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Volume 19, Number 1, February 2006 Contents, Abstracts, Notes on Contributors Articles DENIS EDWARDS Abstract: Climate change is an urgent issue facing the whole human community in the 21st century. For Christian believers, committed to love for God's creation and to respect for the dignity of every person, responding to this issue will need to be central in the life of faith. What does global climate change mean for a Christian community that gathers each Sunday in the name of Jesus to listen to the Word of God and break the bread? This article begins with scientific insights on long-term and human-induced climate change. It draws on insights on creation and the Eucharist both from the West (Teilhard de Chardin) and from the East (John Zizioulas). It builds on these with a theology of the Eucharist as the living memory of all God's creatures. JAMES HARDING Caribbean Biblical Hermeneutics after the Empire 16 Abstract: This article surveys recent trends in biblical interpretation in the Caribbean in the context of postcolonial biblical criticism, and functions on several levels. First, it examines the strengths, weaknesses, and presuppositions of particular examples of Caribbean readings of biblical texts. Secondly, it interrogates the use of the term "postcolonial" in scholarly discourse on biblical texts. Thirdly, and most importantly, it critiques the presuppositions that underlie the author's own engagements with the material under discussion. Consequently, this article emphasises the importance of the self-criticism of the interpreter in the process of interpretation, and offers an example of how scholars from the "firstworld" might engage both critically and constructively with the work of scholars from the "two-thirds world". It therefore seeks to participate in the "de-centering" of biblical scholarship, advocated by Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza. JAMES MCEVOY, Church and World at the Second Vatican Council: The Significance of Gaudium et Spes 37 Abstract: In its Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World the Second Vatican Council put behind it the rejection of modernity that characterised the Roman Catholic Church's relationship with the world in the previous 150 years. Forty years after the publication of Gaudium et Spes, this article seeks to articulate the theological understanding of the church-world relationship contained in the final text of the document by examining the sequence of schemas which led to it. JOHN A. MOSES, Anglicanism and Anzac Observance The Essential Contribution of Canon David John Garland 58 Abstract: Research has shown that the precise origins of Anzac commemoration are to be found in the work of the Brisbane Anzac Day Commemoration Committee (ADCC) founded on 10 January 1916. The precursor to that committee was the Brisbane Recruitment Committee consisting of leading Brisbane businessmen and municipal leaders, the secretary of which was an energetic Dubliner and Anglican priest, one Canon David John Garland. The article shows that while the Anzac Day "liturgy" devised by Garland had to take account of religious/theological divisions as well as secular attitudes, underneath it lay a specific Christian purpose, namely to commemorate the fallen, console the bereaved and call the nation to penitence for the sin of war. DAVID NEVILLE, The Demise of the Two-Document Hypothesis? Dunn and Burkett on Gospel Sources 78 Abstract: Two recently published books by James Dunn and Delbert Burkett, Jesus Remembered and Rethinking the Gospel Sources , pose critical challenges to the two-document hypothesis. Dunn's advocacy of oral tradition(s) to account for a significant proportion of the synoptic tradition militates against the two-document hypothesis, despite his continuing adherence to it. Burkett's arguments against direct literary relations between any of the synoptic gospels and his hypothetical reconstruction of a number of pre-canonical gospel sources, including three separate written versions of Proto-Mark, constitute a direct assault on the two-document hypothesis. Despite significant differences between Dunn and Burkett, the combined effect of their respective challenges to re-conceive the interrelations between the synoptic gospels is the inadequacy of the two document hypothesis as traditionally understood and taught. Book Reviews EDWARD FOLEY AND ROBERT SCHREITER (eds.), The Wisdom of Creation Alice Sinnott 93 PATRICK HARTIN, James of Jerusalem: Heir to Jesus of Nazareth Mary R. Huie-Jolly 96 WILL DEMING, Paul on Marriage and Celibacy: The Hellenistic Background of 1 Corinthians Nigel M. Watson 97 KILIAN MCDONNELL, The Other Hand of God: The Holy Spirit as the Universal Touch and Goal Christiaan Mostert 99 EBERHARD BUSCH, The Great Passion. An Introduction to Karl Barth's Theology Bruce Barber 101 THOMAS J. FISCH, Primary Readings on the Eucharist Tim Costelloe 103 LUKE TIMOTHY JOHNSON, The Creed: What Christians Believe and Why it Matters David Pascoe 105 RICHARD LENNAN, Risking the Church: The Challenges of Catholic Faith Denis Edwards 107 DONALD X. BURT, "Let me know you": Reflections on Augustine's Search for God Neil Ormerod 109 JUDITH E. MCKINLAY, Reframing Her: Biblical Women in Postcolonial Focus Alice Sinnott 110 THOMAS G. GRENHAM, The Unknown God: Religious and Theological Interculturation Larry Nemer 113 ROSS LANGMEAD, The Word Made Flesh: Towards an Incarnational Missiology Larry Nemer 115 MARIO SATURNINO DIAS (ed.), Rooting Faith in Asia: Source Book for Inculturation Ross Mackinnon 117 DOCTORAL abstracts 120 Donald Craig