Ministry in Multicultural Settings Topic of Moravian Lunch Series  

“Lunch is on us!” This email subject line has become a popular sight for seminarians as the Center for Moravian Studies partners with the Office of Student Life and the Chaplain’s office to provide informative and “edgy” programs relating to the current life and polity of the Moravian Church. Featuring “honest talk on real issues,” students enjoy not only a nice lunch, but also a presentation by personalities close to new ministries and dilemmas of theology and polity for the world wide Moravian Church.

Fall 2007 series included, The First Fruits of Thailand: Biblical Education by Extension presented by the Rev. David Geyer ‘97 and Professor Otto Dreydoppel. Students were offered a first-hand glimpse into new ministries happening in Thailand as Christ’s grace is shared through spiritual formation retreats and small group gatherings for the purpose of both personal and Biblical literacy. Rev. Geyer presented the difficult realities which confront this exciting new ministry, as well as the challenges which are inherent to the political and social climate of Thailand.

Moravian pastors, Enrique Alcantera and Kevin Frack ‘84, presented Translations of Grace: The Multi-cultural Ministry of the Southern Province. Kevin translated for Enrigue as he spoke about the development and ministry of the Latino congregation he pastors in Winston-Salem, N.C. The two men talked about the development of the partnership between the well-established, white, Ardmore congregation and the three-year-old Spanish-speaking Cordero de Dios congregation. Pastor Enrigue offered to the Seminary’s future pastors and counselors insights for engaging in ministry with people of a different culture — do not assume all people who speak the same language have the same worship styles; the sharing of favorite foods can be a wonderful icebreaker; do not make assumptions; recognize that non-English speaking, recent immigrants often feel inferior to white Americans; and always trust that God is at work in the process.

Commuting to Class a World Away: A Tanzanian Perspective on Theological Education Today. Graced with the presence of Tanzanian student, Mary Kategile, the Seminary community was treated with an in-depth description of student life at the Moravian theological seminary (Teofilo Kisanji University) in Tanzania. Mary provided a thorough description of the facility, as well as the nature of theological education in a culture where electricity, Internet access and library resources cannot always be guaranteed. Mary’s presentation and personal enthusiasm not only reminded the community of how theological education is a sacred privilege not to be taken for granted, but also of the exciting future of theological scholarship in Tanzania where she will soon join the seminary faculty at Teofilo Kisanji University.

— David Bennett
Chaplain