School of Graduate Research Student Theses

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A new body and a new voice: hybrid structure and practice in an evolving form of secular public engagement for the Anglican Church of Australia
(2019) Wilson, Richard
While the Anglican Church has a limited influence on contemporary public policy formation, this research demonstrated that a small number of church organisations have established deep public engagement with the economics, finance and business sector. These organisations exhibit working practices and processes and alternative organisational structures and cultures that are fundamental to successful public engagement.
Are You One of Us? : An Exploration of Discursive Identity Formation in the Salvation Army.
(2011) Grey, Terry
Brahmabandhab Upadhyay: an Enigmatic Catholic Freedom Fighter (1861-1907)
(2012-05-03) Firth-Smith, William
This thesis oulines the life and thought of Indian theologian, Brahmabandhab Upadyay (1861-1907), a polymath whose important contributions have been largely overlooked in the western world. The First Part is biographical, consisting of details of Brahmabandhab Upadyay's early life; his Christian witness; his philosophy of teaching; his journalistic dynamism; his attitude to caste; a description of his milieu; his struggles with the church heirarchy; and his political acitivism, sedition trial and death. The Second Part consists of a discussion of topics central to Upadhyay's thought and contribution, including some of his theological explorations; the ashram considered as mode of Christian expression; and nationalism and liberation in an Indian context. It concludes with a critical analysis of his contributions, arguing that Upadhyay's contributions are relevant today and merit greater recognition.
The Christ Who Embraces: An Orthodox Theology of Margins in India
(2020) Joseph, Jacob
This thesis develops a Christological response to Orthodox Christian mission in the context of caste dynamics among St/ Thomas/Syrian Orthodox Christians in India. In the context of Dalit social and theological concerns, it intends to offer a casteless Orthodox theology of mission that envisions a reconciling mission through a miaphysite Christological embrace or kiss of peace.
Christian Responses to the Growth of Islam in Igboland, Nigeria, and its Implications for Christian-Muslim Relations in the Region.
(2023-10) 'Uzoeshi, Uzoma J.'
This study examined Christian responses to the growth of Islam in Igboland and its implications for Christian-Muslim relations. It investigated factors that promoted the growth and its trajectories among the Igbos, who are autochthonous to southeastern Nigeria and are considered overwhelmingly Christian in population and social culture. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach, integrating a qualitative phenomenological approach of semi-structured interviews with literature research. The research findings showed a gradual growth of Islam in this predominantly Christian region. It further indicated that Christians responded positively and negatively to the growth of Islam and interfaith relations. However, committed Christians hold more promise for reducing religious or ethnoreligious violence than nominal Christians, mainly because the former demonstrated the capacity for a more authentic Christian practice of peaceful co-existence in fostering Christian-Muslim relations as Islam advances its growth in Igboland. The study recommends interfaith dialogue to resolve religious violence and enhance peaceful co-existence.
Christian–Buddhist Dialogue in Myanmar: A Spirituality of Involvement in Social and Ethical Transformation
(2017-10) Lian, San
This thesis attempts to promote Christian-Buddhist dialogue based on Buddhist notion of social engagement and the Christian vision of the Kingdom of God in the context of the suffering people of Myanmar. Primarily, it aims to address social realities in order to advocate justice, peace and social harmony in Myanmar.
Contextualising Theology in the South Pacific With Lessons Learned from The “Gospel and Culture in Vanuatu" Project
(2016-07) Prior, Randall
This thesis traces the way the global movement of the contextualisation of theology has impacted upon the shape of theology in the context of the South Pacific. It establishes that, while there has been significant progress in the contextualising of the content of theology, the methodology of theology has been given inadequate attention. A contextual methodology must acknowledge three key factors which arise from the distinctive cultural context of the South Pacific and which contrast with the embedded western theological heritage: (i) South Pacific cultures are oral-based and not literacy-based; (ii) they operate with Melanesian and not Enlightenment categories; (iii) the separation of the theological task from the life of local church communities is a cultural anomaly. These factors then form the basis for a critique of the “Gospel and Culture in Vanuatu” project which constitutes an experiment in a genuine contextualisation of theology.
