The "Gospel" of Cultural Sustainability: Missiological Insights
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2013-05
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MA in Cultural Sustainability
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Collection may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. To obtain information or permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Goucher Special Collections & Archives at 410-337-6347 or email archives@goucher.edu.
Abstract
Christian missionaries were some of the earliest cross-cultural workers. The author, a former missionary and current student of cultural sustainability, notes a close correspondence between the passions of missionaries and cultural sustainability practitioners. Each field believes it has good news to share. Each desires to serve communities in ways that enhance their vitality—ideologically and pragmatically. Neither is satisfied simply to observe and document cultures; they have a desire to actively engage with people, helping to facilitate community-driven change that honors and sustains cherished cultural values. Both confront the powerful impulses of globalization. The author contends that these commonalities warrant an examination of Christian missionaries’ two millennia of cross-cultural experiences for insights which could benefit the emerging field of cultural sustainability. This research surveys the models employed by missionaries as they interacted with foreign cultures, both historically and in contemporary times. It describes three case studies which illustrate the application of cultural sustainability principles to work on the mission field. Finally, based on analysis of the historical survey and case studies, it offers a number of implications for the work of cultural sustainability and presents a set of recommended best practices.