Campbell, Doctor of Ministry Studies (DMinStuds) The Melbourne College of Divinity "Emerging Images of Salvationist Mission: 'For the glory of God and the benefit of your generation'" The thesis explored emerging images of mission for The Salvation Army in Australia in the spirit of William Booth, whose words form part of the title. Its hypothesis is that the Army's future will be governed largely by its capacity to reconnect the experience of the transcendent with the daily experience of Australians, especially those most disconnected from the benefits of society. The thesis contends that a compelling, comprehensive and contemporary image of mission is needed that will function to create an imaginative space into which people can enter with new energy. The research was grounded in extensive reading, engaged with contemporary theological reflection in the Army and drew upon findings from grass-roots data. A mission image of hospitality, expressive of active participation, accompaniment and sanctuary emerges from this inquiry, in a conversation between these voices of tradition, culture and experience. The advisor for the thesis was the Revd Dr Denham Grierson. Brian George Farran, Doctor of Ministry Studies (DMinStuds) The Melbourne College of Divinity "Becoming ministering communities. The narrative of the development of a new model of church for the rural and remote regions of the Anglican Diocese of Perth, WA" The thesis sets out a critical narrative of the implementation of a baptismal ecclesiology in the Goldfields and Wheat-belt of Western Australia. This ecclesiology developed a model of Anglican parishes known as "Ministering Communities in mission". The thesis concludes that the progressive adoption of this model for the rural and remote church demands transformational change at a variety of levels within the Anglican Church. The implementation of the model raises critical issues of ecclesiology, ministerial identity and formation, and the sustainability of a denomination within a declining demographic. The advisor for the thesis was Dr Ian Barns. Shanthikumar Hettiarachchi, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) The Melbourne College of Divinity "Postcolonial Sinhala Buddhist revival and the displacement of Buddhist Christian majority-minority roles in Sri Lanka: an approach to missiology in a sociocultural plurality" The thesis critically surveys the Buddhist Christian presence within the context of postcolonial Sri Lankan history in order to examine the displacement of roles and identity issues of the Sri Lankan Buddhist majority and the Christian minority. It makes a distinct contribution to the development of a contextual theology, in ascertaining the displacement of roles and identities among religious groups. The study provides significant directions for the development of a new interpretation of "complex dialogue". The analysis and approach to both Buddhist and Christian traditions forms a symbol of this extensive involvement in social movements and political activity in Sri Lanka. The thesis argues that there are several social symptoms of a loss of the collective role and identity of the majority Buddhist institutions. Various streams of the Sinhala Buddhist espousals, under different manifestations, have neither been able to reclaim nor revert back to the nostalgic, vibrant active role and identity prior to the European presence on the island. The churches were established on the island as theologically and ecclesiastically fractured institutions in the manner and style of their European 'mother institutions'. This internal dissension has been aggravated by the influx of the more theologically militant evangelical impact on all other religious communities in the country. The advisor for the thesis was the Revd Dr Ruwan Palapathwala. Mary Elizabeth Calwell, Doctor of Theology The Melbourne College of Divinity "'Be just and fear not': Arthur A Calwell 1946-1973." This thesis discusses the values, actions and events of an intellectual and committed Catholic who cared about society. It explores the theological, philosophical and social influences that informed his decisions. The thesis concludes that Arthur Calwell believed in a democratic society free from prejudice, where people of different ethnicities and religious commitments could live within a framework of broadly Judeo-Christian values. The advisor for the thesis was the Revd Dr Ian Breward. Byung-Joon Chung, Doctor of Theology The Melbourne College of Divinity "Beyond Dichotomy: The Wholistic Mission Understanding of the Australian Presbyterian Missionaries and its Contribution to the Korean Mission, 1889- 1942" The thesis explores the formative process of a wholistic mission understanding among a group of Australian Presbyterian missionaries who identified as Evangelicals. It examines in particular how they could overcome the theological dichotomy between conservatism and liberalism, in the context of their mission policies and work in Korea from 1889-1942. The thesis concludes that their wholistic mission method, 'from below to above' was both practical and highly effective in reducing cultural resistance to Christianity in the mission territory of Korea where they worked. The mission priority which they gave to women, children, the poor, and the outcast, resulted in conversions, social reform, and church growth. The advisor for the thesis was the Revd Dr Ian Breward. Elizabeth Victorina Dowling, Doctor of Theology The Melbourne College of Divinity "Taking away the pound: women, theology and the parable of the pounds in the gospel of Luke" The thesis uses the Parable of the Pounds