Cross-Cultural Partnerships: Navigating the Complexities of Money and Mission

by Mary T. Lederleitner

One of the biggest challenges in global mission work is money -- not merely the need for it, but working through cross-cultural differences surrounding how funds are used and accounted for. Cross-cultural missteps regarding financial issues can derail partnerships between supporting churches and agencies and national leaders on the ground. North Americans don?t understand how cultural expectations of patronage shape how financial support is perceived and understood, and Western money often comes with subtle strings attached. So local mission work is hampered by perceived paternalism, and donors are frustrated with lack of results or accountability. How do we build financial partnerships for effective mission without fostering neo-colonialism?

Cross-cultural specialist Mary Lederleitner brings missiological and financial expertise to explain how global mission efforts can be funded with integrity, mutuality and transparency. Bringing together social science research, biblical principles and on-the-ground examples, she presents best practices for handling funding and finance. Cross-cultural partnerships can foster dignity, build capacity and work toward long-term sustainability. Lederleitner also addresses particular problems like misallocation of funds, embezzlement and fraud.

This book is an essential guide for all who partner in global mission, whether pastors of supporting churches or missionaries and funding agencies.

Genres: Christian, Christian Non Fiction, Nonfiction, Faith

231 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 17, 2010

About the author

Mary T. Lederleitner is founder and executive director of Missional Intelligence. She has a PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and an MA in intercultural studies from Wheaton College, and teaches as an adjunct professor at both institutions. She is a veteran mission leader and researcher who has served for two decades with the Wycliffe Global Alliance in a variety of international leadership roles. She serves on the OM Global Board and as a board member for Catalyst Services. She is also the author of Cross-Cultural Partnerships.

Reviews

[Joost Nixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those involved in cross-cultural partnerships, this is an important tool to give perspective that will help save you from blunders and face plants. She also understands and values the tremendous mutual benefits that come from working together with God’s people around the world. There are helpful procedures, but help in understanding cultures who approach finances differently.

[Susie]

This book really brought to light the difficulties and joys of successfully partnering cross-culturally. I needed the reminder that money is not power although as westerners we often think we have the right to hold the power because we're giving the money. It also stressed the importance of learning how to resolve conflict in whatever cross-cultural setting you are in and the importance of thinking the best about people. Sometimes we jump to the wrong conclusions and create hard feelings on both sides when it could just be a misunderstanding.

[Elizabeth ‘Andy’ Terrall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every cross-cultural worker will experience tension surrounding money. Whether in personal relationships with nationals or in communication with supporters or in an organizational context, misunderstandings, confusions, and dead ends will occur. Mary Lederleitner provides theological and practical grounding for wading through the financial quagmires that await in overseas ministry. Drawing from her wide experience in many cultures and roles involving finances, both secular and sacred, Lederleitner walks through how cultural intelligence impacts Westerners’ understanding of people and situations, how we can misjudge incidents, and how we can foster partnerships when conflict does occur. Every missionary, even those who never see themselves in official positions of financial management, can benefit from the cultural awareness communicated in this book. As Lederleitner says, “If we are going to be making mistakes in missions, we should at least be making new ones.”

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lederleitner writes “we partner cross-culturally because in the deepest recesses of our soul and being we need one another to become the people that God created us to be.” I firmly believe her book can help people partner cross-culturally in a successful way, especially when it comes to the topic of money! I think it should be required reading for people/churches considering partnering cross-culturally. She also writes that she “dream[s] of a day... when the world stops and takes notice of what is happening in our cross-cultural ministry partnerships.” If you dream of this too, I recommend this book!

[Sunnyside1204 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for discussions that we're having in our ministry and will help with writing of policy and direct application for a current partnership that we're in. We have cross-cultural partnerships in diverse cultural contexts and this book will, if we can implement the ideas herein and with God's grace, help us navigate through them with integrity, wisdom and love.

[Tyler Pedersen · Rating 1 out of 5]

In "Cross-Cultural Partnerships" Lederleitner offers some godly principles for developing and maintaining strong cross-cultural relationships. Unfortunately, the book's select insights are overwhelmed by the fact that the work is barely readable far too often. Fragments, run-on sentences, pleonasms, and typos abound.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An in-depth look at working with cross cultural partners especially related to money matters.

Great writing and good research.

[Kaethe Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep, thought-provoking, practical and applicable. I know I will be returning to this book again and again.

[Bro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! A must read if you send money to support nationals or are working with nationals in a way that you are giving them funding. If you are willing to give God's money to them you should give some time to read some experiences from someone who has been there done that in a big way. These insights will help you. There is something there even if you do not agree with everything there is enough good there to warrant a read. For me the first chapters were better than the last chapters, but we do not use any funding for nationals. We pay people for services rendered. If we ever have a project we will reread this book for sure to make sure we start on the right foot. I especially liked the thoughts about given money and all the strings attached to it. Even if the people are not in favor of the way we want to help it is like we force them to accept our help our way. Good thoughts.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great reminder that we all have our default biases, even though we try not to. When engaging with people (whether they are "the same" or "different" from you) we need to keep in mind that our initial ideas about what is right isn't the only right way to do things. The book is filled with other good reminders and suggestions on how to interact, engage in tough situations and how to be sensitive to cultural differences / language barriers.

[Michelle Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would say this is a must read for anyone who is involved or considering missions - live or work in a cross cultural environment. Mary has done a good job of explaining the differences in cultures and their world views. I have been living in Cambodia for 13 years and had multiple ah ha's while reading this book, wish I had read it 10 years ago. I would have made far fewer mistakes.

[Brian C · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much packed into one book; well organized, well-written, simple language for understanding basic cross-cultural communication principles when partnering to accomplish a particular ministry. Written to the western church partnering w the majority world, but excellent principles for field workers as well.

[Thom Schotanus]

Even though the book focuses on money in cross-cultural relationships, this book gives some great in depth looks at how different situations are viewed by different cultures and why misunderstandings and tension can develop because of them.

[Zach Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty simple, but has a number of gems throughout regarding relationships with those of different cultures.