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Title: Preaching to a Multiethnic Congregation

Preaching to a Multiethnic Congregation

Positive Marginality as a Homiletical Paradigm

by Woosung Calvin Choi (Author)
©2015 Monographs VIII, 169 Pages
Theology & Philosophy
Series: American University Studies , Volume 349

Summary

The impact of globalization is widespread, affecting every sector of society, and the Church is not immune from such influence. Churches are awakening to diversifying pews and finding it difficult to insist on strict homogeneity. This shift in congregational composition has raised homiletical challenges for preachers who need to learn to effectively minister the Word in culturally diverse situations. This book offers multiethnic congregations a homiletical paradigm under the title «positive marginality». The paradigm includes the five principles of positive marginality: Embrace, Engage, Establish, Embody, and Exhibit. This paradigm is measured against seven preachers currently preaching in multiethnic churches in six different countries. These preachers offer valuable insights and suggest a positive correlation between the proposed paradigm and the homiletical practice of the preachers in multiethnic congregations. This book will serve well for pastors, preaching professors, seminary students, and seasoned preachers alike.

Table Of Contents

  • Cover
  • Title
  • Copyright
  • About the author
  • About the book
  • This eBook can be cited
  • Contents
  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction
  • Research Questions
  • Definition of Key Terms
  • Chapter 1. The Emergence of Cross-cultural Preaching
  • An Historical Overview of Homiletics in the Twentieth Century
  • The First Half of the Twentieth Century
  • The Second Half of the Twentieth Century
  • The New Homiletic
  • The Transition into the Twenty-first Century
  • Multiethnic Ministry Movement
  • Cross-cultural Preaching
  • The Influence of the New Homiletic on Cross-cultural Preaching
  • A New Direction for Preaching in the Twenty-first Century
  • Chapter 2. An Intercultural Model for Use in Homiletics
  • Culture and Intercultural Communication
  • Yoshikawa’s Model Defining Positive Marginality
  • Buber’s Philosophy of Dialogue
  • The Concept of the Middle Way
  • Understanding the Double-swing Model
  • Issues concerning Intercultural Communication Model and Homiletics
  • Adopting Yoshikawa’s Double-swing Model for Use in Homiletics
  • Conclusion
  • Chapter 3. The Concept of Positive Marginality
  • Rethink Marginality
  • Defining Positive Marginality
  • The Correlation between the Double-swing Model and the Concept of Positive Marginality
  • Conclusion
  • Chapter 4. Positive Marginality as a Homiletical Paradigm
  • The Three Underlying Assumptions
  • Paradoxical Relationship
  • Dialogical Unity
  • The Preacher in Multiple Worlds
  • The Five Principles of Positive Marginality: Towards a Positive Marginal Preacher
  • Embrace
  • Engage
  • Establish
  • Embody
  • Exhibit
  • Summary
  • The Five Principles of Positive Marginality Paradigm: Sermon Design
  • Embrace
  • Engage
  • A Multiperspectival Approach
  • Three Stages of the Multiperspectival Approach
  • Establish
  • Embody
  • Exhibit
  • Summary
  • Conclusion
  • Chapter 5. A Biblical Perspective on Positive Marginality
  • Biblical Foundation for Positive Marginality
  • The Great Commission
  • A Call to Holiness
  • Aliens and Strangers
  • Summary
  • Paul as a Positive Marginal Preacher
  • Philippians as an Example of the Positive Marginality Homiletical Paradigm
  • Embrace
  • Engage
  • Establish
  • Embody
  • Exhibit
  • Summary
  • Theological Implications of Positive Marginality
  • Conclusion
  • Chapter 6. Research Design and Methods
  • Assumptions and Parameters
  • Selection of Multiethnic Churches: Questionnaire
  • Selection of Preachers: Sermon Assessment
  • Semi-Structured Qualitative Interviews with Preachers
  • Pastor A
  • Pastor B
  • Pastor C
  • Pastor D
  • Pastor E
  • Pastor F
  • Pastor G
  • Conclusion
  • Chapter 7. How the Preachers Reflect Positive Marginality as a Homiletical Paradigm
  • Positive Marginality Homiletical Paradigm: The Preachers
  • Embrace
  • A Keen Awareness of Racial Barriers
  • A Celebration of Ethnic Diversity
  • Engage
  • An Attitude of Intentionality
  • A Teachable Spirit
  • Establish
  • Cultivating an Atmosphere of Trust
  • Embody
  • Adherence to the Word and the Gospel
  • Exhibit
  • Accountability and Influence
  • Summary
  • Positive Marginality Homiletical Paradigm: Sermon Design
  • Embrace
  • Corporate Affirmation of Vision Statement
  • Identification of a Cross-cultural Need
  • Engage
  • The Authority of Scripture
  • The Practice of Seeing through a Different Set of Eyes
  • Establish
  • The Use of a Variety of Cultural Stories
  • The Preaching of Drawing out the Positives
  • Embody
  • Exhibit
  • A Call to Communal Response
  • Summary
  • The Validity of the Positive Marginality Homiletical Paradigm
  • Conclusion
  • Chapter 8. Conclusion
  • Learning from the Study
  • Methodological Critique
  • Areas for Further Research
  • Appendix: Examples of Positive Marginal People in the Old Testament
  • Abraham
  • Moses
  • Ruth
  • Daniel
  • Conclusion
  • Notes
  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1. The Emergence of Cross-cultural Preaching
  • Chapter 2. An Intercultural Model for Use in Homiletics
  • Chapter 3. The Concept of Positive Marginality
  • Chapter 4. Positive Marginality as a Homiletical Paradigm
  • Chapter 5. A Biblical Perspective on Positive Marginality
  • Chapter 6. Research Design and Methods
  • Chapter 7. How the Preachers Reflect Positive Marginality as a Homiletical Paradigm
  • Chapter 8. Conclusion
  • Appendix: Examples of Positive Marginal People in the Old Testament
  • Bibliography

