Pursuing a holy discomfort : developing cultural intelligence as an aspect of discipleship

Hylton, Cindy

Etd

Pursuing a holy discomfort : developing cultural intelligence as an aspect of discipleship

Public Deposited

MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Hylton, Cindy. Pursuing a Holy Discomfort : Developing Cultural Intelligence As an Aspect of Discipleship. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/6590c314-845e-4e09-be2c-ca4cabe741cf.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

H. Cindy. Pursuing a holy discomfort : developing cultural intelligence as an aspect of discipleship. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/6590c314-845e-4e09-be2c-ca4cabe741cf

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Hylton, Cindy. Pursuing a Holy Discomfort : Developing Cultural Intelligence As an Aspect of Discipleship. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/6590c314-845e-4e09-be2c-ca4cabe741cf.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

Hylton, Cindy

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore how local church discipleship leaders develop cultural intelligence as an aspect of discipleship. The church does not often intentionally address the cultural difficulties of obeying the command to love one’s neighbor or prioritize the unity of the church the way Jesus does. The divisions within the church reflect the rising polarity of American society along cultural and political lines rather than a beautiful contrasting vision to it that brings glory to God. This study utilized a qualitative design using semi-structured interviews with nine discipleship leaders who intentionally incorporated cultural intelligence as an aspect of discipleship in their local monocultural church. The interviews focused on gaining data with four research questions: what motivates these leaders to incorporate cultural intelligence in discipleship, what challenges do they face doing it, what methods do they use, and what benefits do they find for the individual, church, and community. The literature review focused on three key areas for incorporating cultural intelligence into discipleship: a biblical framework for cultural diversity within the church, business best practices for developing cultural intelligence, and the experience of multiethnic churches. Growing in cultural intelligence is a process that requires people to interact with cultural difference to the point of dissonance. People resist this discomfort by retreating. Leaders play key roles by reiterating the rich gospel motivations for perseverance in the difficulties, helping people process their own emotions and resistance, and calling them to the goals of engagement with others with compassion and respect. This outward flow of inward change is the Spirit’s work in the life of the disciple.

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