Inclusivity and traditional, first-generation, elderly, Chinese Christians

I have a dream: "...many shall come from East and West and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matt 8:11). 1 Out of this dream has grown my current research project, which addresses the ways in which a transformative model of education can be used to broaden the perspectives of a traditional, first-generation, elderly, Chinese Christian community that holds an exclusive understanding of church.;The intended outcomes of this project include: (1) To have a better and deeper understanding of the culture and lives of the Chinese congregations of Chown Memorial and Chinese United Church in order to minister more effectively. (2) To explore how a traditional, first-generation, elderly, Chinese Christian group understands "church." (3) To discover how attitudes leading to change may be learned during a transformative learning program. (4) To offer general insights and conclusions that might be helpful to the United Church of Canada in its ongoing ministry to Chinese Christian immigrants.;How would the transformative shift be measured? At the initial gathering of the transformative learning program for the Chinese Golden Years Club, a questionnaire was distributed?2 I used the same instrument at the end of the transformative learning program. By comparing the two questionnaires, I determined how values and beliefs began to shift.;A series of four transformative workshops were held between the two questionnaires. Three indicators of transformation were used to determine if transformation was occurring during these workshops: (1) A more empowered sense of Christian identity; (2) A more critical understanding of how our tradition, culture, and social relationships have shaped our beliefs and feelings; and (3) A more purposeful and resourceful approach to take concrete action.3 My research started with a dream; at the end, I offer a prayer by Wenh-In Ng:;I am a Chinese minister, and I have served at Chown Memorial and Chinese United Church (United Church of Canada) in Vancouver, British Columbia, since 2001. I grew up in mainland China and Hong Kong before coming to Canada to reunite with my family in 1996. This research project has had an impact on both my theology of ministry and my on going struggle with a sense of pastoral identity. I am not alone in my experience of confusion and angst concerning cultural and personal identity and theology; these continue to be key issues for Canadian Chinese immigrants.;Wise and loving God, you have created, and are still creating, a world rich with difference and diversity. You have created all people in your image, each expressing their being and living their life in valid, special relationship with you. For all this, we give you praise. Amen.4;1NIV. All further biblical references are from this version. 2See Appendix 2. 3Roberta Clare. "Transformative Models of Religious Education," (course handout from Chalmers Summer School, Vancouver School of Theology, Vancouver, B,C. June 2007), 2. 4Wenh-In Ng. ed., That All May Be One: A Resource for Educating toward Racial Justice (Toronto: The United Church of Canada. 2004), 77.