Spring 1989 Quarterly Review - Theological Resources for Ministry

8/9/2019 Spring 1989 Quarterly Review - Theological Resources for Ministry

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s t a l e, i f n o t d o w n r i g h t c y n i ca l . I t h i n k t h a t w e in t h e We s t a n de s p e ci a l l y in N o r t h A m e r i c a a r e a b s o l u t e l y d e p e n d e n t u p o nt h e m t o a w a k e n u s a n d i n s p i r e u s .

B u t w e a l s o n e e d c om m u n i t i e s t o fo s t e r d i s b e l ie f w h e n it is

a p p r op r i a t e , t o ch a s t e n o u r c om m i t m e n t . We k n o w t h a t w en e e d a c o m m u n i t y t o b e l ie v e ; w e a r e n o t u s u a l ly a s c on s ci ou so f o u r n e e d f or c o m m u n i t y i n o r d e r t o d i s b e l ie v e . I n fa c t , w e a r em o r e l ik e l y t o b e l i e v e t o o m u c h t h a n t o o l it t l e . O u r b e h e f s a r ei n c l in e d t o b e t o o cl u t t e r e d , t o o d e t a i l e d . W e i n c l u d e b e l i e fa b o u t t h e M e s s i a h 's b ir t h p l a c e in o u r b e l ie f in t h e M e s s i a h .B a s i l a g a i n r e m i n d s t h a t a l on e w e a r e n o t l ik e l y t o r e a d i lyr e c o g n i z e ou r d e fe ct s . We n e e d o t h e r s t o r e p r o v e u s w i t hk i n d n e s s a n d com p a s s i on . We n e e d a co m m u n i t y w h o w illr e s p o n d a s J e s u s d i d t o t h e o v e r b e l i e f o f t h o s e p e o p l e in

J e r u s a l e m . "You k n o w m e , a n d y o u k n o w w h e r e I c om e f r o m ? "( J o h n 7 :2 8 ).

I s e e l i t u r g y a s t h e p r e e m i n e n t n o u r i s h m e n t o f c om m i t m e n t .T h e a s s e m b l y f o r w o r s h i p , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e E u c h a r i s t , i sch a r a c t e r i z e d b y r e -m e m b e r i n g , r e la x i n g a n d r e l a t in g . Wem a k e s p a ce a n d t i m e t o r e m e m b e r t h e or ig in a l v is ion a n d m a k en e w m e m o r i es . We c u l t iv a t e a c om m u n i t y t h a t ca n r e a w a k e nu s w h e n w e fa l l a s l e e p in t h e v ig il a n d w e h e a r o u r b e l i e fsc r i t i q u e d a g a i n s t t h e C h r i s t i a n s t o r y . F i n a l ly , t h e li t u r g yp r o m o t e s r e la x a t i on b y ce le b r a t i n g o u r c on v i c t io n t h a t n o m a tt e r h o w t r a g ic o u r p e r s o n a l c ir c u m s t a n c e s , h o w p r e v a l en t e vi ls e e m s in t h e w o r l d , w e a r e p l a y e r s i n a c om e d y. E v i l a n d d e a t hw il l n o t h a v e t h e la s t w o r d . E x i s t e n c e h a s a h a p p y e n d i n g . H e r eit m i g h t b e n o t e d p a r e n t h e t i ca l l y t h a t t h e w o r d c o m e d y i m p l ie sa m e s s i a n i c i m a g e , c om i n g a s it d oe s fr o m t h e G r e e k m e a n i n go r ig in a l ly a b a n q u e t w i t h s i n g i n g .

E v a n g e l i s m

T h a t l e a v e s e v a n g e li s m . "E v e r y p e r s o n is en t i t le d t o h e a r t h eG o o d N e w s , " i n s i s t s t h e Wo r l d C o u n c il o f C h u r c h ' s C o m m i s s i o no n M is s i on a n d E v a n g e li s m . ^ ' ' B u t I t h i n k t h a t y o u m u s t a g r e et h a t t h e r e is n o c on s e n s u s o n w h a t t h e G o od N e w s is . W h y e l s ew o u l d t h e r e b e t h o u s a n d s of d i ffe r e n t e m b o d i m e n t s o f t h a tm e s s a g e w h i ch w e k n o w as d e n o m i n a t i on s w i t h i n C h r i s t ia n i t y ?



N o r , I w o u l d a r g u e , h a s t h e r e b e e n a c on s i s t e n t n o t i on o f t h em e s s a g e t h r o u g h h i s t o r y , e v e n w i t h i n d e n o m i n a t i o n s . R o m a nC a t h o li c b i s h o p s c o u l d s p e a k o f s o ci a l j u s t i c e a s c on s t i t u t i v e o ft h e Gospel"^^ a n d t h e H o l y F a t h e r , in h i s m o s t r e c e n t e n c y cl ica l ,

c o u l d s p e a k o f " t h e a s p i r a t i o n t o f r e e d o m f r o m a l l f o r m s o fs l a v e r y (a s ) n o b l e a n d l e g i t i m a t e " a n d a s t h e p u r p o s e o f "l ib e r at i on a n d d e v e lo p m e n t . " T h i s on l y a h u n d r e d a n d t w e n t y -t w oy e a r s a f t e r R o m e i s s u e d a n i n s t r u c t i o n t o t h e A p o s t o li c Vica ro f E t h i op i a a n d S o m a l i a co n d o n i n g t h e b u y i n g a n d s e ll in g o fs la v e s "a s l on g a s t h e y h a d n o t b e e n t a k e n fr o m t h e i r l a w fu lo w n e r o r u n ju s t l y k id n a p p e d "!^ ^ O u r n o t i on s o f t h e G o o d N e w sc h a n g e - s o m e t i m e s q u i t e d r a s t ica l ly .

M y t h e s i s in t h i s s e c t io n i s t h a t t h e r e m a y b e w a y s o f lo ok i n ga t t h e G o od N e w s t h a t p r o m o t e s b ot h e v a n g e l i s m a n d

e c u m e n i s m .L e t m e s u g g e s t t h a t i t m a y b e a p p r o p r i a t e i n ou r t i m e t o l oo k

o n t h e g o od o f t h e g oo d n e w s t h e w a y w e l o ok a t t h e g oo d o fG e n e s i s . A ft e r e a c h c r e a t i on G o d l oo k e d a t it a n d s a w t h a t i tw a s g o od . A n d a f t er e v e r y t h i n g h a d b e e n cr e a t e d G o d lo ok e d a tit a n d " B e h o ld , it w a s v e r y g o od . " T h i s g o od c a n n o t b e t h e g o o do f e t h i cs . T h e r e a r e n o t g o od a n d e v il m o o n s o r s k i e s o r fxs h . I tm u s t b e t h e g oo d t h a t m e a n s be a u t y . T h e n , "B e h o ld i t w a s v e r yg o o d " c o u l d b e t r a n s l a t e d , " A n d G o d s a i d , * A h h ! ' "

W h a t I a m p r o p o s i n g is t h e p os s i b i li t y of e x a m i n i n g r e l i g io u st r a d i t ion s f r o m a n a e s t h e t i c p e r s p e c t i v e co n c e n t r a t i n g o nb e a u t y , o ft e n a t e r r i b le b e a u t y , r a t h e r t h a n f r o m a n e p i s -t e m o lo gi ca l a n d m e t a p h y s i ca l s t a n ce w h i ch c on ce n t r a t e s o nt r u t h . I s e e a n u m b e r o f a d v a n t a g e s t o t h i s s h i ft o f p e r s p e c t i ve .I t m a k e s e v a n g e l is m u n n e c e s s a r y b u t in e v i t a b l e . I t m a k e s e v a ng e l i s m n o n - m a n i p u l a t i v e b u t co m p e l li n g . I t t a k e s a c c ou n t o ft h e h i s t o r i c a n d g e og r a p h i c n a t u r e o f t r a d i t io n s .

E v a n g e l is m a s u n n e c e s s a r y , b u t i n e v i t a b l e

A c la s s i c d e f i n i t i o n o f e v a n g e l i s m i s o n e b e g g a r t e l l i n ga n o t h e r b e g g a r w h e r e t o fin d b r ea d .^ '^ R om a n C a t h o li c m i s s io na r y o r d e r s a r e s a y in g t h a t s u ch a d e fi n i t io n is n o l on g e r a pp r op r i a t e . F a t h e r J e n k i n s o n ,a v e r y i n f lu e n t i a l m i s s i ol og i s t , h a sw r i t t e n t h a t "it is n o l o n g e r s u ffi ci e n t t o sa y t h a t t h e m i s s i on a r y



b r i n g s s a l v a t i on or g r a c e o r G o d . T h e s e a r e a l r e a d y t o b e f ou n dw h e r e t h e m i s s io n a r y g o e s . . . "W h a t t h e m i s s i on a r y b r i n g s is ah o p e e m b e d d e d i n t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e l ife , d e a t h a n d r e s u r r e ct i o n o f J e su s ."^ '* I m i g h t r e p h r a s e t h a t , "W h a t t h e m i s s io n a r y

b r i n g s is a t e r r i b le b e a u t y w h i ch is t h e li fe , d e a t h a n d r e s u r r e ct i o n o f J e s u s . " E v a n g e li s m is o n e p e o p l e t e l li n g a n o t h e r p e o p l ew h e r e t h e y h a v e fo u n d b e a u t y - a va r i a t ion on t h e h y m n , "D oy o u s e e w h a t I s e e ? " T h e s w i t ch s h i ft s t h e e m p h a s i s f r o ms h a r i n g t h e G o od N e w s a s u n n e ce s s a r y t o s h a r i n g t h e G o o dN e w s a s i n e v i t a b l e.

