A Global Church
Church of the Brethren history and tradition are transnational in their essence. Since the Radical Reformation and the formation of the church in Germany, which then expanded to the United States, and later to other countries throughout the world, the Brethren have always had a cross-border and cross-cultural composition. Not only that, but community and communal values—despite differences, cultural or otherwise, between members—have permeated the church since its small beginning. Today, we share our church tradition with members all around the globe.
International ministry and work, particularly through service, is also a Brethren hallmark. My family embodied this, moving to the Dominican Republic (when I was just 4 years old) to serve the denomination as mission coordinators. Besides sending missionaries abroad, the church engages in many ministries across borders. Through the Heifer Project, my grandfather was a “seagoing cowboy” on a ship sponsored by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (now the United Nations) taking livestock across the Atlantic Ocean to support families in need after World War II. Brethren Volunteer Service, which both of my parents and many friends have participated in, sends Brethren members all over the world to “share[] God’s love through acts of service”. The Global Food Initiative, short-term service trips (see the church’s FaithX program), Disaster Ministries—the list of global initiatives of the church goes on.
These efforts and the “global” Brethren church are a logical outgrowth of studying “the New Testament as our guidebook for living.” Not only are there many scriptures that describe the crossing of borders literally, to other nations and lands, to do ministry and serve, but also ones that give a picture of how to interact with people different from us, with different beliefs, values, and traditions.
One of Jesus’ 12 apostles, Peter, made some pronouncements on these topics that really strike me as pertinent to global work and interactions in the twenty-first century. In Acts 10, Peter interprets a vision he had,
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean . . . 34. . .I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. Acts 10: 27–28, 34–35, NIV.
This was quite a revolutionary, and dare I say “radical,” shift from viewing Gentiles and other groups as unclean or inferior to a posture of welcoming inclusion. To me, this scripture embodies God’s call to not view one culture, race, religious tradition, gender, or another identity as better than another. All nations are welcome.
More than this, Peter in his ministry and understanding of Jesus’s teachings paints the picture of a Christ-like way,
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:8-11, NIV.
This applies so perfectly to cross-cultural service and ministry as it was part of Peter’s experience. Dealing with those different from him was natural since he ventured out of ordinary audiences to share his understanding of the gospel.
On International, Cross-cultural Service
I love this aspect of our church. For me, creating connections with people across borders and cultures is essential to building a more peaceful, communal, and life-sustaining world. Last year, I graduated from law school and began practicing law as an international human rights lawyer. This essentially means that I work in various legal systems, including international and regional frameworks, trying to, as Emmett Witkovsky-Eldred referred to in his recent reflection on this blog, “bend[] and manipulat[e] the collective power of society to achieve certain goals.”1 For me, those goals include furthering social justice, reducing inequality, promoting anti-discrimination, and aiding in environmental protection, among others.
When I was in law school in Chicago, I began to reflect more deeply on working in an international, cross-cultural context. I was surrounded by many inquiring minds, all coming up with and then reworking their theories for how to solve a variety of problems and add positively to whatever field they were interested in.
For me, one of the primary questions that occupied my mind was, “Can I, as a white, relatively wealthy, cisgender, heterosexual woman from the ‘Global North’ responsibly do legal service work in a cross-cultural setting without causing harm?” And if I can, “how?” I think anyone can edit this question by inserting [the variety of identities they have], [the location or context they are from], [the place they are planning to go], and [the activity or work they plan to do there]. This contemplation can help in spurring reflection over the questions and dynamics that accompany the specific situation and hopefully lead to a more beneficial experience for all.
I definitely didn’t answer this question during law school, nor do I think I have it answered now. But I’ve thoroughly appreciated stumbling with awareness through this first year of my work in Bogotá, Colombia.
Along with this, considering that the Church of the Brethren and its community interact with each other frequently in international and cross-cultural settings has led me to reflect: how can we radically reform the way Brethren do international service and cross-cultural ministry to align with our values as followers of Christ?
The Radical Reformation
As I understand, the Radical Reformation that inspired the creation of the Church of the Brethren began in Switzerland and Germany in the 16th century and was a response to corruption in the Catholic Church and some Protestant movements. These radical reformers rebelled against the traditional theology and values of these institutions and forged a new way for their radically-reformed groups.
Many of the current foundational values of the Brethren were born in this movement. For Anabaptists like the Brethren, adult believer’s baptism redefined what it meant to truly choose to follow Jesus. Christianity was something an individual had to adopt for themselves, not forcefully. There should be no force in religion.
