Arusi Network, Inc.
Arusi Network: Social Support for
African-American Christian Marriage
Key Terms
Arusi Network
Network of parish based African-American marriage support groups within a limited geographical area.
Arusi Retreat
A retreat format developed by Lyke To Lyke Consultants for African-American married couples.
Dialogue
A method of communication married couples use to express their feelings through letter writing.
Empowerment
Having the faculties and willingness to act for the well-being of one's marriage.
Instrumental support
Tangible assistance given to individuals in the form of food, clothing, shelter, money, etc.
Marital well-being
The subjective assessment married persons have about the quality of their marriage.
Marriage Encounter
A Church-born movement that emanated from the Christian Family Movement in the late 1960's. Marriage Encounter was developed by Father Gabriel Calvo of Spain as a retreat-like experience where married couples encounter themselves, each other and God. A communicating technique of letter writing called dialogue, where couples communicate their feelings, is taught and promoted through the movement.
Marriage Support Group
A group of married couples who meet regularly in a structured setting, and share with each other from their marriage on a particular topic.
Nguzo Saba
A phrase in the language Kiswahili that means "The Seven Principles." Each principle is celebrated in the African-American holiday, Kwanzaa. The Arusi Network paraphrased each principle to make them specific to marriage, and are used as topics of monthly marriage support group meetings.
Positively accelerated view
The consensual perception of a married couple that their relationship is moving in a positive direction.
Primacy
The value of giving the marital relationship highest priority above other relationships.
Protection
Buffering effect of social support of marriage.
Public dimension of marriage
The mutual accountability between married partners and their communities. Couples are to be signs of God's love. The community protects couples from negative forces that may destroy their relationship.
Relationship awareness
A couple's ability to conceptualize their relationship as a unit.
Sacramental
Pertaining to one of the seven signs of grace recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Those signs are Baptism, Reconciliation, Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Sacrament of Anointing (Last Rites).
Sharing
Expressing one's feelings in the context of a narrative before a group of listeners.
Ushuda Workshops
An eight-hour enrichment program designed by Lyke To Lyke Consultants for African-American married couples.
Witnessing
Being a visible sign of Christian values.