W h e n w a s t h e la s t t im e y ou s h a r e d s o m e t h i n g b e ca u s e it wa st r u e ? T h a t a s t o r y or p i e c e of i n fo r m a t i on w a s t r u e m a y h a v ee n h a n ce d t h e c om p u l s ion t o s h a r e or co m m u n i ca t e t h e s t o r yb u t it w a s t h e i n t r i n s i c in t e r e s t , i r o n y, b i za r r e q u a l it y o r u t i li t y

o f y o u r m e s s a g e t h a t fu e l e d t h e d e s i r e . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i fy o u h a v e r e a d a t e r r i fi c b o o k , s e e n a m a g n i fi ce n t m o v i e , h e a r da n a w e s o m e l y lo v e ly p i e ce o f m u s i c , t h e r e is a s p o n t a n e o u sd e s i r e t o h a v e o t h e r s s e e w h a t y o u s a w, h e a r w h a t y o u h e a r d .You c a n n o t k e e p i t t o y o u r s e l f B u t w e k n o w fr o m e x p e r i e n c et h a t w e c a n n ot m a k e or m a n ip u l a t e o t h e r s t o s ee w h a t w e s e e ,h e a r w h a t w e h e a r .

E v a n g e l i s m a s n o n -m a n i p u l a t i v e , b u t c om p e l l in g

I f y o u b e l i e v e w h a t t h e C o u n c il of F l o r e n c e b e li e v e d , t h a t n op e r s o n w h o is s e p a r a t e d fr o m t h e C h u r c h w il l s h a r e in e t e r n a ll i fe , "b u t w i ll p e r i s h in t h e e t e r n a l fi r e p r e p a r e d f or t h e d e v ila n d h i s a n g e ls , i f t h i s p e r s o n fa i ls t o j o i n t h e C a t h o li c C h u r c hb e f o r e d e a t h ," t h e n i t m a k e s a k i n d o f o b s c e n e s e n s e t o u s ee v e r y r u s e — i n cl u d i n g b u r n i n g p e op l e— w i t h t h e co n v i ct i o n t h a te v e n a t o r t u r e d c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e c h u r c h w ill s a v e t h e m fr o me t e r n a l fi r e . I f y o u b e l i e v e t h a t t h e r e i s s a l v a t i on o u t s i d e t h eC h u r c h , t h a t k i n d o f u r g e n c y is n o t t h e r e . B u t t h e r e is a n o t h e rk i n d o f u r g e n c y - t h e u r g e n c y o f t h e p o e t , t h e a r t is t , t h e d a n ce rt o s h a r e a v i s io n . T h i s u r g e n c y k n o w s t h a t a n y c on s c io u sm a n i p u l a t i on t a i n t s t h e p o s s ib i l it y o f a u t h e n t i c a p p r e c ia t i on . Ica n n o t m a k e y o u lov e B r a h m s 'G e r m a n R e q u i e m , a n d l o c k i n gy o u i n t o a r o o m w i t h t h a t m u s i c u n t i l y o u s a i d y o u l o v ed i t isn o t li k e ly t o fo s t e r y o u r a p p r e ci a t i o n .



B u t a e s t h e t i c j u d g m e n t s a r e n o t j u s t p r iv a t e d e c i s i on sr e f le ct i n g i n d i vi d u a l t a s t e s , a l t h o u g h t h e y ce r t a i n l y i n c lu d et h a t . M y p o in t is t h a t t h e y a r e n o t p r e y t o r e l a t i v i s m -a t l ea s tn o t n e c e s s a r i ly s o . O n e p e r s o n ' s op i n i on is n o t a s g o od a s

a n o t h e r 's . C o m p a r i n g a e s t h e t i c w i t h i t s o p p o s i t e , a n e s t h e t i c, ish e l p fu l h e r e . A n e s t h e t i c in v o lv e s t h e s u s p e n s i on o f fe e l i n g a n dr e a s o n , w h e r e a s a e s t h e t i c i n v ol ve s t h e p r o m o t i on o f fe e l in gr e a s o n or r e a s o n e d fe e l in g .

A e s t h e t i c j u d g m e n t s a r e cr i t ica l . B u t t h e y i n co r p o r a t er e a s o n s w h o s e fo r c e h e s n o t s o m u c h i n t h e co h e r e n c e of t h e i rl og i c b u t i n t h e i r p o w e r t o m o v e u s , t o co m p e l u s t o s e e w h a tt h e a r t is t s a w, h e a r w h a t t h e c om p o s e r h e a r d , or t a s t e w h a t t h eg o u r m e t p r e p a r e d . T h e r e a s o n s o r cr i t e r i a ofl 'or e d a r e v a l id a t e db y t h e i r a b il it y t o e n g a g e t h e e m o t i o n s , t o "m a k e a n e l e c t r i c

c on n e c t i o n w i t h o u r n a t u r e , " a s Wi ll ia m J a m e s p u t it."^ ^O f co u r s e , d e a l i n g w i t h t h e a e s t h e t i cw e i n e v it a b l y b u m p in t o

t h e s o - c a l l e d p r o b l e m o f c u l t u r a l v a r i e t y o r t h e " e c c l e s i a l e t hn i ci t y " w h i ch i s a fu n c t i on o f s p a ce a n d t i m e .

O u r c on v e r s a t i on in t h e W e s t is s t il l v e r y m u c h s h a p e d b yP l a t o n i c o r A r i s t ot e l ia n n o t i on s o f r e a l it y . T h e r e a r e u n ch a n gin g e s s e n c e s s o m e w h e r e in G o d ' s m i n d i f y o u a r e a P l a t o n i s t ;in t h i n g s t h e m s e l v e s , if y o u a r e a n Ar i s t o t e li a n . We h a v e n o ti n c or p o r a t e d t h e in s i g h t s of C o p e r n i cu s , n e v e r m i n d D a r w i n o rE i n s t e i n . T h e N ew Yo rk T i m ess t ill p u b l is h e s t h e ex a c t m o m e n tt h a t "t h e s u n r i s e s a n d s e t s . " ( W h o ca l ls ou r a t t e n t i o n t o ab e a u t i fu l e a r t h -t u r n i n g ? ) I n o t h e r w o r d s , w e s t i l l h a v e a n o n -h i s t o r i ca l b ia s in o u r a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s r e a l it y. T h a t i s w h y w eca n t a lk a b o u t t h e G o o d N e w s a s if i t w e r e s o m e f ix ed p i e c e o fi n f or m a t i on i n s t e a d o f a d e v e l o p i n g s t o r y w i t h u p d a t e s a tr e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s . T h a t t o o is w h y r e l ig io u s t r a d i t i on s a r e m o s toft e n c om p a r e d t o w a y s , or r ou t e s o r r o a d s r a t h e r t h a n t h e m o r ed y n a m i c im a g e o f t h e j ou r n e yitself, w h i ch i m p l ie s a m o v e m e n tt h r o u g h t i m e a n d s p a c e .

T h e h e r m e n e u t i ca l s c ie n c e s , h o w e v e r , h a v e m a d e u s a w a r eo f t h e id e o l og i ca l b i a s e s t h a t r e f le c t o u r h i s t o r y a n d g e o g r a p h y.B u t t h e y h a v e n o t c o n c e n t r a t e d o n t h e b ia s of o u r s e n s i b il it i e sw h i ch , I w o u l d co n t e n d , a r e m u c h m o r e d e e p l y r o o t e d a n dp r o b a b l y, i n f a c t , s p a w n a n d n u r t u r e o u r i d e o l o g i e s .



To r e t u r n t o t h e p e r s on a l a ga in . I a m s u r e t h a t w h a t m a k e si t a l m o s t in c on c e iv a b l e f or m e t o t h i n k o f b e c o m i n g a M e t h o d i s tis in g r e a t p a r t t h e co n v e n t i o n s o f m y fo r m a t i on , m y n u r t u r e i nt h e t h i ck , s e n s u a l s a cr a m e n t a l it y o f R o m a n C a t h o li ci s m in t h e

4 0 s a n d 5 0 s in N e w Yo r k C it y . M y a r g u m e n t s d u r i n g t h e ol og i ca ld i s cu s s i on s , a s c le v e r a n d c om p e l l i n g a s t h e y m a y b e , flowa sm u c h fr o m a s en s i b i l it y c u l t iv a t e d i n t h a t s p a c e a n d t i m e a sf r o m t h e b o ok s I r e a d l a s t w e e k o r m y e d u c a t i o n a s ap h i lo s o p h e r . S o m e p o s i t i o n s a r e i n t r i n s i ca l l y a t t r a c t i v e b e c a u s eo f t h e s e n s i t iv it i es t h a t h a v e b e e n h o n e d in m e . I m a y t h i n kt h a t I e m b r a c e R a h n e r ' s C h r i s t o lo gy b e c a u s e o f i t s o v e r p o w e ri n g l og i c, b u t it p r o b a b l y h a s a s m u c h i f n o t m o r e t o d o w i t h t h ep r o ce s s i o n s I m a r c h e d i n a s a ch i ld . Is t h i s t h e "s ca n d a l o fp a r t i c u l a r i t y ? "

P a r t i cu l a r i t y m a y h a v e b e e n a s ca n d a l t o t h e G r e e k s ( w h ow e r e in t o u n i ve r s a l s ), b u t w e s h o u l d r e c o g n i z e t h a t a n y t h i n gt h a t e x is t s , e x i s t s a s a p a r t i cu l a r o r t h e a r t i fa c t o f t h e p a r t i c u l a r .A n d a p p a r e n t l y t h a t is g o od . Ve r y G o o d . W o r t h y o f G o d ' s "A h h !"B u t i f t h e p a r t i cu l a r is n e v e r u n i v e r s a l , i t is a l w a y s c omm u n i ca b l e . A n d I a m s u g g e s t in g i t is m o r e c om m u n i ca b l ea sb e a u t y t h a n a s t r u t h .