Separation of church and state was emphasized; the church should not be supported by the state or vice versa, neither by tithes and taxes nor by the use of the sword. The Brethren professed no creed but the New Testament. Pacifism and the rejection of any violence, particularly religious violence, was foundational for the early church.
The early Brethren believed that “priesthood extended to all believers, who were to gather around the Scriptures and interpret them together.”2 The church was comprised of those who gathered together, voluntarily, to read, understand, and interpret scripture, particularly the New Testament, seeking to emulate a Christlike way, together.
Radically-Reformed International Service and Ministry
My purpose in this writing is to try to imagine what the radical reformers in 2022 would interpret as a Christ-informed way to carry out international service, work, and ministry. To reiterate, I do not know the answer to this. I do not know whether how I am being/what I am doing at the moment in my position as a human rights advocate in Colombia is what Jesus would want. But, I do know that I want to try.
Because of my call and (what I consider as) my vocation, I do frequently reflect on best practices and what I think the radically reformed church should demonstrate. These are a few of those practices and ways of being that I think turn Christ’s teachings, and Peter’s interpretations, into actionable endeavors.
In cross-cultural and international service and ministry, I want to try . . .
- to approach new people and ways of doing things with curiosity and a mind willing to learn and change
- to understand and develop a greater awareness of my identities, privileges, and experiences
- to have a net-positive contribution to the places I go and the people I meet; to be aware and respectful of the social, cultural, political, and religious context
- to examine and disrupt my biases and prejudices
- to not only take and use, but to give and serve
- to not only give and serve, but to recognize what I learn, receive, and take
- to be partner, not savior
If I could do all of these things well, I do believe it would be (at least more) reflective of the relationships that Jesus wants us to have today across cultures. Below I elaborate more on why I included each of these ideas in my reflection on the scripture and my lived experiences abroad.
To approach new people and ways of doing things with curiosity and a mind willing to learn and change
28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.
Acts 10:28, NIV.
My mother always used to say, “Going to a new country is like being a baby again,” and, in my experience, that’s completely accurate. This could also apply to any new place outside of your home or comfort zone. Depending on the location, you won’t know the language, the customs, your way around, the inside scoop, the best way to get around, the holidays and traditions, the proper things to wear, and the list goes on.
This can be quite terrifying and can cause some strange, but instinctive reactions. You could get defensive and simply pretend you know what you’re doing. You could be too embarrassed to ask for help. You could get angry that you can’t communicate with or understand people. You could get upset that you can’t make connections and choose to simply cling to your familiar routine and people you already know from your home.
These are all natural reactions, and I don’t see them as bad. I do think that pushing yourself to move beyond instinctual responses and counter them little by little will have amazing outcomes for cross-cultural bridge-building and collaboration.
To understand and develop a greater awareness of my identities, privileges, and experiences
We all are unique. There really is no one, no one who shares your exact position in this world. This can make it hard to understand one another, especially when we differ on more than a few characteristics.
If you’re from Warrensburg, Missouri; are white; are heterosexual; are female; are a member of the Church of the Brethren; are a Third Culture Kid; went to public school; are multilingual; have a family that owns land in the United States; have two brothers; are a dog mom (etc. you get the point), then perhaps your perspective and privilege in this world will be similar to mine.
If not, it’s probably going to take some time for us to understand each other and our experiences. This means that we will have to listen a lot to one another to even come close to doing so. In the United States, a wonderfully diverse place, this is so present in every community. And going abroad, these differences can be even more pronounced.
The only way to truly form a life-sustaining connection is by identifying these identities in yourself and recognizing that they affect your daily experience. Our daily experience affects our needs and goals. And if you’re trying to connect with or serve someone, what better way to do that than listening to their needs and goals?
To have a net-positive contribution to the places I go and the people I meet; to be aware and respectful of the social, cultural, political, and religious context
I believe the two above ideas are intimately connected. Without awareness and deep respect for the context of a place and people, there is a high likelihood that we can cause harm.
You don’t have to search hard (in books, on the internet, or by asking the people around you) to hear a cross-cultural horror story. Our world is chock full of careless individuals who offend, hurt, disrespect, and look down on people they see as “the other.” It is also full of careful individuals, who mean well, but fail to learn the necessary skills and build the necessary awareness to avoid the prior.
This is not Christ-like, according to Peter. Whether intentional or out of ignorance, these negative outcomes do not promote a harmonious community of peace and joy. A radically reformed approach to international service and ministry will take intentional work but will be well worth the effort.
To examine, disrupt, and uproot my biases and prejudices
I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.
Acts 10:34, NIV.
