This module recognizes that in a diminishing world of instant communication and great population varieties, the gospel must “contextualize” into language, gestures, and institutional styles that access the message to those around us. Many of us live in multicultural environments and, if not, we still have responsibilities to the larger world that is fast outpacing our ability to evangelize it.
Furthermore, much of the emerging leadership of the Church is coming out of the two-thirds developing world, challenging historical assumptions, and offering fresh and new ways of seeing the gospel. How do we select and integrate the old with the new—patching wineskins or discarding them?
This module addresses models and varieties of communication, misfired messages, biblical insights into the nature of communication. It samples non-verbal communication forms and message systems. Furthermore, it alerts students to observe their own cultural context, their ministry sphere of influence, and their own personal communication styles, for strengths and weaknesses.
There are listed an extensive number of participatory exercises, primarily of a group nature, that are designed to create community and communication within the classroom.
A student who has completed this module should know extensively about communication theory and example, both biblically and contextually, and in terms of personal assets and deficiencies. He or she should be committed to delivering the message of the gospel, and all attendant messages with clarity and purpose. He or she should be an effective and efficient messenger of the Good News, and train persons around and under him or her to be the same.
This module contributes to the development of the following abilities as defined in the U.S. Sourcebook for Ministerial Development.
CP 1—Ability to communicate publicly through multiple methods (oral, written, media, etc.) with clarity and creativity for the sake of fostering meaning
CP 3—Ability to speak coherently and cogently in the modes of discourse appropriate for the various ministry contexts
CP 10—Ability to synthesize, analyze, reason logically for discernment, assessment, and problem solving, and live with ambiguity
CP 11—Ability to analyze the validity of arguments and to identify their presuppositions and consequences
CX 1—Ability to discover sociological dynamics and trends and to apply that information to specific ministry settings
CX 2—Ability to analyze and describe congregations and communities
CX 4—Ability to explain the operational culture
CX 5—Ability to describe and interpret the relationship between culture and individual behavior
CX 6—Ability to understand, appreciate, and work sensitively to explain the nature of cultures and subcultures
CX 7—Ability to identify and apply the principles of cross-cultural communications
CX 9—Ability to apply historical analysis to the life of a local congregation in order to describe its historical and cultural context