Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

Picturing Theology, Revised Edition | 365

Development workers have a unique interest in empowering groups that have been marginalized, oppressed or neglected by the larger society. This will frequently involve working with groups or individuals that are distinct from the dominant culture. Development work will effectively empower immigrants, unassimilated people groups, or people who have been victimized by race or class discrimination, only if it understands and respects the cultural distinctives of these groups. Finally, development workers must prepare people to live and work in a pluralistic society. Learning how to successfully relate to customers and co workers from other cultures has become a key component of job training. Although development work must start with the cultural context of those being assisted, it must also enable those workers to respect other cultures and to successfully work in the larger society. Implications • Development workers should understand the culture(s) and sub-culture(s) of the people they work with. Development workers should, first of all, gain a basic understanding of the nature of human culture and of strategies for developing effective cross-cultural training relationships. 7 They should gain the fundamental skills necessary for working in the cross-cultural environment (language acquisition, etc.). It is highly desirable for the development worker to have a mentor either from the culture or who is an experienced observer of the culture to assist in the training process. • The work environment should be functionally appropriate and aesthetically pleasing when viewed from the perspective of the culture(s) that work or do business there. All human cultures desire environments that combine functionality with beauty. There is significant variation, however, in how beauty and functionality are defined, prioritized, and applied from one culture to another. The physical environment in which the development project occurs should take cultural concerns into account. • Development workers should be sensitive to how conflict is handled by the culture of the people they work among. Conflict is an inevitable part of working together. It can be a healthy opportunity for growth if handled correctly. Cultural differences, however, can sabotage the process of conflict management. The development worker must take cultural attitudes toward directness/ 7 Basic resources for gaining an understanding of culture include The Missionary and Culture (Cornett 1991), Beyond Culture (Hall 1976), Christianity Confronts Culture (Mayers 1974), Ministering Cross-Culturally (Lingenfelter and Mayers 1986) and Cross-Cultural Conflicts: Building Relationships for Effective Ministry (Elmer 1993).