| Hawaii is a multicultural state that supports the preservation and proliferation of the different cultures within the state. Hawaii is a minority majority state. The 2010 Census Bureau reveals that Hawaii residents self-report their ethnic identity as 42.6 percent Asian; Filipino, Japanese, and Korean 21.7 percent with two or more races or ethnic groups; 23 percent white; 9.4 percent native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander; 9.2 percent Latino, Hispanic, or Portuguese; 3 percent African-American; and, 0.4 percent Native American/Alaskan ("Quick Facts"). Each of these cultures identifies with specific traditions, symbols, rituals, governance, and communication from their cultural perspectives on an individual and corporate level. Each group has a way of approbating its culture in the public, private, and religious domains. Each has a different organizational, communication, and/or social mode. The presence of this diverse community is so impactful that the literature suggests cultural competency for any professionals engaging in health and human services, education, and global leadership and governance when they work in a culturally diverse community. This research set out to evaluate if pastors who minister in Hawaii's multicultural environment should also obtain cultural competency before pastoring in Hawaii.;Using triangulated, mixed methodologies, incorporating Senior Administrative Cultural Competency Continuum Surveys adapted from Terry L. Cross et al.'s Cultural Competence Continuum, ethnic language group pastor and laity focus groups, one-on-one interviews with senior administrative pastors, ethnic language group pastors and laity and narrative pictorial analysis, the combined data evaluated whether nonlocal pastors who serve in Hawaii need multicultural competency in order to minister to the indigenous and diverse cultures within Hawaii. The top four findings are that (1) culture matters---multicultural competency is needed in order to minister in Hawaii's multicultural context; (2) language creates worldviews; (3) hierarchical practices and social and organizational structures within and among the multiple cultures impact communication, stewardship, evangelism, and leadership within the church; and, (4) rituals not only reveal homogeneity but also reveal cultural theology about God. Pastors, ministers, and those who have administrative and appointment oversight of ministers in the Hawaii District of the United Methodist Church and beyond need multicultural competency in order to disciple passionate followers who transform the world with the love of Jesus Christ. |