Cross-Cultural Mission: The Impact of the American Baptist Missionaries on the Angami Naga Tribe
(2018) Angami, Kezhalezo
Western Christian Missionaries have often been blamed for undermining and destroying the cultures of the indigenous people of the North East India, including the Angami Naga tribal culture. Rather than subscribing to this stereotype of the missionaries as destroyers of tribal culture, the research looks at the actual records - such as the accounts of anthropologists and the letters and documents of the missionaries - to see how the missionaries dealt with local tribal culture. This research shows that the American Baptist Missionaries who worked in the Naga Hills from 1872 to 1947 have indeed been responsible for cultural change among the Angami Nagas. Yet, it would be wrong to say that the changes that came about as a consequence of missionary activity obliterated Angami traditional culture. In fact, the missionaries can be seen as the preservers and custodians of Angami culture. They not only preserved but also shaped the Angami culture and made it resilient for the future.
Earth's Cry: Prophetic Ministry in a More Than Human World
(2010) Morgan, Janet
Earth cries out: a cry that is global and emplaced. Ministry is a response to cry. This thesis offers a conceptual structure for a process I call ecoministry. The structure arises from three intersecting elements: the critical interdisciplinarity of the ecohumanities, the ministerial model of James and Evelyn Whitehead (1995), and the prophetic imagination as interpreted by Walter Brueggemann (2001). A thread that runs through all three is narrative, and narrative is always emplaced. The ecophilosophical critique of the nature/culture divide holds radical implications: in essence it requires resituating culture in nature. ‘Nature’ is both a construction and a reality beyond and underlying all texts. Understanding this tension in discourses about nature challenges traditional approaches to religious tradition, and leads to a recovery of place. Brueggemann’s interpretation of the prophetic imagination presents place ambiguously, and it is elided in Whiteheads’ model. In this thesis I attend to place in the narratives of Victorian Volcanic Plains grasslands, and include a stalk of kangaroo grass as a way of recognising the materiality that must now be taken into account as sacred. I conceptualise a structure for ecoministry, rooted in the prophetic tradition, that is a call to the vocation of learning what it means now to be human, by attending to Earth’s cry globally and in local places, by critiquing silences and owning the violent misuse of our power, by grieving the multiple losses entailed, by trusting emergent outcomes and by risking alternative forms of praxis.
Enfleshing Hope: Toward a Christian Response to the Rise of Urban Slum and Squatter Neighbourhoods
(2012-05) Barker, James A.
This thesis addresses the challenge to Christian mission posed by the rapid rise of urban slum and squatter neighbourhoods in the Majority World. Rather than seeing incarnational mission as a model, method or value, a view of incarnational mission which utilizes the trinitarian motif of enfleshing hope is proposed. This approach has the potential to invite distinctive and effective Christian responses to the challenge of slums.
Finding Meanings for ‘Faith in Development’: An Examination of the Applied Theology of World Vision and Its Broader Implications for the Development Sector and Practice
(2015) Mitchell, Bob
This research in applied theology articulates the key theological motifs of a leading international development organisation, World Vision. A revelatory case study uses qualitative research techniques to assess how these theological motifs affect the organisation’s development work and practice. 37 different linkages are identified. A high-level quantitative analysis maps the prevalence and distribution of these links. The dataset covers eight country contexts from Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Eurasia. Grounded theory was applied to explore the dataset. The research moves beyond a higher-level consideration of the theological motivations for undertaking development work. It seeks to map an organisation’s theology and to assess its concrete impacts – positive contributions and areas of comparative advantage, but also the risks posed in terms of development practice. In this way, the study has responded to calls in the literature for greater knowledge and transparency when it comes to faith-based approaches to development.
Homecoming in Haizi – A Dialogue between the Chinese Soul-Search and the Gospel of Luke
(2015-06) Yang, Xiaoli
This thesis a dialogue between the Chinese soul-search found in Haizi’s (1964–1989) poetry and the gospel of Jesus Christ through Luke’s testimony. It takes an interdisciplinary approach—literary study, inter-cultural dialogue and comparative theology, and creates a contextual poetic lens to appreciate a generation of the Chinese homecoming journey, and to explore its relationship with Jesus Christ.