E cu m e n i s m a s C o n s t i t u t i v e o f E v a n g e l is m .

I h a v e co n c e n t r a t e d o n t h e "G o od " o f t h e G o o d N e w s . N o w Iw o u l d li k e t o l oo k a t t h e "N e w s " o f t h e G o o d N e w s . T h e y s a yt h a t y e s t e r d a y ' s n e w s is on l y g o od f or w r a p p i n g fi s h . N e w s b yd e f in i t io n i s n o t h i s t o r y, t h o u g h it on l y m a k e s s e n s e in t h e l ig h to f h i s t o r y. N e w s b y d e f in i t i on h a s a n e l e m e n t o f n o v e lt y in i t .I n e c c l e s i a s t i c a l c i r c l e s t h a t n o v e l t y i s c o d e da s t h e d e v e l o pm e n t o f d o ct r i n e .

I f w e c o n s i d e r e v a n g e l iz in g a s a n i n e v i t a b l e a s p e ct o f ou rcr e a t i v e fi d e li t y, t h e e v a n g e li za t i on o f t h e n e x t g e n e r a t i o n i st h e m o s t o b v i ou s f ie ld f or m i s s i on . W e m u s t t a k e a s o u r s p e ci a lb u r d e n a n d d e l ig h t t h e t r a d i t i on a l "h a n d i n g o ve r " o f t h e g o odn e w s a s g oo d b u t a ls o a s n e w s . T h e e c u m e n i ca l co n v e r s a t i on sw i l l u n d o u b t e d l y b e t h e s o u r c e o f t h a t n o v e l t y.

E v e r y m a j or r e s h a p i n g o f d o ct r i n e gr e w o u t o f w h a t m i g h tf a c e t i o u s l y b e c a l l e d " c o n v e r s a t i o n s . " T h e " c o n v e r s a t i o n " w i t h



t h e A r ia n s s h a p e d t h e n e w s fr o m N i c ea . T h e " con v e r s a t i on s "w i t h N e s t or i a n s s h a p e d t h e n e w s fr o m E p h e s u s a n d C h a l ce d on .C e r t a i n l y t h e "co n v e r s a t i on s " w i t h t h e r e fo r m e r s s h a p e d t h en e w s fr o m T r e n t . I d a r e sa y t h a t t h e C h u r c h ' s s oci a l j u s t i ce

a g e n d a h a s b e e n d r a w n u p a s a r e s u l t of i t s co n v e r s a t i on w i t hM a r x is t s . B u t t h e s e s h a p i n g s h a v e r e s u l t e d f r o m p o le m i ca le x c h a n g e s - p o l e m i ca l , I w o u l d s u g g e s t , b e ca u s e t h e y h a v e b e e nr u l e d b y t h e p r i n c i p l e o f n o n - co n t r a d i c t i on , a c en t r a l t e n e t o ft h e c or r e s p o n d e n c e n o t i on o f t r u t h , A t h i n g ca n n o t b e a n d n o tb e a t t h e s a m e t i m e . I f o n e p o s i t i on i s t r u e , i t s o p p o s i t e m u s tb e fa l s e . B u t t h e p r i n c ip l e of n o n - co n t r a d i c t i on d o e s n o t c o mp u t e in a e s t h e t i cs . I n fa c t , o n e c ou l d s a y t h a t t h e o v e r c om i n go f t h a t p r i n c ip l e is a t t h e v e r y h e a r t o f a e s t h e t i cs .

F o r t h e fir s t t i m e in h i s t o r y t h e r e f o r e , I t h i n k t h e n e w s o f

t h e G oo d N e w s t h a t w e h a n d ov e r t o t h e n e x t ge n e r a t i on ca nb e s h a p e d b y i r e n i c c o n v e r s a t i o n s , a t l e a s t t o t h e e x t e n t t h a tt h e d i a lo g u e a m o n g C h r i s t i a n c o m m u n i o n s a n d b e t w e e nr e l i g io n s la c k s c e r t a i n t y a n d r e fl e ct s i n s t e a d t h e p e r s p e c t i v e ,"D o y o u s e e w h a t I s e e ? H e l p m e t o s e e w h a t y o u s e e !"

N o t e s

1. David T ra cy, T he Ana log i ca l Imagination (New York : Crossroad ,1981), 448.

2. Rober t L . Browning a nd Roy Reed ,T h e Sacraments in R e lig iousEducation a n d L i tu r g y (Bi rm ingha m , Ala . : Rel ig ious E ducat ion Pr ess ,1985).

3. Rosema ry Radford Ru eth er, "Asking th e Exis ten t ia l Ques t ions" inT heo logi an s i n T ran s i t ion ,J am es M. Wal l , cd . (N ew York : Crossroad ,1981), 163.

4 . This i s the dominat ing thes is in Wil f red Cantwel l Smi th ,T h eM ea n i n g a n d E n d of R el ig io n (S a nFrancisco: Harper & Row, 1978[1962]).

5. Wilfred C an twellS m i t h , T oward s a World Theology (Philadelphia:Westm ins te r Pr ess . 1981), 34 , 44 .

6. E m ilio Ca st ro, "Mission ina Plural is t ic Age,"International Reviewof Miss ion LXXV, 299 (J u ly 1 986): 200.

7 . Paul Kni t te r, Preface to T h e M y t h of C h r i st i a n U n i q u e n e s s:T oward s a P lu ra l i s t ic T heo logy of R e l i g i o n S y J o h n H i c k a n d P a u lKn it ter, eds. (M a iykn oll , N.Y.: Orbis B ooks ,1987), viii . It is interest ingto n ote th at th is con ference a lso includ ed cr it ics of th e posit ion tak en in



t he pub l ished pa pe r s ( J ohn Cobb , Schube r t Ogden , Dav id Tr acy) wh ofe l t t ha t t he p lu r a l i s t move i s e i t he r "unwar ran t ed , unneces sa ry o rill-timed," I b i d .

8 . Tru th is d iscussed in th e cont ex t o f ecum enica l d ia loguein Leona rdSwidler, "Interrel igious and Inter ideological Dialogue: The Matrbc fora ll Sys tem at ic Reflect ion Today," 7-13; and H an s K un g, "Wh at i s TrueReligion? Toward an Ecumenical Cri ter iology," 237-239;To w a r d s aU n iversa l T h eology of R elig ion s ,Leona rd Sv^ dler, ed i tor (Ma rykn ol l,N .Y.: Or bis, 19 87), 237-239.

9. Gabriel Marcel , Crea t ive F id e l ity, t r ans . Robe r t Ros tha l (NewYork : Crossroad , 1982 [194 0]), 152.

10 . Ib id . , 154.11. Cited in H ar vey Cox,Feast of Fools (Cam br idge , Ma ss .: Ha rva rd

Un iversity P re ss , 1969), 108.12. Marga re t A . Fa r l ey, P er s on a l C om m i tm en t s (San Franc isco :

H ar pe r & Row, 1986), 15 .13. Ib id . , 48-51 .14. Cited in F ar ley, 50 .15 . Ib id , 59 .16 . Ar thur Koes t le r, T he A ct o f C rea t i on (New York: Macmi l lan ,

1964), 95.17. P e t e r B e rg e r, T he H ere ti ca l Im pe ra t i ve (Garden City, N.Y.:

Anch or Pr ess /Doubleda y, 1979), 18 .18. Select ions from Ba si l,Lon ger Ru les , 7, ci ted in P at r ick Gillespie

Heniy "Monast ic Mission,"T h e E cu m en i ca l R ev i ew39, 3 ( J u ly 1987) :278.

19. "Miss ion an d E van geli sm: An E cum enica l Affirm at ion ,"Mis s ionS er ies N o. 4 , TGeneva: W CC , 1983), 10.

20. "J us t ice in th e Wor ld"T h e Th ird International S ynod of B i shops(Wa sh ington: U. S. Ca th olic Conferen ce, 1972), 34.

21 . J ohn Pa ul I I , "E ncycl ical on Social Concern s," 1987, n . 28.22. Ins t r uc t ion of th e Sa cred Congrega t ion of th e H oly Office . J un e

20, 1866. Co l lect an ea S . Congrega t i on i s De P ropagan d a F i d e , p. 719.Re fe r ence in Eu gene H illma n ,Polygam y R econsidered (N ai robi: Tra ns -afr ica Pu bl ish ers , 1975) 212 . Cited in Micha e l Dr oha n , "Chr is t ian i ty,Cul tur e and t he M ean ing of Miss ion ,"International R ev iew o f M is s ionLXXV, 299 (J u ly, 1986), 285.

23. D. T. Ni les . Cited in H a r iyE. Winte r , OMI ,"Catholic, Evangel ical ,and Reform ed: E cum enica l S t ra tegy for Tota l E vangel iza t ion ,"Mis s ionin D ia logue . M a r y M o t t e , F M M a n d J o s e p h R . L a n g , M M , e d s .(Ma ryk noll, N .Y.: Or bis , 19 82), 222.

24 . Wi l l ie Jenkinson , CSSp, "S ignpos ts o f the Future , "Mis s ion i nDia logue , 660 .



25 . Denziger, 714 . Ci ted in Hans Kung, "Chr is t ian i ty and WorldRel ig ions : Dia logue wi th I s lam,"T ow a r d a U n i v er s a l T h e ol og y o fRel ig ion , 196.

26. Will iam James, "The Wil l to Believe,"P r a gm a t is m a n d O t h erE s s a y s (N ew York : Wa shin gton S qua re P ress , 1963) , 194 .