I am complicit with racism and white supremacy. As a white woman from the Global North, particularly the United States, I grew up in and have studied, worked, and participated in institutions that were built and sustained by slavery. Racism in many forms continues to rear its insidious head throughout the world, founded on the global history of colonialism, resource extraction, capitalist structures, and taking advantage of those with less power.
The Church of the Brethren is also complicit with racism and white supremacy. The U.S.-based church is powerful in its resources and its whiteness. This is even more pronounced when missionaries, service groups, and others from the U.S. travel abroad, particularly to the Global South. Without an active, anti-racist approach and reform of service and ministry, the power and privilege imbalances have the potential to create toxic situations and relationships.
An entire library could not encompass the variety of biases and prejudices we have and the ways to disrupt and uproot those. This can be overwhelming, but I don’t think that means we’re off the hook. I think it’s a convicting and helpful realization that Christ would urge us to confront, especially if we plan to head to another country for service and ministry.
To not only take and use, but to give, invite, share, and serve
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10, NIV.
This likely needs little explanation for the Brethren. We are a sharing and giving community to our core, as demonstrated by our radically reformed roots who vehemently rejected corruption. The following idea helps elaborate more on the give–take dynamics that I see in cross-cultural and international work.
To not only give and serve, but to recognize and appreciate what I learn, receive, and take
Many Brethren value service to others so much that they build a life based around serving others in some capacity. This is inspirational. I think it truly contributes to bringing Earth closer to the Kingdom of God.
One pitfall of having a service mindset can be a lack of recognition of the benefits that you’re getting along the way. My situation is a good example. I come to Colombia in hopes of contributing my skills in human rights law to bettering the overall living conditions here. It could be easy for me to think, “I come from a wealthy place, my contribution to the economy, educational background, and overall capacity to work here is a help to those around me,” and leave it at that.
But that would ignore the immense benefits I have received from being here. My Spanish ability gets better every day because I am here. Each day, people here teach me new things about their traditions and customs. They take time to help me learn new phrases or the route to get where I need to go. I’ve made so many friends and a super supportive community here because people invite me to events, into their homes, and share what they have with me. As a foreigner, I have so many needs here. I need help with the logistics (setting up a cellphone, finding lodging, getting an ID card, bank account, etc.), which all take time and effort away from people around me. These are but a few of the ways I benefit from being here and from the loving support of those around me.
To be partner, not savior
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8-11, NIV.
“White saviorism” is a major critique of white, sometimes Christian people who go abroad to carry out service or ministry. People with a white savior complex generally are motivated to serve or go abroad in order to benefit personally, try something new, gain a sense of purpose, feel better about themselves, or another self-serving reason.
White saviorism usually leads one to think they’re an expert and know what is best, rather than leaving that to the people who have been part of a community all their lives. This type of behavior can lead to physical, mental, and other types of harm to the members of the community the white savior is “helping.” This phenomenon denies the agency of Black and brown people and presents them as passive recipients of white benevolence.
I have definitely reflected many times on this concept. As a person both white and (hopefully) benevolent, I must question my intentions, motivation, and actions as I live and work in Colombia. Am I needed in this space?
Mutuality between you and the community you are in, with a collaborative approach to the objectives you are working towards seems to be a start to combating this. Centering those that you are serving and their view of your usefulness is important to not simply being a harmful presence. This would promote more responsible, loving service and ministry to others.
None of us are perfect, and aspiring to be is exhausting and impossible—and is not what Jesus called us to be. Imperfectness, I believe, is actually what makes this world gloriously beautiful, interesting, and challenging.
Wading through complicated settings of intercultural service and ministry, may we value our unique gifts and those of the people around us. May we continue to radically reform our previous notions of how to best demonstrate Jesus’ vision for the global church, reflecting back to our New Testament roots:
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:3-13, NIV.
Christy Crouse’s home congregation is the Warrensburg Church of the Brethren in Warrensburg, Missouri. She also enjoys attending the Washington City Church of the Brethren virtually, especially while she lives abroad. Christy is a U.S. attorney and legal researcher at a human rights NGO, Dejusticia, in Bogotá, Colombia.
- E. Witkovsky-Eldred, “A Brethren Lawyer – A Reflection by Emmett Witkovsky-Eldred,” DEVOTION: A Blog by Brethren Life and Thought, June 30, 2022. Accessed September 16, 2022, https://www.brethrenlifeandthought.org/2022/06/30/a-brethren-lawyer-a-reflection-by-emmett-witkovsky-eldred/
- J. Brockway, “The Reformation and the Brethren,” Messenger Magazine, October 31, 2017. Accessed July 20, 2022, https://www.brethren.org/messenger/uncategorized/the-reformation-and-the-brethren/.