Bridge-building from a CBC* perspective

The following article continues the theme of “bridging cultures in the church” begun in the Jan. 7 Herald. It focuses on the Chinese community, as it engages the challenge of the church in North America’s increasingly multicultural milieu.

* Canadian-born Chinese

My husband was born and raised overseas, old enough to be rooted in Chinese culture and still young enough, when he became a landed immigrant, to adopt North American culture, education and its lifestyle. He speaks three languages – English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

I, on the other hand, was born and raised in Canada in a Chinese family with few Chinese people around. I did not attend Chinese school, and associated with English-speaking friends. As a second language teacher (of both English and French as second languages), I am trained in cross-cultural teaching at the university level setting.

My husband and I have served as church planters for a Chinese church in B.C. under the leadership of a Caucasian church; as the English pastoral couple in an established Chinese church in southern California, under Chinese church leadership; and the senior pastoral couple in a bilingual and bicultural church in Alberta.

In our 17 years of ministry, and even before that, I’ve followed the OBC (overseas-born Chinese) and ABC/CBC (American/Canadian-born Chinese) relationship with great interest.

Our experience

When we think of relationships within the Chinese church, we think of “building bridges.” Whether differences are intergenerational or intercultural, compromise is the key word. Bridges allow one party to cross over from one side to another, and vice versa.

However, somehow it doesn’t seem reciprocal in the church setting. Expectations from the older to the younger of due respect have created tension within the Chinese church and even in Chinese families. At times, it has been a one-way compromise. Either one side feels offended, or the other is frustrated or angry.

When we were the English-speaking pastoral couple within the Chinese church, misunderstanding developed over the mission statement of the English congregation because of the Chinese cultural perspective that the idea should be brought to an entire board. It reflected vertical or hierarchical leadership versus the Western way of horizontal leadership where ideas are shared with involved and active members. On the other side, handing down an edict about bilingual joint services didn’t go over well with our more contemporary English congregation of teens and married couples.

Any situation can bring two perspectives, therefore two cultural misinterpretations. As our culture becomes entwined with spiritual interpretation, we “do” church and look at situations with those coloured glasses. An example would be the various responses we receive from Chinese and English members when we ask, “What is the vision of our church?”

Our bridges

How can bridge-building take place in the Chinese church? Is it possible to increase effectiveness and minimize the fallout of English speaking people in the Chinese church?

First, we must go back to the Word of God concerning the body of Christ (Romans 12:4–8; 1 Corinthians 12:12–31; Ephesians 4:11–16). Herein lies a cultural stumbling block. The larger Chinese group may consider unity to mean joining all church functions and meetings as a large congregation, like a family. The subgroup of English speaking Chinese may consider unity to mean being inter-related but independent.

If “we submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21), can we honour and respect each side without making one more right than another? Can it be all right to give in, where “face” may be lost at times? The ultimate purpose is to cause positive growth in the body of Christ.

Second, as God’s people, we clothe ourselves with compassion (Colossians 3:12). Language and cultural identification are assets in the bridge-building process. From my perspective as a CBC, I feel my generation has learned the expected mannerisms and customs for the Chinese well, though we pick and choose what fits appropriately for our situation and personal comfort.

Although the CBC culture has been studied and analyzed, there is more to it than meets the eye. There are many types of English-speaking, from exhibiting Chineseness to Western behaviour. Where is this generation now reaching mid-career and mid-life? Is evangelism important to this subculture? Is it essential to attend and fit into the bilingual Chinese church setting, forge an English-speaking identity or blend into the American/Canadian church?

The OBC and CBC must accept each other’s differences without passing judgment. The OBC needs to appreciate the English-speaking subculture and treat the English-speaking with respect, even in regard to church decisions; on the other hand, the CBC can learn to embrace their Chinese heritage and serve as a bridge to bring their Chinese-speaking elders to Christ, along with nurturing their subculture.

Third, for the bilingual church, there are instructions for both groups. As a parent needs to let go of an adult child, so the larger (Chinese) congregation must let go of the smaller (English) congregation. As many parents learn the hard way, letting go is a sacrifice. As believers, we let go so that God may take care of our adult children. In church ministry, letting go means being open to alternative ways to conduct ministry.

Last thoughts

Bridge-building is both theological and missiological. God bridged Himself with the world by sending His only son to us. It is a theological mystery. How could an all-powerful and all-knowing God confine Himself to human form and fulfill this bridge-building task?

The ultimate challenge for a Christian is to turn this great truth into missiological application. Christ said, “As you [the Father] sent me into the world, I also have sent them [Christians] into the world” (John 17:18). We are called to leave our comfort zone to bridge the world with the message that God became human so that we can be saved.

Compromise is the key word.

Rose To teaches part-time in the Effective Writing Program of the Faculty of Communication and Culture, at University of Calgary. Until recently she and Jack To were pastor couple at Mountainview Grace Chinese MB Church, Calgary.