Intercultural Ministries hosts workshop ‘Why Can’t They See What I See?’

By Founa A. Badet

Church of the Brethren Intercultural Ministries is inviting you to an online workshop held via Zoom on the topic, “Why Can’t They See What I See?” The event is scheduled for Feb. 7 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. (Eastern time). The event will feature professor Jonathan Kim of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

This short seminar looks into what is going on when people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds come and work together. Building trusting and cooperative relationships enhances work effectiveness and increases the team’s likelihood of success. However, perceptions of what constitutes a good working relationship may vary among multicultural team members.

In other words, perceptions of what it means to build trust and how to do so may differ from person to person, depending on their linguistic and cultural practices. It is our human tendency to see things from our own perspective. Unless we make an intentional effort, it is quite challenging to see from another person’s perspective. One’s perspective adds challenges in an intercultural ministry setting, since each person brings her/his own perceptions to a specific conflict, shaped by linguistic and cultural background.