T h e R u s s i a n s a n d A m e r i c a n sA r e C o m i n g — T o g e t h e r

G u s t a v K o p k a

A w a n d e r i n g E u r o p e a n w a s m y fa t h e r , j ou r n e j d n g e a s t a n dw e s t , s ou t h a n d n o r t h . B o r n in E a s t P r u s s ia , t h e e a s t e r n m os ta r e a o f H i t l er ' s G e r m a n y, h e o b je c t e d t o t h e s y s t e m o f h i s o w nco u n t r y b e ca u s e h e b e l ie v e d t h a t t h e u l t i m a t e t r u t h i s n e v e r a

s y s t e m , n o m a t t e r h o w r i g h t , r i g h t e o u s , r e l ig io u s o r p a t r i ot i c itcl a i m e d t o b e . H e p a i d a p r i ce . H i s d r a ft e x e m p t i on w a s r e m o v e da n d h e fou n d h i m s e l f "d e f e n d i n g t h e f a t h e r l a n d " in P o la n d a n dl a t e r on t h e i s la n d of R h o d e s in t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n .

I t h a s b e e n a l m o s t 4 4 y e a r s s i n c e , a s a n11 y e a r o ld , I l e ft w i t hm y m o t h e r a n d t w o b r o t h e r s a n d a s is t e r in a h o r s e -d r a w nw a g on f or t h e We s t . B e ca u s e o f s t o r i e s t o ld a b o u t t h e i n v a d i n gR u s s ia n a r m y in Wo r l d Wa r I , m o s t G e r m a n civ il ia n s e a g e r l ym o ve d ou t . A t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e r e wa s a m o n g u s g r a t e fu la n t i ci p a t i o n o f t h e e n d o f o u r o w n c o u n t r y ' s N a z i r e g i m e . A ft e r

v a r i o u s d e l a y s a l on g t h e w a y, m o t h e r a n d c h i l d r e n a r r i ve ds e ve r a l m o n t h s l a t e r in H a n n o v e r . T h a t n i g h t , a s o u r t r a i np u l le d in t o t h e s t a t i on , w e o b s e r v e d f ir e a n d s m o k e o n t h eh o r i z on . T h e r e h a d b e e n a n Al li e d a i r r a id .

F o r m a n y m o n t h s in 1 94 4 a n d 1 9 4 5, w e h a d n o w o r d fr o m m yfa t h e r . I n t h e la t e s p r i n g o f 1 9 4 5 , s h o r t l y a f t e r t h e e n d o f t h ew a r , h e fo u n d u s a m o n g t h e r e f u g e e s in t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t o fWe s t G e r m a n y . H e m a d e h i s w a y fr o m a h o s p it a l in t h e s o u t h ,h a v in g a ll b u t r e c o v e r e d f r o m m a l a r ia . C h a n g in g h i s id e n t i t yf r o m G e r m a n t o P o li s h a n d b a c k t o G e r m a n a g a i n , a s w e l l a sf r o m m il it a r y t o civ il ia n , h e m a d e it t h r o u g h s e v er a l c h e c kp o i n t s a n d , b y co n t a c t i n g fr i e n d s w h o b y n o w k n e w o u r

G u s t a v K o p k a i s E c u m e n i c a l C o o r d i n a t o r a n d E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r o f t h e M i c h i g a nE c u m o n i a x l F o r u m i n D e t r o i t , M i c h i g a n .



w h e r e a b o u t s , h e fo u n d u s s a fe . F o r n e a r l y s e v e n y e a r s h es t r u g g l e d fo r t h e f u t u r e w e l l b e in g o f h i s fa m i ly, w o r k i n g a s ac om m o n la b o r e r . F i n a l l y in t h e ea r l y 5 0 s ca m e t h e o p p o r t u n i t yt o i m m i g r a t e t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i ca . A c on g r e g a t i o n

i n M i n n e s o t a p r o v i d e d s p o n s o r s h i p for r e s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e s ixd i s p l a c e d p e r s o n s o f ou r f a m i ly. S e v e r a l o f t h a t fa m i ly s t il l h o l dm e m b e r s h i p in t h a t co n g r e g a t i on .

M y fa t h e r ' s d r e a m h a d b e e n t h a t o f A b r a h a m : " G o fr o m y o u rc o u n t r y . . . in t o t h e la n d t h a t I w i l l s h o w y o u . " A n d h e h a d t h es a m e s o li d , s t u b b o r n f a i t h . T h e r e w e r e a n u m b e r o f s e v e r ei n ci d en t s in t h e m e m o r y o f m y fa t h e r , e x p e r i e n c e s a t t h e h a n d so f N a z i G e r m a n s a n d R u s s i a n s . O n e of h i s b r o t h e r s h a d d i ed o nt h e R u s s i a n f r o n t . O t h e r r e la t i v e s w e r e fo r ce fu l l y r e s e t t l e d i nS i b e r i a ; s o m e d i e d o f e x h a u s t i on . H i s o ld e s t s o n , m y o l d e r

b r o t h e r , w a s fo r c e fu l ly d e t a i n e d a s a 1 2 -y e a r -o ld b y t h e p o h t i c a lN a z i y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n . A ll o f u s ch i ld r e n r e f u s e d t o s a l u t e t h efla g a t s c h o o l. T h e r e w e r e r e p e r c u s s i on s . B u t m y fa t h e r n e v e rh a t e d a n d t a u g h t u s t o l ov e t h o s e v er y p e o p le w h o w e r e t h eN a z is , R u s s i a n s , P o l e s . . . a t h e i s t s o r J e w s o r C h r i s t i a n s . . .B a p t i s t s , O r t h o d ox , R o m a n C a t h ol i cs or L u t h e r a n s .

I n t h i s l a n d o f u n l im i t e d o p p o r t u n i t i e s f or l ife a n d h e a l t h a n de v e r y g o od , o u r fa m il y e n c ou n t e r e d a n e w la n g u a g e , cu l t u r ea n d r e l ig io u s m i li eu . E v e n L u t h e r a n i s m w a s n o t t h e s a m e . We

l e a r n e d t o s in g a n d co n f es s :In Chr i st t h e re i s no ea st o r wes t .In h i m n o sou t h or n or t h ;Bu t on e great fel lowship of loveT h r o u g h o u t t h e w h ol e w i d e ea r t h .

All Ch r is t ly souls a r e one in h im

T h r o u g h o u t t h e w h ol e w id e e a r t h .

M y fa t h e r c on t i n u e d t o p r a y w i t h u s a n d for u s , a n d for a l lt h e p e o p l e o f t h e w o r l d , n o m a t t e r o f w h a t r e l i g io u s o r p o h t i ca lo r i e n t a t i o n :

Th is is m y song, O God ofall t he na t ions ,

O h , hea r my song , t h ou God ofall t he na t ions ,A song of peace for th e i r lan d a nd for m ine .



Tw i ce m y fa t h e r a n d m o t h e r w e n t b a c k t o v is i t r e l a t i v es inWe s t G e r m a n y . T h e y n e v e r m a d e i t E a s t a g a in , b u t t h e irc h i l d r e n a n d g r a n d c h i l d r e n h a v e t r a v e l e d b a c k s e v e r a l t i m e s .T h e r e a r e n o w m a r r ia g e s t h a t in c lu d e D e n m a r k a n d F in l a n d .

B u t m y fa t h e r t o ok g r e a t i n t e r e s t in m y r e p e a t e d t r a v e ls t o t h eE a s t , e s p e ci a l l y E a s t G e r m a n y a n d P o l a n d . T h i s p a s t Au g u s t Is p e n t t w o w e e k s in t h e U n i o n o f S o v i e t S oc ia l i s t R e p u b l i cs( U S S R ) . H e p r a y e d fo r m e a n d , I k n o w, w i t h m e on t h a t jo u r n e y.I w a s a b l e t o t e l l h i m , w i t h g r e a t j o y, o f t h e fa i t h fu l b e l i e v e r s i nR i g a (L a t v ia ) , K i e v (U k r a i n e ) , a n d R u s s i a ' s L e n i n g r a d , M o s c o wa n d Za g o r s k . A lw a y s d u r i n g v i s it s w it h h i m , a t t h e e n d o f a l on gco n v e r s a t i on a t d i n n e r , w e a ll s t o od a n d s a n g a h y m n , o ft e n :

Now th ank we a l l ou r GodWi th hea r t an d h ands and vo ices .W h o w on d r ou s t h i n g s h a s d on e ,In wh om th is wor ld r e jo ices ;Wh o from our m othe r s* a r m s ,Ha s ble s sed us on ou r wayWith cou n tless gifts oflove,And st i ll is ours t oday.

O n H o ly C r o s s D a y 1 9 8 8 m y fa t h e r d i e d . A t h i s fu n e r a l w es a n g t h e s a m e h y m n .

N o w I h a v e c om e t o r e a f fi r m w i t h i n m y s e l f t h e w a n d e r i n gr e s t l e s s n e s s o f m y s ou l a s a fa i t h fu l e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e E u r o -A m e r i c a n r o o t e d n e s s o f m y b ei n g , I l on g t o s h a r e t h e s p i r it o fG o d ' s a m a z i n g oi k o u m en e . B u t m u c h o f i t i s s o d i ffi cu l t t oc om m u n i ca t e . F o r t h e r e i s s o l it t l e b a s i c k n o w le d g e a m o n g u sA m e r i c a n s a b o u t a n y o t h e r p e o p l e , t h e i r r e l ig io n , cu l t u r e a n dh i s t o r y . A s a n A m e r i c a n c h u r c h w e a r e a l l b u t h e l d h o s t a g e b yo u r i g n o r a n c e o f t h e r e s t o f t h e w o r l d , e s p e c i a l l y b y o u r i gn o r a n c e a b o u t E a s t e r n E u r o p e a n d t h e U S S R .

