wfn.org | Lutheran, UCC, Baptist Service Leaders Discuss Diversity

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 26, 2001

LUTHERAN, UCC, BAPTIST SERVICE LEADERS DISCUSS DIVERSITY
01-303-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- About 45 leaders of faith-based health and
human-service organizations discussed the cultural diversity of the
people they serve, as well as the diversity and cultural awareness
necessary in their workplaces.  "Diversity Works: Developing
Cross-Cultural Competencies for Effective Ministry" was the theme for
The Forum 2001 here Nov. 16.
     Lutheran Services in America (LSA), the American Baptist Homes and
Hospitals Association, and the Council for Health and Human Service
Ministries of the United Church of Christ (UCC) sponsored the day of
worship, seminars and discussions.  Participants represented Baptist,
Lutheran and UCC agencies -- about half from offices in the Chicago
area.
     "The forum was designed to provide an opportunity for faith-based
health and human-service providers to engage with one another on the
subject of cross-cultural competency," said Ruth A. Reko, LSA director
for leadership services, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Division for Church in Society.  Cross-cultural competency is an
organization's ability to employ and serve people of various cultures.
A similar forum was held in November 2000.
     "This year the focus was on the stakeholders who receive service
from our agencies and institutions -- how we honor differences and
support the development of culturally sensitive responses to their
needs," said Reko.
     LSA is the largest human-service network in the United States and
Caribbean.  Its nearly 300 social ministry organizations, in alliance
with the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, form a national
network of hospital, social service and long-term care programs,
providing $6.9 billion in services in 3,000 communities each year.
     One of those social ministry organizations is Lutheran Family
Mission, Chicago.  Nya Berry, executive director, and Emmett T. Vaughn,
board chair, presented a seminar on "The Role of Governance in
Evaluating Community Assets and Constituent Needs."
     "We have to define our market and build our strategy around that,"
said Berry.  Using traditional business models, she said human-service
agencies can better meet the needs of their communities.
     It's not unusual for social ministry organizations to address the
needs in their communities by starting more programs and taking on more
projects, said Vaughn.  "We tend to get into more of what we know how to
do," he said, needing more money to serve the same group of people.
     Vaughn suggested adopting a business model to "get all the junk
out of our way."  Focus on running a few programs well, stop competing
with other agencies, and look at the business of human services through
a "diversity lens," he said.
     The Rev. Jerry A. Wagenknecht, senior vice president for
spirituality and health, Advocate Health Care, Oak Brook, Ill., is an
ELCA pastor.  He presented a seminar on "Exploring Ways That Church-
Related Organizations Might Best Meet the Spiritual Needs of Persons Who
Don't Share Our Faith."
     "Lutheran" identity has been a concern for Lutheran social
ministry organizations that serve only a few Lutherans and have only a
few Lutherans on staff, said Wagenknecht.  The agencies have maintained
their Christian mission, while serving the spiritual needs of those who
are not Christian, he said.  Spirituality is the common ground of the
various religions of the United States, he said.
     "There is a growing concern about the issue of diversity exploding
around us, and we will have to deal with it," said Wagenknecht.  "Don't
embark on this issue unless you are prepared for dialogue with all kinds
of interesting dimensions," he said, warning participants that some
Christians view welcoming people of other faiths as compromising their
own faith.
     Other seminars were held on:
 + Strengthening Public Relations and Public Policy Efforts
 + Recruiting and Developing a Governing Board More Reflective of Our
Client Population
 + Preparing for a Future in Which Management Reflects Client Diversity
 + Cultural Competency Training in Faith-based Health and Human Service
Organizations
     Stephanie Spencer, program associate for Southern Asia, Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Cleveland,
offered a plenary session on "Helping Us Understand Islam."

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