Beyond Translation: Creat<strong>in</strong>g World Church Publications <strong>in</strong> Language and Cultural Contexts By Steven L. Shields, International Resource Development Consultant I am excited to announce to the Quorum <strong>of</strong> High Priests the soon-to-be-released French language Disciple Formation Guide for youth and a Spanish-language Disciple Formation Guide for children. With the launch <strong>of</strong> the Disciple Formation Guide early <strong>in</strong> 2011, <strong>Community</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Christ</strong> entered an excit<strong>in</strong>g era for teach<strong>in</strong>g and develop<strong>in</strong>g disciples! Disciple formation is important for the church throughout the world. The press<strong>in</strong>g question is how our approach can be effective <strong>in</strong> an <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly diverse denom<strong>in</strong>ation. <strong>Community</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Christ</strong> has great experience with creat<strong>in</strong>g culturally suitable resources for regional use. The church has translated many publications from English <strong>in</strong>to a dozen or more languages used by congregations around the world. Resource-creation teams at International Headquarters realized that creat<strong>in</strong>g the Disciple Formation Guide needed to <strong>in</strong>volve more people, more places, and more languages. Translation <strong>of</strong> English-language documents, written <strong>in</strong> and for a particular socioeconomic and cultural environment, would not be satisfactory. A worldwide church needs to hear the voices <strong>of</strong> all members from all places. Ideally, such communication ought to be multidirectional. Us<strong>in</strong>g the church’s successful model <strong>of</strong> regional resource creation, we formed two teams. We asked them to write culturally suitable Disciple Formation Guides. The French-language team met <strong>in</strong> French Polynesia <strong>in</strong> November 2011 and wrote a guide for youth. The Spanish-language team met <strong>in</strong> Honduras <strong>in</strong> February 2012 and wrote a guide for children. Us<strong>in</strong>g an outl<strong>in</strong>e identical to the English-language Disciple Formation Guide, each team wrote more than 100 disciple practices, grounded <strong>in</strong> a variety <strong>of</strong> cultural frameworks. Us<strong>in</strong>g the Disciple Formation lesson template, they took the work a step further and wrote a basic lesson plan for each practice. Team members looked to the English-language Disciple Formation Guide for <strong>in</strong>spiration and ideas, but rather than translate, they created someth<strong>in</strong>g new. High Priests Newsletter International Resources 12 What is most excit<strong>in</strong>g, though, is the teams created not a regional resource as <strong>in</strong> the past, with limited distribution, but a World Church resource. Translation still plays an important role <strong>in</strong> World Church resources. The French-language guide will be translated <strong>in</strong>to Spanish, and eventually <strong>in</strong>to the many other languages <strong>Community</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Christ</strong> uses. With the launch <strong>of</strong> the Disciple Formation Guide early <strong>in</strong> 2011, <strong>Community</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Christ</strong> entered an excit<strong>in</strong>g era for teach<strong>in</strong>g and develop<strong>in</strong>g disciples! Likewise, the Spanish-language guide for children will be translated <strong>in</strong>to French. Both guides will be translated <strong>in</strong>to English, and many disciple practices and lesson plans will be added to the English-language website so they can be used <strong>in</strong> the United States, Canada, Brita<strong>in</strong>, Australia, and other English-speak<strong>in</strong>g areas. The French-language team <strong>of</strong> 10 <strong>in</strong>cluded four members <strong>of</strong> the Quorum <strong>of</strong> High Priests: Pasoti Lee, French Polynesia <strong>Mission</strong> Center presidency; Benjam<strong>in</strong> Colombani Jr., pastor and congregational consultant; and Larry Tyree and Steven L. Shields from International Headquarters. Others were Tanoh Assoi, Ervelyne Bernard, Noëll<strong>in</strong>e Colombani, Rom<strong>in</strong>a Mootua, Teh<strong>in</strong>arii Reiatua, and Ilona Tauraa. The Spanish-language team <strong>in</strong>cluded three members <strong>of</strong> the quorum: Gonzalo Mejia, Central America <strong>Mission</strong> Center president; Art Smith, apostolic assistant; and Steven L. Shields, International Headquarters. Other members were Edgar Copa, Vanesa Herrera, Maria Ramirez, Angela Ramirez, Amanda Hernandez, Gleidy Tejada, Delf<strong>in</strong>a Mencia, and Debora Ulloa Castellon de Mejia. Because the Disciple Formation Guide is not a Sunday school curriculum, the disciple practices and lesson plans can be used <strong>in</strong> many sett<strong>in</strong>gs. The writ<strong>in</strong>g teams feel families can use the practices for devotional use <strong>in</strong> the home. Youth groups can use them <strong>in</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>gs. Adults can use many <strong>of</strong> the practices.
Translation teams are creat<strong>in</strong>g new resources for church use. 13 High Priests Newsletter
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