as a lens through which to view the characterisation of women in the Gospel of Luke. Within the parable, different slaves receive different treatment from their master. This study argues that an exploration of the power dynamics of the parable provides insight into the different ways in which women characters can be seen to fare in this Gospel. The advisors for the thesis were the Revd Professor Dr Dorothy Lee and Sr Dr Veronica Lawson. Margaret Ellen Lee, Doctor of Theology The Melbourne College of Divinity "A Method for Sound Analysis in Hellenistic Greek: The Sermon on the Mount as a Test Case" The thesis outlines a method for analyzing Hellenistic Greek texts as spoken sound, using Matthew's Sermon on the Mount as a test case. It identifies differences between ancient listeners and contemporary silent readers. It demonstrates that Hellenistic writing captured and preserved spoken sound for presenting detailed sound maps. Sound's unique dynamics in the Sermon on the Mount suggest an ironic slant that opens new interpretative possibilities for Matthew's gospel. The advisor for the thesis was Dr Brandon Scott. Zenon Szablowinski, Doctor of Theology The Melbourne College of Divinity "The dynamic Relationship between Roman Catholic Reconciliation and the Processes of National Reconciliation in Chile and South Africa." The advisor for the thesis was the Revd Dr Cormac Nagle. Jennifer M. Close, Doctor of Philosophy Griffith University School of Theology "A Feminist Understanding of Liturgical Art" My task in this thesis is to devise a feminist model of liturgical art practice which uses both aesthetic and prophetic approaches. In this model liturgical art is capable both of drawing people to contemplation and of calling them to discipleship in the service of God in the world. It is also able to encourage hope and challenge injustices. Such a practice will be able to work within the church and the world in order to renew them. The supervisors for this thesis were Rev Dr David Rankin who took over from Professor Elaine Wainwright (University of Auckland) and Ms Marilyn Carney (Queensland College of Art). Lahnim Lalpekhula, Doctor of Philosophy in Theology School of Theology, Auckland University "A Study of Christology from a Tribal Perspective with Special Reference to Mizoram North East India" The Christological tradition was found to be largely irrelevant to the Mizo, tribal people in Mizoram, because of its uncritical application of Western theology to a very different historical and cultural context. Despite the Western overlay the thesis identified the significant continuity and influence of traditional culture in Mizo Christianity. The attempt was made to recover Mizo concepts such as pasaltha, humanity, land, God and spiritual beings, and life after death as contextual sources for Christology. The thesis argued that Jesus' life and ministry, incarnation, suffering and death, can all be seen as manifesting the principle of tlawmngaihna which is an essential characteristic of pasaltha. Jesus' resurrection and exaltation can be seen as God's reponse to Jesus' person and work precisely as pasalthatlawmngai. Similarly the kingdom of God, which defined and summed up Jesus' message and mission, can be perceived in the Mizoram context as exhibiting the qualities of a communitarian society. The supervisors for this thesis were Drs John Dunn and John Salmon.
DENIS EDWARDS is a senior lecturer in theology in the School of Theology of Flinders University. He teaches for Catholic Theological College within the ecumenical consortium of the Adelaide College of Divinity. He is a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide and a member of the Advisory Council of Catholic Earthcare Australia. His most recent book is Breath of Life: A Theology of the Creator Spirit (2004), published by Orbis Press. JAMES HARDING studied at the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield in England before taking up a post teaching Old Testament Studies at Codrington College in Barbados, where he taught from 2000 to 2003. Since 2003 he has been Lecturer in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. His main research interests include post-colonialism, the book of Job, and the wisdom texts from Qumran. JAMES MCEVOY is Senior Lecturer in Theology at Flinders University School of Theology and Catholic Theological College, Adelaide. He teaches mainly in the areas of foundational theology and theological anthropology. His ongoing research explores the church-world relationship and on this topic he has recently published: "Faithful Witness in a Fractured World", Australasian Catholic Record 79 (October 2002). THE REVEREND DR JOHN A. MOSES is an Anglican priest and formerly head of the department of history at the University of Queensland. His research has included work on German labour history, German colonies in the Pacific, German settlement in Australia, German historiography of the First World War (the Fischer controversy), trade union theory from Marx to Walesa, Anzac commemoration, the Australian historian, G. A. Wood, and more recently Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Moses has published widely in all these areas. He is currently Adjunct Professor at the University of New England, School of Classics, History & Religion. DAVID NEVILLE lectures in New Testament at St Mark's National Theological Centre and the School of Theology, Charles Sturt University. His research has focused on the synoptic gospels, and he is the author of two books on the synoptic problem. He has also edited two collections of essays in the area of Christian social ethics. |