Thursday, July 23, 2015

Time

  1. Describe and distinguish the different characteristics of polychronic and monochronic time.  Give an example of how the awareness of this cultural complexity influences the ways in which you approach worship planning and leadership?

Different cultures perceive time differently.  Perception of time monochronically is linear and indicated by language used around it: saving, spending, budgeting, using, etc.  People who understand time monochronically will be punctual and allot specific amounts of time for specific purposes.  People who understand time polychronically understand time more generally and relationally.  Such individuals value how time is spent and will often be “late” to an event in an effort to give time to a relationship, to their self, or to other priorities.  In planning worship and in leadership, it will be important to understand these two categories and what it may mean for planning events and for their attendance.  It will also mean that while some people prefer structured worship that adheres to monochronic understandings of time, others find more meaning in worship experiences that leave room for spirit-led uses of time and the materials of worship.  Understanding the dominant paradigm within a congregation will help me to understand how to best plan, as well as how to understand those who may not perceive time in that dominant paradigm.

No comments:

Post a Comment