Intercultural Communication and Ecclesial Integration of African Americans - Research Paper Example

Religion and Theology 31st Dec., Intercultural Communication and Ecclesial Integration of African Americans This paper aims at giving a description of the process of ecclesial integration of African Americans in a shared parish. The paper begins with a brief outline of the history of African Americans in the United States; the paper then proceeds to give a brief explanation of the challenges that the African Americans face when encountering American Culture. The paper also gives an explanation of the values and distinctive features that this group contributes to the Church in America. A Brief Outline of the history of African American Catholics The first African people arrived in America colonies as slaves in the year 1619. A decade later, the African slaves were taken to New York, known as New Amsterdam by then (African American History Timeline, n.p.). By the year 1690, all the colonies of USA had African slaves. The African slaves in USA were later given American citizenship when USA became independent in 1776. In the year 1739, the African slaves at Stono, in North Carolina revolted against the oppressions that their masters subjected them to. This revolt is known as Stono revolt (African American History Timeline, n.p.). This revolt, however, did not stop the oppression of the African slaves by their masters. The importation of African slaves was banned by the USA Congress in the year 1808. In the 19th century, many Africans immigrated to American in USA in search of greener pasture; many of the African immigrants later became American citizens. The African immigrants, therefore, constitute a significant percentage of African Americans. Although Catholicism was brought to America in the early 16th century by the Spanish explorers, African American Catholics, however, could not be identified and defined as a distinct group of Catholics in the United States until in the mid 19th century (Fisher, 52). This fact can be attributed to the oppression and the marginalization that the Africans had experienced in the USA. In the mid of 19th century, the slaves of the Catholic planters were baptized into Catholicism in the Maryland state (Fisher, 52). The formation of the first African American Catholic community in USA can be attributed to the migration of slave owners from Maryland to Kentucky in the early 19th century. With the migration of slave owners in the early 19th century, the African slaves formed their community in the Nelson County area. With the formation of a community of African American slave community, the African American Catholics became a distinct group of American Catholics. The African American Catholics, therefore, gained prominence in the early 19th century. In 1940, the African American Catholics had become a very powerful distinct group of the Catholic Church in America to the extent that some Catholic priests in America had begun expressing concerns that some practices of the African American Catholics were a threat to the unity of the American Catholic Church; the African American Catholics had unique characteristics that made them different from the American Catholic Church, for instance, the African American Catholics had different ways of singing in the church and they used drums in singing in the church. One of the priests who expressed his concerns about the threat that the African American Catholics posed to the unity of the American Catholic Church was Father LaFarge. Father LaFarge said that for the sake of the unity of the American Catholic Church, the African American Catholic group should shed its own racial identity for the sake of the unity of the Church (Fisher, 118). In other words, Father LarFarge meant that for the sake of the unity of the American Catholic Church, the African American Catholics should forgo some of their cultural practices that were not compatible with the practices of the American Catholic Church. This fact shows that the African American Catholics were so united and had distinct cultural practices that posed threat to the unity of the American Catholic Church. Having briefly looked at the outline of the history of African American Catholics in USA, let us look at the African American people faces when encountering the American culture. The Challenges that the African American Faces when Encountering American Culture The African Americans face a number of challenges when encountering American culture. These challenges can mainly be attributed to the fact that African American culture is collectivist while American culture is individualistic. These two forms of cultures are quite different (Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, module 2) .The following are the main challenges that the African Americans face when encountering American culture. To begin with, in their efforts to develop intercultural competence, African Americans face the challenge of adapting to the American individualistic attitude towards life (McCray, n.p.). For this reason, African Americans have a very high regard for the human family and the society, and them, the interests of the society overrides the individual interests. The African Americans, therefore, have a very high regard for the family life, and their families are more often than not closely-nit and united more than the families of the Americans. American culture, on the other hand, views an individual as being more important than the society; American culture views the aim and the importance of the society as being to serve the individuals within the society. For this reason, the American culture is individualistic and family life and the society is not as highly valued at it is in the African American culture. This fact, therefore, poses a great challenge to the African Americans in their encounter with the American culture. The second major challenge that the African American faces in their encounter with the American culture is in regard to communication (McCray, n.p.). African American culture tends to emphasise on indirect communication, especially in some areas of life that are regarded as a taboo, for instance, in romance matters. Body language, therefore, plays an important role in African American culture. On the contrary, the American culture of communication is direct communication. Body language, therefore, plays no significant role in American culture. This difference in communication poses a real challenge to the African Americans encountering American culture. The other major challenge that the African Americans face in their encounter with American Culture is the challenge related to the expression of emotions (McCray, n.p). African American culture regards some forms of direct expression of emotions as a form of weakness. For instance, crying in public, especially by men, as a way of expressing one’s emotions is regarded as a form of weakness. African American