By Executive Editor John Yoder

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The American volunteer coordinating Thanksgiving meal distribution with their partnering Latino congregation was growing frustrated. It was ten minutes past 1:00, and several of the Latinos who would deliver meals had not yet arrived. The American volunteers had already set out to deliver their designated meals. The volunteer in charge snarled within earshot of several Latinos who had already arrived, “Those Latinos are already late!”

The damage was done. Although the Latino volunteers showed up and faithfully delivered the Thanksgiving meals, several were quite offended by the disparaging remark of the American believer. Because these churches had not appointed Connectors meeting regularly to discuss their partnership, the American church did not hear about the offense.

The two churches continue to share a facility, but their personal closeness has diminished. Like other cross-cultural church partnerships, these churches drifted toward becoming mere “religious roommates”.

Cultural differences regarding time are some of the most vexing. How can we best manage these tensions? Here are some practical suggestions.

1. Understand why both cultures manage time as they do. Westerners who value efficiency may struggle to see any upside in the fluid time management styles of their global partners. Western cultures tend to prioritize accomplishing tasks above building relationships, while most global cultures prioritize building relationships over accomplishing tasks. In the Western value system, time should be managed to accomplish as many tasks as efficiently as possible. In global cultures, time should be managed to nurture relationships. It may be important to a Westerner to begin a meeting at 9:00, but a global partner might not want to begin until Jorge and Maria arrive. The Westerner may want to end the meeting at 10:00, but the global partner may not want to end the meeting while issues important to Jorge and Maria are still being addressed.
2. Understand that neither side has a biblical mandate. There is no passage that commands “You shall begin your meetings punctually”, nor “You shall wait until all are present to begin your meetings”. Ephesians 5:16 does command us to “redeem the time”. But culture informs us how to obey that command. Westerners tend to redeem the time by accomplishing as many tasks as possible with great efficiency, while global cultures tend to redeem the time by spending unstructured time cultivating relationships.
3. Help both partners understand the advantages and disadvantages of each style. Accomplishing tasks efficiently is a good thing, and so is cultivating unhurried relationships. Both reflect the image of God in different ways.
4. Encourage open, public acknowledgment of these differences. Interpersonal relationships are strengthened by articulating the differences between introverts and extroverts, thinkers and feelers. Make it a feature of your partnership that both sides speak openly and supportively of one another’s cultural preferences regarding time.
5. Hold some events that value promptness, some that value fluidity, and some that fall in between. It’s completely fine to insist on punctuality in worship services and staff meetings. Just communicate this in advance. Once both sides understand and love each other, it’s OK to say “This meeting will run on Anglo time” and “This meeting will run on African time”. But such comments must come from a well of trust and respect for one another.