 

Introduction

With the expansion of cultural pluralism and multicultural interactions, people are learning how to move beyond their individual and parochial mindset in order to engage in global realities. The impact of globalization is widespread, affecting every sector of society including the Christian community. Churches are awakening to diversifying pews. This shift in congregational composition has raised homiletical challenges for preachers who need to learn to minister effectively in culturally diverse situations. According to Eunjoo M. Kim, “Today’s changing world challenges Christian churches and preachers to extend their understanding of context for preaching and to reconsider the nature and methods of contextual preaching to connect the local with the global.”1 “Preaching,” Kim adds, “must take a new direction in its theological perspective and homiletical strategies as it encounters the impact of globalization.”2 If Kim’s observation is true, then preaching in a multiethnic context ought to generate serious theological and homiletical reflection.

The increasing diversity in the pews3 and the lack of homiletical emphasis on contextual homiletics calls for a homiletical paradigm that will be constructive and effective within multiethnic congregations. Ethnicity and race are elastic terms and they often overlap. At the outset, ethnicity often refers to cultural traits (common ancestry, history and symbols of peoplehood) whereas race refers to ← 1 | 2 → people’s physical traits/characteristics.4 Given this distinction, my interest in race is largely, (but not exclusively), in seeing races as ethnic groups and observing how their perceptions, relationships, and actions interact and influence the homiletical task of the preacher. For this reason I use the term multiethnic.

Details

Pages
VIII, 169
Publication Year
2015
ISBN (Hardcover)
9781433129506
ISBN (PDF)
9781453915073
ISBN (MOBI)
9781454191285
ISBN (ePUB)
9781454191292
DOI
10.3726/978-1-4539-1507-3
Language
English
Publication date
2015 (March)
Keywords
Positive Marginality Embrace Engage Globalized religion Embody
Published
New York, Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles, Frankfurt am Main, Oxford, Wien, 2015. VIII, 169 pp.
Product Safety
Peter Lang Group AG

Biographical notes

Woosung Calvin Choi (Author)

Having grown up in different parts of the world, Woosung Calvin Choi has acquired a unique cultural background and is fluent in English, Korean, Persian, and Turkish. A graduate of Woodstock School in Mussoorie, India, Choi completed his undergraduate degree in engineering at Boston University. After working as an engineer, he sensed a call to ministry and entered Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia where he received an MDiv. He holds a ThM from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a PhD in homiletics from London School of Theology, United Kingdom. He currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Watertown Evangelical Church in Watertown, Massachusetts.

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Title: Preaching to a Multiethnic Congregation