Glocal Christianity

Tradition and the glocal Christian

Thought for the day: You're a glocal Christian if you're informed by other traditions without loosing your sense of your own tradition.

Glocal Christianity is not about eclecticism, at least not in the sense of abandoning all tradition and mixing and matching randomly. But Glocal Christianity is not about denominationalism either, at least not in the sense of rejecting against all alien influences. It’s about learning to appreciate your own tradition, all the more deeply from having explored alternative traditions with their alternative perspectives. It's not about loosing tradition. It's not about museum tradition. It’s about living tradition.

Being a ‘Glocal’ Preacher

Timothy Tennat writes on being a Glocal Preacher, saying "There are several things which every pastor needs to know to effectively live and minister in this new global context." He groups these under three headings:

• First, we must recognize the globalization of the Christian faith
• Second, to be a 'glocal' preacher, we must recognize that our own communities have drastically changed
• Third, in order to be a 'glocal' preacher we must recognize that we are now in a post-denominational world

"In an increasingly secularized world, shaped by the forces of globalization, we must recognize that our “micro-identities” must be seen in the context of our larger “macro-identity” as members of a global Christian movement. As a ‘local’ Christian we may be a member of a particular movement, but as a ‘global’ Christian, we belong to a world-wide community of those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. We have to learn how to live with these creative tensions and allow the Holy Spirit to help us find ways to express our particularity as members of a distinct community of Christians within the larger context of our universality as members of the Body of Christ."

Being Glocal

Being Glocal from Reach Your City on Vimeo.

Speaker and hip-hop artist CZ speaks on what it means to be a "glocal" Christian.

Interesting how closely it reflects my article, "Is xenophobia ever Christlike?" which focussed on philoxenos (hospitality).

Missional Theology and "Glocal" Christianity

Came across this in Google social search:

Missional Theology and "Glocal" Christianity

David, Leong, Assistant Professor of Missional Theology

Mike Langford, Assistant Professor of Theology

McKenna 118

As Western Christendom has given way to a truly global Christianity, assumptions about the nature of Christian mission in the world are changing. How can a missional theology of both local and global realities shape our understanding of the gospel?  In this session, we will explore the shape and character of being "co-missioned" with a Trinitarian God to proclaim and embody the good news of the kingdom of God.

What is glocal Christianity?

I thought it was time to revisit why I named this blog Glocal Christianity. I am sure many of you wonder what the heck I mean by 'glocal' and what that has to do with my style of Christianity, so here goes.

Glocalization

The word 'glocalization' is a portmanteau of the words 'glocal' and 'local'. It's basically short for 'localized globalization', and unpacks the fact that the globalization of the local (macro-localization) and the localization of the global (micro-globalization) are often intertwined.

To give some examples, who doesn't know what a vuvuzela is now? The infliction of vuvuzela's on the world by South African soccer fans is a classic example of macro-localization, of the universalization of the particular. Conversely, who's heard of the expression, "The world is at your doorstep"? The existance of 45 language groups in a school near me in western Sydney is a classic example of micro-globalization, of the particularization of the universal. These are some of the experiences and truths I seek to grapple with in this blog.

Some locales more globalized than others

Now, the truth of the matter is that some locales are more globalized than others. By and large, towns are not as glocalized as cities, small cities are not as glocalized as large cities, and even within large cities some suburbs are not as glocalized as others. Of course there are exceptions, but that's the general rule of thumb.

My interest is born of the fact that I just happen to live in one of the most multicultural suburbs in one of the most multicultural cities in the Southern Hemisphere. Glocalization is rampant. So I wonder, what does a glocalized Christianity look like?

What does glocalized Christianity look like?

First, I tell you what it doesn't look like, at least for me. It doesn't look like celtic revivalist Christianity, for celtic nostalgia is only one influence amongst many. It doesn't look like triumphalist civic Christianity, for Christianity is becoming increasingly marginalized in this religious melieu. It doesn't look like a managerie of neotribal Christianities, for we've got far more subcultures than Christians. It doesn't look like emerging expressions of Christianity in less globalized locales. It has far more diversity to grapple with.

So, what will a glocalized Christianity look like? That's what I've been exploring and what I hope to explore in even greater depth as my own understanding expands. As I have expressed in my blog description, at the very least I think it involves exploring what it means to follow Jesus in a multireligious, multicultural, multimedia world. And I differentiate between multireligious and multicultural quite deliberately. I think it's equally important to explore how we disciple western Hindus and eastern Christians. In fact, I am continually challenged to do both without walking more than 20 meters from my front door. A glocalized Christianity is a Christianity adapted for contexts of extreme cultural and religious diversity. That's what this is about, both the conversations and the art.

