Cross-Cultural Partnerships

by Lederleitner, Mary T.

• ISBN13: 9780830837472
• ISBN10: 0830837477
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-04-01
• Publisher: Ivp Books

Summary

One of the biggest challenges in global mission work is money—not merely the need for it, but working through cross-cultural differences surrounding how funds are used and accounted for. Cross-cultural missteps regarding financial issues can derail partnerships between supporting churches and agencies and national leaders on the ground. North Americans don’t understand how cultural expectations of patronage shape how financial support is perceived and understood, and Western money often comes with subtle strings attached. So local mission work is hampered by perceived paternalism, and donors are frustrated with lack of results or accountability. How do we build financial partnerships for effective mission without fostering neo-colonialism?Cross-cultural specialist Mary Lederleitner brings missiological and financial expertise to explain how global mission efforts can be funded with integrity, mutuality and transparency. Bringing together social science research, biblical principles and on-the-ground examples, she presents best practices for handling funding and finance. Cross-cultural partnerships can foster dignity, build capacity and work toward long-term sustainability. Lederleitner also addresses particular problems like misallocation of funds, embezzlement and fraud. This book is an essential guide for all who partner in global mission, whether pastors of supporting churches or missionaries and funding agencies.

Author Biography

Mary T. Lederleitner is a cross-cultural consultant with Wycliffe, where she conducts research, writes, creates training programs and provides consulting services to equip those involved in cross-cultural ministry partnerships. Her focus is on helping leaders contextualize and develop processes that will facilitate fruitful partnerships and better cross-cultural relationships. She has traveled extensively throughout the world providing coaching and business consulting to mission and indigenous ministry leaders. She has been published in Evangelical Missions Quarterly and is completing her Ph.D. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. 11
Preface	p. 15
Acknowledgments	p. 17
Introduction: Partnership, Money and Cultural Intelligence	p. 21
Core Cultural Concepts
Is It "Mine" or "Ours"?	p. 33
Communication and Harmony	p. 44
Other Confusing Issues	p. 57
Uprooting the Harmful
The Path to Premature Judgments	p. 69
Paternalism Couched as Accountability	p. 77
Common Unintended Consequences	p. 86
Partnering in Better Ways
Biblical Foundations for Accountability	p. 101
Contextualizing Accounting Processes	p. 110
Fostering Dignity and Mutuality	p. 122
Building Capacity and Sustainability	p. 132
Redeeming Conflict
Choosing Your Method Carefully	p. 147
Options If Designated Funds Are Misallocated	p. 161
Options If Embezzlement or Fraud Occurs	p. 168
Conclusion: How to Tell If Christ Is Lord of Your Partnership	p. 180
Epilogue: Finding Grace in the Big Picture	p. 189
Learning from the "Sister Church" Partnership	p. 194
Facilitating a Culture of Fiscal Integrity	p. 198
Recommendations for Further Reading	p. 203
Notes	p. 206
Bibliography	p. 216
About the Author	p. 231
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