Human-centred design and God-centred discernment: A way of dialogue for Australian Anglicans
(2019) Blackwell, Genieve
Human-centred design and Ignatian discernment provide a way of dialogue (as with Buber and Bakhtin) for Australian Anglicans in order to not only to identify ‘wicked problems’ but develop effective practical solutions. An integrated process is developed and applied to the ‘wicked problem’ of the Anglican Province of Victoria.
Jesus in Nigerian Christianity: An exploration of some aspects of Christology that may contribute to peace and mutuality
(2016-12) Olorunnisola, Titus
This thesis develops a relevant and contextual Christology for contemporary Nigeria against the backdrop of the lingering crises of peace and mutuality, and the dominant form of Christology – “solution-oriented Christology – a Christology that dwells upon Christ’s divine power to liberate from life concerns. It addresses the problem of peace and mutuality in Nigeria using a Christological framework. The thesis proposes two Christological paradigms for peace and mutuality: the Reign of God and reconciliation which can be articulated in the form of prophetic dialogue and prophetic Christology. The thesis argues that given the existing religious consciousness of the Nigerian people, these Christological paradigms can function as models for the mission of Nigerian Christianity in the twenty-first century. When articulated, the paradigms may foster the quest for peace, mutuality, and social transformation in Nigeria. This thesis encapsulates a Christian option for the solution to the escalating problem of peace and mutuality in Nigeria.
Listening to God and the missio Dei
(2016) Olson, Murray
Thesis has outlined the evolution of the concept of the missio Dei and its importance to the Church. The examples have been provided of the way that the missio Dei has been put into action and the importance of listening to God when you are involved in it.
Mercy in Action - Women in the Mission of the Church
(2010) Doherty, Laura Margaret
This study examines two initiatives of the Sisters of Mercy in Australia: their foundations in Pakistan and their work with East Timorese people, both in Australia and East Timor. These recent endeavours are placed in the context of women in mission and late twentieth cintury discussion of mission in the Catholic church. Additionally, the religious, political and social-econimic contexts of Pakistan and East Timor are considered. Attention is given to the understanding ot "mercy" in scripture and theology, the charism and practice of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, and the approach of the Australian Sisters of Mercy to their ministry in these new settings.
Metaphors for “church” and “mission” in the Lutheran Church of Australia
(2023) Mueller, Dan
Multiple metaphors combine and cohere to define “church” and “mission.” This project discovers and critiques dominant metaphors used in the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA). It asks: What are the prevalent metaphors? Why are these dominant? Are they helpful? Are there other more helpful metaphors? The project has three parts. First is a literature review of Australian Lutheran theological writings. Eight LCA public statements and fifty-one journal articles are identified and analysed. The discovered metaphors include: Mission is work, Mission is witnessing, Mission is motion, and Mission is war. These are predominantly adversarial, drawn from work-related and social behaviour semantic domains. Their causation can be understood in terms of LCA history including struggles during the Reformation, migration to Australia, the lived experience of Lutheran farmers, and factors leading to the union of LCA synods in 1966. Next, three qualitative focus groups explore metaphors across six LCA congregations. Although adversarial metaphors feature heavily in literature, they do not resonate with participants. Instead “constructive” and “welcoming” pictures are preferred. Analysis of transcripts reveal multiple metaphors are needed, while particular ones are favoured. Some metaphors have more intuitive mappings than others, with metaphorical meaning made in community where the pastor plays a key role. Finally, four metaphors are recommended for congregations: Mission is growing deep roots and wild branches, Mission is sharing a meal together, Mission is childbirth, and Mission is providing a safe harbour for weary sailors. These build on existing LCA metaphorical preferences, balance Lutheran emphasises, and speak to our times. Congregations are challenged to explore, critique, and change their metaphors for “mission” by: (1) discovering dominant metaphors, (2) analysing causation of dominant metaphors, (3) choosing new or existing metaphors to feature, and (4) employing these metaphors often and everywhere. New metaphors ignite the imagination and can powerfully shape future LCA identity and practice.
Nyar-U: Towards a Karen Contextual Theology
(2011-05-12) Nyunt, Aung K.
