There's a better word than “assimilation” to describe your guest services
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Today many churches use the term "assimilation" to describe their newcomer and guest ministries. But I've found this term has negative connotations to people under the age of 45. To these younger generations, assimilation means a one-way street where guests are indoctrinated into becoming like the dominant culture of a church. While we want to encourage them to become more like Christ, we also recognize that while Christian doctrine does not change, the methods used in each culture will change.
For church leaders it is important to understand (and be able to articulate) the difference between "assimilation" and "acculturation." In fact, assimilation and acculturation are almost opposites.
Leadership scholars have shown that "assimilation" forces others to leave their culture and become like the dominant culture. But they found "acculturation" is better, because it allows people from different cultures to adapt parts of their culture and form a new hybrid culture.
Let's compare assimilation and acculturation.
Assimilation
- Is unidirectional. Change only happens within one culture and this culture becomes a clone of the dominant culture.
- The emerging cultures are expected to change their practices and embrace the practices of the dominant culture. Emerging cultures must now value the things the dominant culture values. While this may be necessary with theology, it does not respect their culture when they are forced to adopt all of the dominant culture's practices too.
- Out-group members must accept the dominant culture as superior.
- Example: first and second generation Hispanic cultures begin to grow in your community. They start a Bible study for Spanish-speakers at your church. Soon, they want to hold a worship service. But, the dominant Anglo board asks them to come to their English-language service. While the second-generation Spanish-speakers in your neighborhood and church might attend the English service, the first generation of mostly Spanish-speaking people will not. They will prefer to have a service in their "heart language." Assimilation is what the Anglo board is practicing and the message they are sending to the Hispanic culture is that they must adopt and adapt.
Acculturation
- Is a two-way street, where both cultures are respected and served. In other words, the dominant culture may change as well, by its interaction with the emerging culture. The emerging culture may bring some new and/or outside perspective that helps expand the awareness of the dominant culture. For example, young English-speaking Hispanics who come into our churches can help expand contemporary worship.
- Both sides influence one other for a better outcome.
- Does not require change in what the dominant culture values.
- Dominant cultures and emerging cultures see both cultures as having value. Communication and reconciliation between cultures occurs.
Yet, a caution.
Acculturation does not mean accepting all elements of a culture, for some elements of every culture run counter to God's Good News. Here is how I have stated this (in Spiritual Waypoints, p. 74):
When elements of a culture run counter to the Good News … what should be done? Eddie Gibbs has provided a helpful metaphor in the image of cultural "sifting" (Gibbs, I Believe in Church Growth, 1981, p. 120). Sifting separates out unwanted elements from wanted elements, most notably in cooking, where a mesh strainer such as a colander will sift out impurities. The task of explaining the Good News … carries the requirement that we sift between elements of a culture that go against Christ's news and those that do not… A leader who is not ready to sift elements of a culture and tactfully explain what can be retained and what must be abandoned, is not ready to travel forward with the wayfarer.
So, the term "acculturation" is technically the better term for what we often refer to in our churches as "assimilation."
Now, while most churchgoers will never know the difference between these two terms, it will be important for up-and-coming missional leaders to understand (and be able to articulate) the difference. And, it will be important for tomorrow's leaders to find better terms to describe different cultures coming into our churches and how to meet their needs.
Footnotes:
Gibbs, E. (1981). I believe in church growth. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
Teske, R. H.C. & Nelson, B. H. (1974). Acculturation and assimilation: A clarification. American Ethnologist, Vol 1, No. 2. pp. 351-367.
Whitesel, B. (2010). Spiritual waypoints: Helping others navigate the journey. Indianapolis: The Wesleyan Publishing House.
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Bob Whitesel (D.Min., Ph.D.) is a foresight coach, professor, and award-winning author of 14 books. For over 30 years, he has guided leaders and churches to pivot and engage what’s next. He holds two earned doctorates from Fuller Theological Seminary and teaches on leadership foresight, church health, and organizational change. His website is www.ChurchForesight.com. Learn More » |
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