Seminarian perspective transformation through participation in a cross-cultural immersion

This interdisciplinary study examined the design and implementation of a Christian seminary's cross-cultural immersion degree requirement for Master of Divinity students. The overall goal of the immersion was to provide a learning experience through which students broaden and transform their worldview as preparation for ministry in a global context. This short-term study researched the effectiveness of the immersion as evidenced through both student self-reported increased capacity to be inclusive of those in the seminary community itself and student reflection upon the theological theme of covenant community. Analysis of interviews, journal entries, participant observation and questionnaire responses indicated perspective transformation was connected to the degree to which a student recognized the presence of their own culture in the immersion learning experience.