June News from Orchard Group

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Leading toward diversity View this email in your browser

Developing Intercultural Leadership “Look at the last ten people you’ve texted,” a church planter recently challenged hiscongregation. Listeners pulled out their phones to scroll through their screens. “Now. How many of them look just like you?” Take a moment to practice this yourself. You may discover that the proverb, “Birdsof a feather flock together” rings true. It is human nature to seek out people whoshare experiences and histories similar to our own. Yet if we spend the vastmajority of our time with similar people, we run the risk of seeing the world through avery narrow lens!

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June News from Orchard Group

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If Christ can form on ebody out of diverse people, then Christ's church can be anexample of reconciliation and conflict resolution. God's Kingdom transcends thebarriers that keep us divided form one another, whether socio-economic status,culture, age, gender, race, or physical ability.

By 2050 the makeup of the United States is projected to shiftdramatically.

Minority people groups will make up the majority of the population. Wise churchleaders will think creatively about how to address these changes to grow and betterreflect the hope of a reconciling gospel. Over the last five years, Orchard Group hasbeen grateful for church planters and leaders who are sensitive to the need forgreater diversity in our churches. They are willing to lead churches that more fullyreflect gospel reconciliation and their communities.

June News from Orchard Group

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In his article, Intercultural Leadership in Diversity-Oriented Churches, Dr. BrianLeander (an Orchard Group Board Member) describes the value and importance ofleaders who are ready to reach across cultures. Men and women leading in diversecontexts exhibit similar characteristics:

a willingness to confront his/her own ethnocentrism, prejudice and biasan interest in experiencing and interacting with other culturesa shared understanding with people who hold different values, experiencesand perspectives

Church leaders who exhibit these characteristics are uniquely positioned to addressits future. “Diversity oriented churches…are intentional aboutdeconstructing socially divisive constructs within the church andtheir communities with the message of the Gospel,” explains Dr.Leander.

As believers who want to see the good news of the Gospel proclaimed to everyone,what does this mean? Dr. Leander suggests that it is possible for all people toreorient themselves towards diversity. Each of us can learn to be self-reflectiveabout our own preferences and grow by prioritizing intentional intimate relationshipswith a variety of people. Orchard Group church planters are already leading out by intentionally embracingand seeking diversity. Brian Kruckenberg from New City in Phoenix leads a raciallydiverse staff and an economically diverse congregation. He states, “I want to createa learning environment… I want a staff that disagrees and sees things differently. Iwant a staff that reflects our community and sends a message that we want to worktogether because we are different—not in spite of our differences. I want mypresuppositions challenged.”

June News from Orchard Group

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These are tough issues! It will be easier to retreat to the “flock” we know because itis more comfortable. Yet God’s plan for the church was always bigger than any onegroup.

The beauty of diverse people unified under the savingwork of Christ is a picture of hope to the world.

To read Dr. Brian Leander’s research, download the full article, InterculturalLeadership in Diversity- Oriented Churches.

Brian Leander is the Assistant Director at the Center for Nonprofit Leadership at Adelphi University. He delivers strategic

June News from Orchard Group

file:///C|/Users/Cheryl/Documents/Slide%20Share%20Documents/Orchard%20Group%20--%20June%20News.htm[6/3/2015 10:02:35 AM]

planning and leadership development for nonprofit organizations. In addition, Dr. Leander has served as Organizational

Strategist with the Church Resource Ministries (CRM) ReFocusing Team. There he specialized in training, coaching and

developing leaders for cross-cultural ministry. He serves on the Orchard Group Board of Directors.

Copyright © 2015 Orchard Group, All rights reserved.

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