The thesis argues for the importance of a contextual theology for the Karen people from Burma who have been struggling in their journey of suffering. It proposes building a Karen contextual theology around the cultural symbol of Nyar-U, fish-paste.The first chapter explores contextual theology as central for Asia, outlining two Asian theologies, Dalit and Minjung, as two fruitful responses.The second chapter explores the importance for the Karen people of the symbol of fish-paste and how this symbol helps to understand their suffering. In the light of this symbol, the third and fourth chapters further analyse the main issues facing the Karen people,especially their suffering, fear and division.The final chapter details how the symbol of fish-paste can assist the Karen to understand God in their lives and to face their suffering with hope.
Preaching the Gospel Anew: A Reappropriation of Negative (Apophatic) and Positive (Cataphatic) Theology in Redemptorist Mission and Identity in the Age of Globalization.
(2013-05-02) Echano, Joseph
In order for Redemptorists to be faithful to their charism as established by St. Alphonsus and to realise this charism today, they need to preach the gospel anew. To preach the gospel anew is to preach the gospel in the spirit of the times. The spirit of the times which best describe the contemporary situation is globalization. This thesis sought to explore the most significant feature and impact of globalization not just on the structures of society—economics, politics and culture—but more on the everyday life of the people. This thesis then sought the most appropriate heuristic for preaching the gospel anew in globalization. The most celebrated leitmotif about globalization is the greater interconnectedness among nations, cultures and religions in the world and the massive expansion of knowledge and information. The interconnection of globalization has resulted not in sameness but in the radicalization of differentiality. The expansion of knowledge and information, on the other hand, has brought to the fore the limitation of reason, science and language. To preach the gospel anew in globalization is to preach the gospel amidst radical differentiality and unknowing. The heuristic for preaching the gospel anew that is conducive to this ethos of globalization is the ancient tradition of negative theology. Negative theology was prominent from the ancient to the Middle Ages, but was largely forgotten in modern times. It has made a comeback in contemporary theology. Negative theology emphasizes a negative way of talking about God, that is, what God is not. However, it is always complemented by positive theology, which emphasizes a positive affirmation of God, that is, what God is. Negative theology in preaching in globalization follows the path of mysticism while positive theology in preaching in globalization follows the path of prophecy. The heuristic of negative theology in preaching the gospel anew can help facilitate the Redemptorists’ task of reimagining their life and preaching mission in the age of globalization.
REFLECTIONS ON AUSTRALIAN CONTEXTUAL MODELS OF PASTORAL MINISTRY
(2005) Cronshaw, Darren
Australian historical images – for example, the Aborigine, convict, bushman, gold digger, Anzac ‘digger’, and migrant – are a fruitful source for theological reflection to develop models of ministry. These images and their historical contexts helped shape Australian culture and so shape context for ministry. A conversation between historical themes and Christian tradition suggests a number of complementary models for pastoral ministry in Australia. Spiritual companions, for example, help people relate faith to their journey in everyday life. This model resonates with Aboriginal listening and sensitivity to the sacred, and is at home with the Australian longing for everyday spirituality as articulated by contemporary social commentators such as Michael Leunig. Chaplains get alongside people in the midst of their lives, although colonial chaplains were seen more as distant moral policemen and their role in evangelism was limited by their government employment. As settlement spread through the bush, ministry as shepherding with clergy who cared for their flocks replaced or supplemented chaplaincy. Shepherding, an image rich in nurturing and care, was at home in the rural setting of the colonies, and continues to meaningfully express the pastoral care aspects of local church ministry. The labour movement and the Australian value of a fair go for the underdog suggest a place for ministry as prophetic advocacy; and ministry as service fits Australian humanitarianism, the Anzac spirit and servant leadership popular today even in business circles. Finally, ministers as community hosts reflect both God’s hospitality and the multicultural ethos of Australia that draws people together from different cultures and backgrounds. The pastoral ministry can be imagined and expressed by various models which describe different emphases of ministry, and the most effective models for pastoral ministry in Australia will derive from and critique Australian culture and historical images.

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Browsing School of Graduate Research Student Theses by Subject "D - Missiology"

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