Understanding one’s own culture and those of others, and the ability to worship, work and live effectively and in harmony with diverse persons are critical to those called to follow Christ. So are called to develop intercultural competence, “a set of cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills and characteristics that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts,” according to Janet M. Bennett, co-director of the Intercultural Communications Institution.

Broader definitions of “culture” may be far more complex than racial/ethnic/national identity. Gender, language, age, ability, heritage, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, immigration status, region, relationship status and level of formal education all inform one’s “culture.”

However, the history of Church and society – particularly in the last half of this millennium – have been marked by world-altering warring, colonialism and exploitation based on skin color prejudice, notions of “manifest destiny,” racism and xenophobia, which have divided the human family of God, including the Church. For this reason, the United Methodist Church has assigned to the General Commission on Religion and Race issues of race-ethnicity, national, language and tribe as its primary focus.

GCORR’s work on intercultural competency is inspired by the words of our Savior Jesus Christ – who bids us “go make of all disciples” and to make tangible the Great Commission to love God and love other people as we love ourselves. Our work is also informed by the teachings of United Methodism’s founder John Wesley, who embraced the whole of God’s world as his parish.

GCORR develops training, resources and networking to help United Methodists build intercultural –and self – awareness, openness to and appreciation for other realities and experiences, empathy and bridge-building relationship skills. GCORR’s goal in fostering intercultural competency is to raise up a new generation of clergy and laity in church leadership who, fired by the grace of Jesus Christ, will engage in discipleship and spiritual formation that is effectively contextual to the cultural realities of those seeking to walk with God.

In this way, GCORR’s work is critical to the United Methodist Church’s mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.