The web as globalized locale

Now, of course extreme cultural and religious diversity may not be your local experience. Diversity is distributed unevenly and by virtue of that we are each going to have different experiences. But, I'm gathering if you're here that you've experienced at least some of the ripple effects of glocalization. And I'm gathering you probably recognize that the web itself is a globalized locale, albeit a nonphysical one. So I'm glad you're interested in joining me in this journey of discovery, of exploring what it looks like to follow Jesus in a multireligious, multicultural, multimedia world.

The Theology of Multi-Ethnic Church

If you're interested in glocal Christianity, that is, exploring emerging expressions of Christianity in globalized locales, then I'd recommend reading the latest Out of Ur interview with Mark DeYmaz. It's entitled, The Theology of Multi-Ethnic Church, and explores the fact that diversity isn't just a social issues, it's a biblical one.

If you're unfamiliar with Mark, here's the blurb: "Mark DeYmaz is the founding pastor of Mosiac Church of Central Arkansas, author of Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church and co-founder of the Mosaix Network. Mark’s recently published second book, Ethnic Blends, addresses some of the unique challenges faced by multi-ethnic churches. Urthling, David Swanson, spoke with Mark about the theology and challenges of multi-ethnic ministry."

Glocalization, Social Networks and the Church

Is glocalization the same as globalization?

Danah Boyd writes:

When mass media began, people assumed that we would all converge upon one global culture. While the media has had an effect, complete homogenization has not occurred. And it will not. While some values spread and are adopted en-masse, cultures form within the mass culture to differentiate smaller groups of people. Style-driven subcultures are the most visible form of this, but it occurs in companies and in other social gatherings...

…As digital communities grow, they do not get homogeneous. In fact, quite the opposite. They get unwieldy as different communities within the system compete for resources where that resource is features that move the system in the direction they would like to see it go. Everyone is connected, meaning that all sorts of conflicts come crashing together. Language barriers make it hard for people to communicate. Cultural barriers make it hard for them to understand each other. Social barriers make them not care.

Consider then the difference between globalized Christianity and glocalized Christianity. What is the future of the world Christian movement do you think? What are the implications for us locally? How do you think Dana's comments on 'designing for glocalization' may have relevance for the Christian church?

Going Glocal

David Dunham writes on going glocal:

In the last several centuries the world, and the Western World in particular, has been changing rapidly ... The nature of this change has brought about a massive shift in the city so that to speak in terms of a “local” context really must include an awareness of the global context. When the majority of your city, or even a significant portion of it, is composed of various ethnic groups from various cultures your local context has taken on the flavor of the larger world.

Here is what I see as the implication. Going glocal means, not only accepting that the familiar distinctions between world mission and local outreach are collapsing and blurring, but also accepting that the emerging diversity transcends what even world missionaries were used to facing. Dave concludes:

Does “going glocal” impact the “doing of church” in North America? I believe it does, though I confess I don’t know exactly how just yet.

I believe it does, and I think part of the answer is emphasizing the essentials and not getting hung up on optionals. A western perspective on Jesus is too small - we need to be informed by a world perspective.

Become a glocal Christian

This reflection I found over at Living Spirituality was just too apt to ignore:

Become a glocal Christian. Those who follow in the footsteps of Christ are called to a local and a global community and are to have an intense passion and concern for both spheres of life in the body of Christ. Keep the fires of love, trust, and compassion burning for brothers and sisters wherever they are found.

Glocal Journalism

Fellow bloggers, you may be a glocal journalist.

According to Doug McGill, glocal journalism is about “trying to illuminate for readers the connections between their local communities and the international world.” 

For myself, I find I do this integration work on multiple levels. As a Christian I am interested in the connections between Christianity and other world religions. As an evangelical I am interested in the connections between evangelicalism and other Christian traditions. As an Australian I am interested in the connections between the antipodes and everywhere else. And because this is multifaceted, I find you guys, my readers, take interest at different levels too.

But in practice these different threads can become significantly intertwined.

In reading McGill’s article I was intrigued by this concept of a “worldplace” that he spoke of, as the focus of glocal journalism. I expect we could alternatively speak of “globalized locales”.

In the sense that every place is increasingly connected to every other place, people could be forgiven for concluding that place no longer matters. But it does. It gives this blog much of its flavour. What drives me here is questions of how everything impacts this locale, this place, my community. And how they impact the world. So it would be inaccurate to suggest I am writing on every religion impacting on every other religion - what I am writing on is “open Christianity”, on how Christianity impacts other religions and is impacted by other religions. In a similar fashion I am writing on “open Australia” and “open evangelicalism”. It’s an inclusive focus, one that invites participation, but it’s not an exhaustive focus. It puts a different spin on things.