culture encourages people not to openly express some of their emotions. American culture, on the other hand, encourages people to openly express their emotions, for instance, crying in public as a mean of expressing romantic love is regarded as a normal thing in American culture. These differences in expression of love between the two cultures poses a real challenge to the African Americans encountering the American culture. The other major cultural challenge faced by the African Americans in their encounter with the American culture is the challenge of religion. The African American culture is characterized by a belief in divine being known as God or known by other names (McCray, n.p). The African American culture, therefore, encourages worship of a divine God. The American culture, on the other hand, tends to be secular. The American culture does not encourage people to believe in a supernatural being. This fact, therefore, poses a great challenge to the African Americans encountering the American culture. The other major challenge that the Black Americans face in encountering the American culture is the challenge of clothing and fashion. Black American culture encourages people to dress decently in unveiling clothes, i.e. clothes that do not leave some parts of the body uncovered (McCray, n.p.). The African American culture also has a distinctive sense of fashion that is different from the American culture. American culture, on the other hand does not have any problem with revealing clothes. The cultural differences in clothing and sense of fashion between the two cultures poses a great challenge to the African American encountering the American culture. Having looked at the Challenges that African Americans face when encountering American culture, let us look at the values and distinctive features that Black Americans contribute to the American Church. Distinctive Features that Black Americans Contribute to the American Church One of the distinctive features that African American Culture contributed to the American Church is music. African Americans have their distinctive genres of music that have influenced their gospel music. African Americans also have their distinctive styles of singing or dancing. The African American styles of dancing have found their way in the American church. The African American Christians, therefore, have contributed a great deal in the American church gospel music. The second value that the African American culture has contributed to the American church is a vibrant way of worship. Unlike the American style of worship characterised by calm and oftentimes silent way of worship, African Americans way of worship is vibrant and characterized by lively music. African American culture, therefore, has contributed a great deal in making the American church worship more lively and vibrant. The third major contribution of the African American culture to the American church is faith in God and strong commitment to church. As we have said above when analyzing the difficulties that the African Americans face when encountering American culture, African American culture is marked by a believe in a divine being that is the creator of the world. For this reason, therefore, the African Americans find Christian teachings on God to be quite compatible with their cultural beliefs. This in essence makes the African American Christians to have strong faith in God and to be committed in the church. The strong faith and commitment in the church by the African American Christians has in effect influenced the other members of the American church to also have strong faith in God and to be committed in the church. This is a great contribution by the African American culture to the American Church. The third major contribution of the African American culture to the American Church is in art. Africans Americans have a rich art that enriched the American Church. One of the aspects of African American art that has been incorporated in the American Church is the use of drums during worship in the church. Another aspect of the African American art that has influenced the American church is paintings. African Americans’ styles of paintings have been used in the American church in making church paintings, for instance, in painting portraits of saints. Another distinctive feature of African American culture that influenced American Church is literature. African American literature advocates for social justice and equal treatment among all the members of society. The development of this literature traces its origin on the history of slavery and oppression that the African slaves faced in America when they first arrived there. This literature has influenced American Church a great deal; social justice and equal treatment of all people is a prominent feature of contemporary American Church. Having looked at the distinctive features of African American culture that influenced the American Church, let us now look at the process of ecclesial integration of African Americans in a “shared parish”. Before we look at the ecclesial integration of African Americans in a shared parish, it is important to note that ecclesial integration is a form of evangelization; ecclesial integration aims to bring about conversion of the members of the group that is integrated in the church (Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, module 1). The process of ecclesial integration of African Americans in a shared parish should begin with reaching out to the African Americans in the parish (Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, module 5). To the African Americans in the parish who do not attend mass, I would visit them with the good news. I would enquire from them why they are not practicing their faith through attending mass on Sundays. To overcome the various reasons that may be preventing them from practising their faith, I would tell them that they are welcome in the church, and that their contributions in the church are highly valued. I would inform them that the church is their true home in the foreign land. I would also affirm their gifts and contributions. The second step of ecclesial integration of African Americans in a shared parish is to demonstrate hospitality towards them and to make them feel at home. As the United States Conferences of Bishops advices, living the Gospel and being a witness to the Gospel is a powerful mean of evangelizing (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Called to Witness, pg. 10). Demonstrating hospitality to the African Americans in the shared parish is a concrete example of being a witness to the Gospel. I would demonstrate hospitality towards the African Americans in the parish, by giving them the ecclesial space to be themselves; I would also give them room to develop their own sense of identity. This in effect would enable them to develop intercultural competency and to adapt to different cultures in the parish. The third step