I w a n t t o b r i e fl y p r o v i d e s o m e g l im p s e s o f t h e U S S R , it sp e o p l e a n d c h u r c h e s , i n c l u d i n g s e v e r a l s e l e c t e d w a y s a n d

m e a n s b y w h i ch t o b e g in t h e j ou r n e y E a s t . M a y t h e y op e n t h ed o o r s of o u r l iv e s t o r i c h e s o f G o d ' s w i s d o m t h a t r e m a i n u n a v a i la b l e t o u s a s lo n g a s w e p e r s i s t i n o u r f e a r f u l i g n o r a n c e . O u ro w n n a t i on a l l e a d e r s r e p e a t e d l y d i s p la y t h e i r fe a r o f ot h e rn a t i on s a n d r e l i gi on s . We m u s t n o t l e t t h e m k e e p u s fr o mu n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e g e o g r a p h y a n d h i s t o r y , c u l t u r e a n d



s p i r i t u a l it y o f S l a v i c p e o p l e , o u r b r o t h e r s a n d s i s t e r s .

I L

T h e U S S R i s a co u n t r y o f g r e a t d i ve r s i t y. T h e w o r l d ' s la r g e s tn a t i o n , i t c o m p r i s e s a b o u t o n e - s i x t h o f t h e t o t a l l a n d a r e a . I na r e a ( 8 . 6 5 m i l l i o n s q u a r e m i l e s ) a n d p o p u l a t i o n t h e U S S R i sla r g e r t h a n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d C a n a d a co m b i n e d . I t s h a r e sb o r d e r s w i t h t w e l v e n a t i on s , h a l f o f w h i ch h a v e b e e n b r o u g h ti n t o t h e c om m u n i s t s p h e r e . A b o u t o n e - fo u r t h o f t h e co u n t r y isl oca t e d i n E u r o p e , w i t h t h e r e m a i n i n g t h r e e - fo u r t h s i n A sia .M o s t of t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f a b o u t 2 8 0 m i l li on l i ve s in E u r o p e . T h eU S S R o cc u p i e s t h e t e r r i t o r y o f t h e R u s s i a n E m p i r e o f 1 9 14 .

M o s t o f t h e co u n t r y is on t h e s a m e la t i t u d e s a s A la s k a a n d

C a n a d a , Ta s h k e n t , on e o f it s m o s t s o u t h e r n ci t ie s , l ie s a t a b o u tt h e s a m e la t i t u d e a s C h i c a g o. C l im a t e s a r e a s v a r i e d a s t h o s e o ft h e p ol a r r e g i on s o f C a n a d a a n d t h o s e of t h e A r i z on a d e s e r t .T h e p e o p l e o f t h e fi ft e e n r e p u b l i cs a r e m a d e u p o f a la r g ev a r i e t y o f e t h n i c g r o u p s . O v e r t w e n t y m a j o r l a n g u a g e s a r e i nu s e , w i t h R u s s i a n b e i n g t h e offi ci a l l a n g u a g e .

I t is d i ffi cu l t t o g e n e r a l iz e a b o u t t h e p e o p l e s a n d t h e c h u rc h e s o f t h e U S S R . A c om p l e x h i s t o r y r e v e a l s a m o s a i c o f p o l it ic a l , cu l t u r a l a n d r e l ig i ou s t r a d i t ion s i n t e r t w i n e d . W h i le s o m e5 0 m i ll ion p e o p l e - a c on s e r v a t i ve f ig u r e - a r e m e m b e r s of t h eR u s s ia n O r t h o d ox C h u r ch , le s s t h a n t e n p e r c e n t o f t h e p o p u l at i on a r e m e m b e r s o f t h e co m m u n i s t p a r t y . O t h e r C h r i s t ia nd e n o m i n a t i o n s in c lu d e t h e A r m e n i a n A p o s t o li c, G e o r g ia O rt h o d o x, B a p t i s t a n d o t h e r "e v a n g e l i ca l " C h r i s t ia n s a s w e ll a sR o m a n C a t h ol ics , L u t h e r a n s a n d M e t h o d is t s . S o m e C h r is t ia nc on g r e g a t i o n s ch o os e n o t t o r e g i s t e r t h e i r e x i s t e n c e. T h e n u mb e r o f b e l ie v in g J e w s i s e s t i m a t e d v a r i ou s l y . T h e r e a r e m o r efo ll ow e r s o f I s l a m t h a n in E g y p t , a s w e l l a s B u d d h i s t s , H i n d u s ,a n d o t h e r r e l ig io n s . T h e U S S R is a r e l i gi ou s c ou n t r y .

I I L

T h e offi ci a l C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e U S S R in c lu d e s t h e s e t w oa r t i c l e s :

Ci t izens of th e USS Rare gua ra nt eed freed om of con sc ien ce ,



t ha t i s , t h e r i gh t t o p ro fe s s o r n o t t o p ro fe s s an y r eh g ion ,and to conduc t r ehg ious worsh ip o r a the i s t i c p ropaganda .Inc i t emen t o f hos t ih ty o r ha t r ed on r ehg ious g rounds i spr ohibi ted . (Art icle 52 ) .In order to ensure to c i t izens f reedom of consc ience , thech u r ch in t h e U S S R is s ep a r a t e d f r om t h e s t a t e , a n d t h eschool from th e chu rch . F r eedom of r e li gious wors h ip andfreedom of an t i - re l ig ious propaganda i s recognized for a l lcit izen s. (Art icle 1 24).

A r e c e n t s t a t e m e n t b y t h e le a d e r s h i p o f t h e R u s s i a n O rt h o d o x C h u r c h o n t h e r i g h t s a n d o b l ig a t i on s o f r e l i g io u s S o vi e t sin t h e U S S R i n c lu d e s t h e fo ll ow i n g i n fo r m a t i on :

A rel igious society is formed in order to sat isfy joint lyre l ig ious needs and i s an assoc ia t ion of be l iev ing c i t izens

(foun ding m em ber s of th e soc ie ty) , wh o are ofage , n o lessthan 20 in number and r e s ide i n one d i s t r i c t . A r e l i g ioussociety m ay com m en ce it s work af te r it has been reg is te reda t t he app rop r i a t e s t a t e bod ie s . Th i s i s neces sa ry fo r t helega l ity of the re l ig ious socie ty to be r ecogn ized from th emomen t o f r eg i s t r a t i on . Moreove r, t he r eg i s t r a t i on s igni fies t ha t a rel igious s ociety tak es up on i tself th e obl igat ionof obse i-v ing th e USS R C ons t i tu t ion an d Sovie t la w s . . . .A rel igious society may invi te off iciants of i ts cul t andopenly hold re l ig ious serv ices and prayer meet ings in a

house of wor sh ip , wh ich ma y be a t t ended by the be li ev ingci t izens of any age and per form re l ig ious r i tes . . . . Thebel iev ing c i t izens , inc luding ch i ldren of ten and over, maybe volun ta r y p a r t i cipan t s in r e l ig ious r i t e s . I n t h e ca se o fch i ld ren r e l ig ious r i t e s a r c pe i fo rm ed w i th t he consen t o fth e ir p a r en t s . Re l ig ious r i t es ha ve no lega l fo r ce . . .A r e l i g ious soc i e ty has i t s own mone ta ry funds accumula t ed f rom dona t ions and co ll ect i ons m ade in t he h ouse o fwors h ip , th e sa le of ob jects of cu l t and th e per form an ce ofre l ig ious r i tes . Th ese a re free of ta x . Th e m oney i s spen t onth e upk eep of t h e hous es of wor sh ip and o th e r p rope r ty o fthe cu l t , on t he wages o f t he s e rvan t s o f t he cu l t andre l ig ious cen t e r s , a s we ll a s o f worke r s and em ployees .Possess ing moneta iy funds , re l ig ious soc ie t ies have ther ig h t t o e m p l oy, on a p e r m a n e n t or t e m p or a r y b a s i s ,worke r s and em ployees on con t r a ct s d r awn up with o r



w i t h o u t t r a d e u n i on p a r t icip a t i on . Wa g e s a r e d e t e r m in e db y a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e r e lig iou s s ocie t ie s b u t t h e y m u s t n o tb e l o w e r t h a n t h e g o v e r n m e n t r a t e s o f c o r r e s p o n d i n gwork e r s i n s t a t e in s t i t u t i ons o r en t e rp r i s e s . (J ou rn a l o f t h eM o s co w P a t r ia r c h a t e , J a n u a r y 1 9 8 6 ).

I n m o r e r e c e n t y e a r s , a n d e s p e c ia l l y s in c e t h e A p r i l 1 9 8 5e l e ct i on o f M i k h a i l G o r b a c h e v a s G e n e r a l S e cr e t a r y of t h eC e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , g ov e r n m e n ta u t h o r i t ie s a p p e a r t o b e m o r e p e r m i s s iv e a b o u t t h e fr e e e x e rcis e o f t h e s e c on s t i t u t i on a l gu a r a n t e e s . H o w e v e r , t h e r e c ont i n u e s t o b e i r r e g u l a r i t ie s in t h e g ov e r n m e n t ' s a p p l ica t i on o ft h e m . W h a t i s n o t e w o r t h y is t h a t n o w a u t h o r i t ie s o f t h e s t a t eo p e n l y a d m i t s u c h i n c on s i s t e n ci e s a n d a p p e a r t o b e c o m m i t t e dt o co r r e c t t h e m . C le a r l y t h e r e i s r e n e w e d g o od w il l t o w a r dr e h g i on , t h e ch u r c h e s a n d b e h e v e r s . W i l l i t la s t ?

