministry. There is no point in ministry if it is ineffective.
This course examines 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 is intercultural by nature, as it deals 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 equips 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 are equipped to take the lessons learned from the course and apply them directly in their church or ministry assignments.