of ecclesial integration of African Americans in a shared parish is developing ministries that address their unique needs (Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, module 5). One important element of evangelizing in a multicultural parish is indeed trying to address the particular needs of each of the cultural groups in the parish. To achieve this end, I would ask the parish staff to work with them and to develop a comprehensive ministry. The fourth step of ecclesial integration of African Americans in a shared parish is to build a relationship across cultures and ministries within the parish (Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, module 5). As Pope John Paul II advices in his apostolic exhortation to the Church in America, there are no strangers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, all human beings are part and parcel of the community of Jesus Christ (John Paul II, n.p). For this reason, therefore, I would like the African Americans to realize that all the people of various cultures in the parish are part and part and parcel of the one big family of God. This point is emphasised by the United States Conference of Bishops when they say that the church must embrace the various cultures of the world (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Embracing the Multi-cultural face of God, pgs. 2-3) Consequently, I would ask the African American Christians in the shared parish to share their stories, religious traditions, and cultural riches with the people of other cultures in the parish. I would also ask them to celebrate their faith and life with the people of other cultures in the parish. Also, I would ask them to develop relationships and friendship with the people of other cultures in the parish. The fifth step of ecclesial integration of African Americans in a shared parish is to champion leadership development and formation mentoring (Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, module 5). As the Conference of Bishops of the United States advises, new-evangelization of spiritually lukewarm Christians requires us to re-awaken a spirit of prayer and enthusiasm in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ among those who are not practising their faith (Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, module 1). But in order for us to be able to achieve this goal, we need to be continually renewed or replenished spiritually. This, therefore, means that we should champion leadership development and formation mentoring. For that reason, I would invest time and resources doing studies that would make me more effective in evangelizing the African Americans in the shared parish. The sixth step in ecclesial integration of the African Americans in a shared parish is to open wide the doors to decision making (Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, module 5). One of the best ways to overcome the feeling of alienation that many African American Catholics feel in shared parish is to engage them in decision making on important matters of the church. For this reason, I would give the African American Catholics in the shared parish an opportunity to make their input on important decisions to be made in the parish. Also, I would encourage the African Americans to get into positions of leadership in the parish so as to be able to make their contribution in the decision making process in the church. The seventh step in the ecclesial integration of African American Catholics in a shared parish is to instil in them a sense of ownership (Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, module 5). Making the African Americans develop a sense of ownership in the shared parish would help to overcome the feeling of alienation among the African American Catholics. To achieve this end, I would, first determine meaningful ways to involve the African American Catholics in the life of the faith community in the parish. Secondly, I would ensure that the needs and the aspirations of the African American Catholics are addressed in the parish. And lastly, I would ensure that the parish leadership and structure does recognize the African American Catholics as equal members of the parish. The eighth step in ecclesial integration of African American Catholics in a shared parish is to give the African American Catholics an opportunity to put their talents and spiritual gifts into use for the good of the people of God in the shared parish (Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, module 5). Through being able to use their talents and spiritual gifts for the good of the people of God, the African American Catholic in the shared parish will feel appreciated, and this in effect will make them to be committed in the church. For this reason, therefore, I will ensure that the African American Catholics contribute their time, their talents, and their treasure for the good of the believers in the parish. Allowing the African American Catholics to practice their spiritual gifts within the shared parish, without necessarily asking them to forgo their cultural practices and believes will in effect help to transform the culture of African Americans into a leaven for the kingdom of God. The last step in ecclesial integration of African American Catholics in a shared parish is to ensure that the African American Catholics achieve full commitment to the mission of the shared parish (Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, module 5). I would ensure that the African American Catholics have developed cultural competence to relate well with the people of other culture in the parish. This in effect would ensure that the unity in the parish is strengthened and the diversity in the parish is honoured. Works Cited African American History Timeline: 1619-2008. Web. https://www.google.com/url?sa= t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=9&cad=rja&uact=8> Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church. “Intercultural Competencies Module 1.” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2012. Web. Ibid. Module 2. Ibid. Module 5 Fisher, J.T. Communion of Immigrants: A History of Catholicism in America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. McCray, J.w. Journal of Extension. “Challenges of Diversity from an African-American Perspective”. Web. Pope John Paul II. The Church in America. Boston: Pauline Media, 1999. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jpii_ exh_22011999_ ecclesia-in-america_en.html United States Conference of Catholic Bishops .Disciples Called to Witness: The New Evangelization. Washington, 2012. http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and- teachings/howwe-teach /new-evangelization/upload/Disciples-Called-To-Witness- The-New-Evangelization.pdf Ibid. Embracing the Multicultural Face of God: Recognizing Cultural Diversity in the Church.Washington: USCCB, 2008. http://old.usccb.org/mrs/nmw/2011/diversity- brochure- en.pdf Read More