C h u r c h l e a d e r s a r e h o p e fu l . D u r i n g m y v is i t , a s p a r t o f t h e1 9 8 8 M i l l e n n i u m C e l e b r a t i o n o f C h r i s t i a n i t y , I w a s d e e p l ym o ve d b y t h e w i t n e s s a n d w o r s h i p o f C h r is t ia n s in t h e O rt h o d o x a s w e l l a s ot h e r c o m m u n i o n s . I t is n o w q u i t e c om m o nfor y o u t h a n d a d u l t s of a l l a g e s t o s e e k b a p t i s m in t h e p u b l icw o r s h i p s e r v ice s . C h r i s t i a n r i t u a l s a n d h i s t o r y r e c e iv e e x t e ns i v e , r e g u l a r d i s c u s s i o n b y v o i ce s o f t h e ch u r c h o n p u b l ict e l e v i s io n . R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e O f fi ce o f R e l i g i ou s A f fa i r sp l ea d fo r t h e ch u r c h e s t o h e l p t h e e n t i r e s o ci e t y w i t h t h e i r

i n s i gh t s a n d e xa m p l e r e g a r d i n g p e a c e m a k i n g , e d u ca t i on i nv a l u e s , d r u g a n d a l co h o l co n t r o l , a n d v ol u n t e e r s e r v i ce a t h o s p it a l s . D e n o m i n a t i on s a r e e n c ou r a g e d t o e x p a n d in t e r n a t i on a lv is i t a t i on a n d d i a l o gu e . C h u r c h b u i ld i n g s a r e b e i n g r e o p e n e da s fa s t a s t h e c h u r c h e s ca n p r o v id e l e a d e r s h i p a n d ca r e for t h eb u i l d i n g s .

T h e s a m e c h u r c h l e a d e r s s p e a k w i t h d e e p r e f le ct i on o f t h ep a s t d e c a d e s o f d i ffi cu l t i e s . "M a y b e G o d i s t r jd n g t o t e a c h u ss o m e t h i n g t h a t w e o t h e r w i s e w o u l d h a v e m i s s e d . " I d id n o td i s ce r n h a t r e d o r a n g e r a t p a s t m i s t r e a t m e n t b y s t a t ea u t h o r i t i e s . I n fa c t , I h e a r d p e r s o n a l w i t n e s s a b o u t p r o t e ct i v ea n d a p p r e c i a t iv e m e a s u r e s b y C o m m u n i s t s u p e r i or s w h o r e co gn i ze d in b e l ie v e r s a s e n s e o f v o ca t i on a n d t h e r e f or e , t h e h i g h e s tq u a h t y o f e x e m p l a r y w o r k p e r f o r m a n c e . T h e Wo r d o f G o d w a sp r e s e n t w it h g r e a t p o w e r d u r i n g a l l t h e s e d i fficu l t d e c a d e s .



W i t h jo y fu l t e a r s w e e x c h a n g e d t h e p e a c e o f G o d w i t h e a cho t h e r , p r a y in g in o u r h e a r t s t h a t G o d t h r o u g h t h e i r e x p e r i e n cea n d w it n e s s m i g h t t e a ch u s in o u r cou n t r y .

I V .

O n e of t h e g r e a t e s t d e p r i v a t i on s o f o u r C h r i s t ia n fa i t h i n t h eU n i t e d S t a t e s co m e s f r o m o u r i gn o r a n c e of t h e O r t h o d ox w o rs h i p a n d p r a y e r l i fe . R u s s i a n O r t h o d o x li t u r g ica l a n d i n d i v id u a ls p i r it u a h t y is a p r o fo u n d l y i n t r i gu i n g b le n d o f a n ci e n t B y z a nt i n e s p l e n d o r a n d h i s t o r i c S l a v ic e a r t h i n e s s o f s o u l . A c co r d i n gt o t h e R u s s i a n P r i m a r y C h r o n i cl e, P r i n c e V la d i m i r o f K i e v, t h ee a r l y ca p i t a l of t h e p e o p l e o f R u s , r e c e i v e d r e p o r t s f r o m h i sr e p r e s e n t a t i ve s a b o u t t h e v a r i ou s fo r m s of C h r i s t i a n i t y t h e yfo u n d i n ot h e r c ou n t r i e s . To r e p l a c e p a g a n i s m in h i s p e o p l e 'sh e a r t s a n d t o t i e t o g e t h e r w a r r i n g fa c t i on s o f h i s ow n p e o p l e ,V la d i m i r ch o s e O r t h o d o x y in 9 8 8 A . D . a n d s u b s e q u e n t l y b a pt i z e d a l l h i s p e o p l e .

T h e r e p o r t o f h i s e n v o y s is r e c o r d e d i n t h e s e w o r d s : "T h e nw e w e n t t o G r e e c e , a n d t h e G r e e k s l e d u s t o t h e e d ifi ce s w h e r et h e y w o r s h i p t h e i r G o d , a n d w e k n e w n o t w h e t h e r w e w e r e inh e a v e n o r o n e a r t h . F o r on e a r t h t h e r e is n o s u c h s p l e n d o r o rs u c h b e a u t y, a n d w e a r e a t a lo s s h o w t o d e s c r i b e it , W e o n l yk n o w t h a t G o d d w e ll s t h e r e a m o n g p e o p l e , a n d t h e i r s e r v ice isfa i r e r t h a n t h e ce r e m o n i e s o f o t h e r n a t i on s . F o r w e c a n n o tfor g e t t h a t b e a u t y . . A w a r e n e s s o f t h e p r e s en c e of G o d in a na t m o s p h e r e o f b e a u t y t h a t i n v o lv e s a l l t h e s e n s e s h a s b e e n t h eid e a l o f R u s s i a n a n d U k r a i n i a n p u b l ic w o r s h i p t h r o u g h 1 0 00y e a r s .

T h e r e a d i n g a n d li s t e n i n g t o H o ly S c r i p t u r e s i n t h e O r t h o d o xS e r v i ce is p r e c e d e d b y t h e p r a y e r :

I llum ine ou r hea r t s , O Mas te r wh o loves t hu m an k ind ,wi th t h e pu re l igh t of thy d ivine kn owledge .Open th e eyes of our m indto t he u nde r s t an d ing o f t h y gospe l t e ach ings .Imp lan t a l so in u sthe fea r o f t hy b l es sed com m an dm en t stha t t r am pl ing dov^n a ll carn a l des i res ,



we m ay en t e r upon a sp ir i t ua l m an ne r of liv ing ,Loth t h ink ing and do ingsuch th ings a s a r e we ll -p l ea s ing u n t o t hee .Fo r t h ou a r t t h e il lum ina t ion of ou r sou l s and bod ie s ,0 Chr i st ou r God ,and un to t hee we a sc r ibe g lory,t og et h e r w i t h t h y F a t h e r,wh o is from ever las t ing ,an d th ine a ll holy, good an d l ife-creat ing sp ir i t ,now and foreve r an d u n t o ages o fages . A m e n .

S e r m o n s a r e a l s o c om m o n . B u t t h e s ou l s in g i n g b y c le r g y,d e a c on s , c h o ir a n d p e o p l e , t o g e t h e r v^dth t h e s i m u l t a n e o u s t ot a le n c o u n t e r v d t h t h e m u l t i t u d e o f i co n s a n d ca n d l e l ig h t s , is w h a tg a t h e r s u p t h e b e l ie v e r s in o n e h e a v e n l y fa i t h e x p e r i e n c e .T h e i r a n c h o r i n g in t r a d i t ion n o t on l y r o o t s t h e m t o t h e p a s t o f" H o l y R u s s i a " b u t i s t h e i r a s s u r a n ce fo r t h e fu t u r e . S o i t is n ow o n d e r t h a t t h e R u s s i a n s h a v e a gr e a t d e a l t o t e ll u s a b o u t w h ow e a r e . T h e y a r e e a g e r t o r e a c h o u t t o u s a n d i n v it e u s t o g r o wi n ou r s ou l s . O u r o b s e s s i on w i t h i m m e d i a c y a n d r e l e va n c ea p p e a r s s t r a n g e t o t h e q u i e t i s m o f t h e i r C h r i s t ia n m i n d . G o d ' sK i n g d o m , t h e y w o u l d r e m i n du s , w ill i n d e e d c o m e - t h r o u g h ou rh e a r t s r a t h e r t h a n ou r h a n d s .

F o r t h e O r t h o d o x ic on s a r e w i n d o w s in t o t h e k i n g d o m o f G o d .

I c on s a r e s e r m o n s i n c o l or , t e l li n g t h e s t o r y o f G o d ' s lo v e inb ib lica l t i m e s a n d t h r o u g h t h e a g e s . I n p r a y e r ico n s p r o v id e t h er e m i n d e r s o f a n d co n n e c t io n s w it h t h e e n t i r e co m m u n i on o fs a i n t s w h o j o i n u s in o n e g r e a t fe l lo w s h i p o fl o v e . T h e s e p i e c e so f w o o d m a k e p r e s e n t t h a t w h i ch t h e y s y m b o l iz e . G o d ' s s p ir i tm a k e s it p os s i b le fo r t h e e y e s of C h r i s t i a n s t o s e e t h e t r u t h .

B o t h i n ch u r c h a n d i n t h e p r iv a cy of t h e b e li e v e r 's h o m ei co n s h e l p f o cu s s p i r i t u a l it y. T h e a c t u a l w o r d s s p o k e n a r e b a s i ca n d m u c h m o r e r e p e t i t iv e t h a n in m u c h o f A m e r i ca n P r o t e st a n t i s m . I n t h e t r a d i t i on a l O r t h o d o x M o r n i n g P r a y e r s w e fin dt h e s e w or d s , k n o w n a s t h e T r i s a g ion P r a y e r s :

In t h e N a m e o fthe F a t h e r ,and of t h e Son ,and of the H oly Sp i r it . Am en .

Glory t o th ee , ou r God, g lory t o th ee .



R U S S I AN S A N D A M E R I C AN S !I

0 heavenly King , O Com for te r, the Spi r i t of t r u t h ,wh o ar t in a l l p laces and f il les t a l l th ings ;Trea su ry of good th ings a nd Giver of l ife:Come an d dwel l in u s and clean se us from eveiy s ta in ,

an d save ou r souls , O grac ious Lord .H oly G od, H oly Mighty, Holy Imm orta l :

Ha ve mercy on u s . H ave m ercy on us . Have m ercy on u s .G loiy t o t he F a th e r,a n d t o t h e S o n ,and to t he H oly Sp ir i t :

now and eve r, and un to ages o fages . A m e n .All -holy Tr in i ty, ha ve m ercy on u s .

Lord , clean se us f rom our s ins .Mas t e r, pa rdon ou r i n iqu i t ie s .H oly God, vis it an d h eal ou r infirm it iesfo r t hy Na m e 's s ake .

Lord , have m ercy. Lord , ha ve mer cy. Lord , ha ve mer cy.Glory to t he F a th e r,a n d t o t h e S o n ,and to t h e H oly sp ir i t :

now and ever, and un to ages o fages . A m e n .O u r F a t h er , w h o a i t in h e a v e n , . . .

A ft e r T r o p a r i a t o t h e H o l y T r i n i t y a n d a p r a y e r , t h e C r e e dfo ll ow s . T h i s fin a l p r a y e r o f S t . B a s i l t h e G r e a t , j u s t b e f o r e

in d i v id u a l or o t h e r o cca s i on a l p r a y e r s w h i ch c on c lu d e M o r n i n gP r a y e r s , is a m o v i n g e x p e r i e n c e a ls o fo r p r i v a t e d e v o t i o n :

W e b less th ee , O God m ost h igh and Lord of m erc ies ,wh o eve r work es t g r ea t an d m ys te r ious deeds for u s ,

g lor ious , wonde i fu l , and nu m ber l es s ;wh o provides t u s with s leep as a res t from our infi rmi t ies

and as a r epose for our bodies t i red from labor.We tha nk th ee t ha t t hou has t no t de s t royed u s in ou r

t r ansg re s s ions ,b u t i n t h y l ov e t ow a r d h u m a n k i n d t h ou h a s t r a is ed u s u p ,as we lay in despa i r, tha t we m ay g lor i fy t hy M ajes ty.

We ent r ea t sh ine inf in i te goodn ess , en l ighten th e eyes ofou r u n d e r s t a n d in g

and r a i se up ou r m inds from th e heavy s leep o f i ndolence;open ou r m ou th s an d fill t hem wi th t h y p ra i se .



t ha t we ma y un ceas ing ly s ing an d con fes s t h ee ,wh o ar t g lor i fied in a l l an d by a l l,

t h e e t e rna l Fa th e r, t h e On ly-Begot t en Son ,an d th e a l l holy and goodan d l i fe-giving Spir i t :now and ever, and u n t o ages ofages . A m e n .

V .

T h e fi r s t n i n e t e e n d a y s of A u g u s t 1 9 8 8 1 w a s p r i v il eg e d t o b ep a r t o f a p i lg r i m a g e t o t h e S ov i e t U n i on . O u r g r o u p i n c lu d e d1 4 4 c h u r c h l e a d e r s , c le r g y a n d la i t y, fe m a l e a n d m a l e , fr o m a l lo ve r t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , a l m o s t e xcl u s i v el y w h i t e , a g e s s e v e nt e e n t o w e l l o ve r s e v e n t y . O u r m i x r e p r e s e n t e d a ll k i n d s o fm i n d s e t s , i n c lu d i n g "t h e u g l y A m e r i ca n . " B u t w e w e r e "o n e i nt h e S p i r it a n d o n e in t h e L o r d " i n o u r p i l g r i m a g e - w i t h e a c ho t h e r a n d w it h o u r b r o t h e r s a n d s is t e r s in t h e S o vi e t U n i on .

T h e r e w e r e s e v er a l d a y s of p r e p a r a t i on i n N e w Yo r k . F o r m em u c h o f t h e co n t e n t w a s v e r y fa m i lia r g r o u n d . I l e a r n e d m u c ha b o u t m y f e l l o w p i l g r i m s f r o m t h e i r q u e s t i o n s a n d c o m m e n t s .I t p r e p a r e d m e fo r m y r o l e a s a c ol e a d e r o f o n e o f t h e s i xs u b g r o u p s i n t o w h i ch w e w e r e d i v id e d . O n c e a g a i n I e xp e r i e n c e d t h e d o m i n a n t " P r o t e s t a n t s p i r i t u a l i t y " o f m u c h o fA m e r i c a n c h u r c h l ife . T h e c h u r c h is " o n e , h o ly , ca t h o l ic a n da p o s t o l i c. " F o r m u c h o f A m e r i c a n P r o t e s t a n t i s m , i n cl u d i n g t h eU n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h , m o s t of t h e "c a t h o l i c" a n d q u i t e ab i t o f t h e "h o l y " a n d "a p o s t o l i c " is u n d e r a p p r e ci a t e d a n ds l i g h t e d .

D u r i n g t h e p i lg r i m a g e I fi ll ed t h e 1 5 0 p a g e s o f m y d ia r y. H e r eI w a n t t o s h a r e s e ve n g l i m p s e s fr o m t h a t n o t e b o o k .

1. To w a r d s t h e cl os e o f o u r s e v e r a l o r i e n t a t i on d a y s a t C o l u mb ia U n i ve r s i t y , a N C C l e a d e r r e m i n d e d u s o f fo u r i t e m s t o b ei n c lu d e d in ou r m e n t a l l u g g a g e :

(a ) B roadn ess o f sp i r i t I t h o u g h t o f S t . P a u l 's u r g in g o fm a k r o t h u m i a , a l a r g e , a l l -i n c lu s i ve s p i r i t of p a t i e n c e w i t hw h a t i s a s i t is .(b ) R efl ec ti ve b l en d o f m ind . I h a d j oi n e d t h i s p i lg r i m a g ei n t e n t u p o n r e fl e ct i o n a n d a q u i e t m i n d , i n n e e d o f m u c hs p i r i t u a l h e a l in g . A n d I h a d e a r l ie r w r i t t e n in m y d ia r y : " I



b e l ie v e I w i ll b e o n a m o s t p r o fo u n d g r a c e jo u r n e y. "(c) G e n t l en e s s w i t h s e lf a n d t r a v e l co m p a n i on s . I t o l d m ys u b g r o u p l a t e r t h a t I w o u l d h a v e a h a r d t i m e w i t h t h i s .(d ) T oleran ce o f A m bigu i ty. E a r l ie r , i n m y a p p l ic a t i o n fo r t h ep i lg r i m a g e , I h a d s a i d: " I a m a n a v id r e a d e r , t r a v e le r , d r e a m e ra n d s ch e m e r w h o a f fi r m s t h e a m b i gu i t y ofl i f e . F o r m e e v e r yd a y is a b o n u s g ift o f G o d ' s g r a c e a n d e v e r y l ife t h e p r e s e n c eo f G o d ' s s u ffe r i n g a n d r e d e m p t i o n . "

2 . O n o u r I n t o u r i s t b u s t o Z a g or s k , t h e fi r s t m o r n i n g i nM o s c ow, ou r g u i d e in t r o d u c e d h e r s e l f: " M y n a m e is S v et l a n a . Ia m 3 2 y ea r s o ld , a n d I h a v e a d a u g h t e r f iv e y e a r s ol d . S h e k e e p sm e b u s y , b u t I a m n o w a t r e s t w it h y o u . I a m a gr a d u a t e o fM o s co w S t a t e U n i v er s i t y i n P h y s i ca l S c i e n c e s . A s a h o b b y I a m

a t o u r i s t gu i d e a n d t h i s is m y fir s t a s s i g n m e n t t h i s s u m m e r . Inm y s t u d e n t d a y s I w o r k e d d u r i n g t h e s u m m e r a s a b r ickm a s o n . " L a t e r : " I m a k e y o u a n o ffe r . I t w i ll b e a g o od s o u v e n i rfo r y o u t o t a k e b a c k t o y o u r c ou n t r y .I w i ll t e a c h y o u a f e w w o r d so f R u s s i a n . . . grac iv i ( b e a u t i f u l ) . . . z ' da rov i e ( h e a l t h ) . . ,k a r a s h o (good) , . . o r c h i n k a r a s h o ( v e r y g o o d ) . , . E n g l i s h isi n cr e a s i n g ly t h e in t e r n a t i on a l l a n g u a g e ; i t ' s e a s y . B u t R u s s i a nis b e a u t i fu l , t o o . . . d a ? ( y e s ? ) " O n o u r w a y t o t h e ca t h e d r a l s h ep a s s e d a r o u n d p h o t o s of h e r l i t t le d a u g h t e r M a r i n a w h o ist a k i n g fi gu r e s k a t i n g l e s s on s . " W h o k n o w s t h e n a m e o f o n e o ft h e fa m o u s U S S R fig u r e s k a t e r s ? " T h e r e w a s n o a n s w e r . L o r d ,h a v e m e r c y !

3 . W e v i s it e d D a n i lo w M o n a s t e r y i n M o s c ow. T h e i co n o s t a s i si n t h e m a i n s a n ct u a r y h a d fi ve r o w s o f i co n s ! I l ik e S t . G e o r g e .H e is t h e p a t r o n s a i n t o f M o s c o w - a n d a fa v o r i t e o f m y o ld e s ts o n P a u l , a y o u n g p a s t o r - m i s s i on d e v e l op e r i n D e t r o it . P r e s e n tly t h e r e a r e a t D a n i l ov 3 5 m o n k s a n d fiv e p os t u l a n t s . T h e y h o p et o h a v e 70 m o n k s in t h e fu t u r e , t h e n u m b e r t r a d i t i on a l in t h i sm o n a s t e r y fo r o v e r 7 0 0 y e a r s . A s w e e x i t e d I " s m e l l e d " ( i n

c e n s e ) a h t u r g y in t h e u n d e r c r o ft b y t h e s t a ir w a y. F o l lo w in g m yn o s e I d i s c ov e r e d a s m a l l i co n s h o p in t h e b a c k o f t h e l it t l ech a p e l . I b o u g h t a h a n g i n g l a m p , a g ift t o m y s e l f f r o m t h i sp i l g r i m a g e - t o h a n g fr o m t h e G r e e k O r t h o d ox cr o s s f r o m a ne a r h e r vis it t o A t h e n s . A n o t h e r b u i ld i n g on t h e m o n a s t e r yg r o u n d s h o u s e s t h e E x t e r n a l A ffa i r s d e p a r t m e n t o f t h e R u s s i a n



O r t h o d ox C h u r c h . A r ch i m a n d r i t e T h e op h a n h o s t e d u s . I n1 9 8 8 , 1 6 5 c h u r c h e s w e r e o p e n e d ; it a p p e a r s t h a t a ll t h a t i sn e e d e d i s a r e q u e s t f r o m t h e c h u r c h . C l e r g y n o w h a v e a c ce s s t oT V a n d t h e p r i n t e d p r e s s fo r a d d r e s s i n g n o t on l y b e l ie v e r s b u tt h e e n t i r e s o ci e t y . T h e r e is d i s cu s s i on a b o u t o p e n i n g a d d i t ion a l(n o w on l y L e n i n g r a d a n d M o s co w ) t h e o lo gi ca l s e m i n a r i es . " B u tt h e r e a r e p r o b l e m s . L i fe is t o o b o r i n g w i t h o u t p r o b l e m s , e s p ecia l ly i n t h e s p i r it u a l l i fe . " W h a t a b o u t t h e fu t u r e ? "I d e a l t h i n g se x is t on l y in h e a v e n . " B o t h i n t h e U S a n d in t h e U S S R ch a n g e sa r e n e e d e d , s a ys t h e Ar c h i m a n d r i t e . A r e t h e r e e n o u g h B i b l esa v a i la b l e ? H e t e l ls of h i s e x p e r i e n c e i n U S h o t e l s w h e r e h efo u n d G i d e o n B i b l e s , o ft e n u n u s e d . "O u r s p ir i t u a l li fe n e e d sa l so o t h e r a p p r o a c h e s - i t ' s n o t j u s t a m a t t e r o f h o w m a n y B i b le sy o u h a v e . " I s G o r b a c h e v a b e l ie v e r ? "A s k G o r b a c h e v !"

4 . T h e p o p u l a t i on o f L a t v ia is 2 .6 m i ll io n . T h e r e a r e 5 6 t o w n sin t h i s r e p u b h c . W e a r e i n R i g a , t h e c a p it a l ; a l m o s t 1 m i lh o np e o p l e . T h e o ld c it y h a s b u i ld i n g s f r o m t h e 1 3 t h , 1 5t h a n d 1 7 t hc en t u r i e s . T h e r e a r e s o m e fo lk s o v e r 8 0 , s t il l a l iv e , w h o r e m e mb e r L e n i n . T h e R i fl e G u a r d w a s ea r l y s u p p o r t o f t h e R e v o lu t i o nin L e n i n g r a d , a n d n o w a n h o n o r a r y g u a r d o f h i g h s ch o ol s t ud e n t s , m a l e a n d f e m a l e , i n a l l k i n d s o f f o o t w e a r , s e r v e a sh o n o r a r y gu a r d s a t t h e m e m o r ia l for t h e R ifle G u a r d , o n e h o u ra t a t i m e . T h e y e a r 1 2 0 1 m a r k s f ou n d i n g o f t h e ci t y r u l ed i n

t u r n b y a G e r m a n b i s h o p w it h C r u s a d e r s ; a P ol is h k i n g ; k i n g so f D e n m a r k , a n d S w e d e n ; w i t h t h e co m i n g o f P e t e r t h e G r e a t ,L a t v ia b e ca m e p a r t o f R u s s i a . L u t h e r a n a n d R om a n C a t h ol icC h u r ch b u i ld i n g s a b o u n d , b u t o n l y s o m e a r e a c t i ve . T h e R u ss ia n O r t h o d ox C h u r c h i s a m i n o r i t y h e r e ; i t m a k e s for m o r eco r d ia l e c u m e n i ca l r e la t i on s w i t h L u t h e r a n s , l ik e j o in t b l es s i n go f t h e w a t e r s a t E p i p h a n y . T h e O r t h o d ox ca t h e d r a l h a s m a n y" w e s t e r n " fe a t u r e s . . . . O l d B e l ie v e r s ' C a t h e d r a l h a s t h eg r e a t e s t co ll e ct i o n o f i co n s a n y w h e r e . . . A t a J e w i s h s y n a g o g u e ,t h e h o s t O r t h o d o x p r i e s t i n q u i r e d : " A l l A m e r i c a n g r o u p s a s kfo r it . W h y ? " I r e s p o n d e d : " We s e e k t o b e i n d i a l og u e w i t h o u ro ld e r b r o t h e r s a n d s i s t e r s in t h e fa i t h . " H e a p p e a r e d t o b ep u z z le d . Wa l k i n g t h r o u g h s e ve r a l n a r r ow s t r e e t s a n d b a c ky a r d s , a m i d s t a g o od d e a l of r e c o n s t r u c t i on w o r k , w e f ou n d t h es m a ll e n t r y d o o r . A r a t h e r l a r g e in s i d e . A b o u t 5 0 t o 6 0 g a t h e rfo r w e e k l y w o r s h i p ; o n h i g h h o ly d a y s a b o u t 2 ,0 0 0 , m a n y s t a n d -



i n g ou t s i d e t h e b u i ld i n g , w e a r e t o ld .5. S u n d a y w o r s h i p a t S t . N i co la s C a t h e d r a l in L e n i n g r a d , o n e

o f 18 p l a c e s o f a c t i v e w o r s h i p i n t h a t c it y, 1 4 o f t h e m O r t h o d o x .A b a p t i s m a l s e r v i ce w a s g oi n g o n , a t t h e s t r e e t -l e v e l w o r s h i pa r e a , fo r ch i ld r e n o f a ll a g e s , t e e n s a n d s o m e a d u l t s i n t h e i rm i d -t h i r t ie s . I r e j oi ce d i n u t t e r a m a z e m e n t a n d t e a r fu l t h a n k s !A b o u t 3 0 fe e t a w a y, a t a n o t h e r i co n o s t a s i s , w a s t h e b o d y o f ab a b u s h k a (e l d e r l y w o m a n ) la i d o u t i n a s im p l e ca s k e t ; lo ve do n e s w e r e p a y i n g t h e i r r e s p e c t s w i t h v e r y n a t u r a l co n v e r s a t i ona m o n g t h e m ; s o m b e r t e n d e r n e s s . N e w l i fe , d e a t h a n d n e w l ifew e r e o n l y 3 0 fe e t a p a r t . I w e n t u p s t a i r s t o t h e m a i n l i t u r g y ;c om i n g b a c k d ow n I o b s e r v e d F ir s t C o m m u n i o n o f t h e n e w l yb a p t i z e d . A t s t i ll a n o t h e r i co n s t a t i on a p r i e s t l ea d s a n i n fo r m a lp r a y e r s e r v i ce , w i t h s p e c ifi c p e t i t i o n s p r e s e n t e d t o h i m o nin d i v id u a l s li p s o f p a p e r . T h e r e a r e c a n d l e s e ve r y w h e r e . I m a k em y w a y t o a s u n -d r e n c h e d b e n c h i n t h e a d jo in i n g p a r k . I a m s ofi l le d w i t h a m a z e m e n t a t t h e r i ch e s o f t h i s cu l t u r e a n d p e o p l e .C l ou d s k e e p m o v in g a cr o s s t h e s u n ; t h e s u n is cl ea r a n d g o l d e nw a r m a g a in . G o d r u l e s ! L e t t h e e a r t h r e j o ic e ! T h e n t h e c l ou d sm o v e a g a in a n d i t is c oo le r . I m a k e m y w a y t o t h e b u s . I w a n t t ob e h o m e . I w il l b e h o m e . I a m h o m e ! R i g h t h e r e a n d n o w !

6 . T h e fin a l m e a l in t h e U S S R , a n d a s p o k e n p r a y e r b y s o m ei n o u r g r o u p i n t h i s p u b l i c h o t e l ( r e l i g i o n i n p u b l i c i s f o r b i d

d e n ! ) , s o m e s oft s in g i n g : "A l l e lu i a " a n d "A m e n " a n d " M i n de y e s h a v e s e e n t h e g l o r y " a n d ot h e r s o n g s . T h e k i t c h e n cr e wr u s h e s ou t t o w a t ch a n d l is t e n w it h s i le n t a m a z e m e n t . I w e n tu p t o t h e m , i n m y cl e r g y d r e s s , a n d s im p l y s a id : "S p a s z i b ob o l s h o i " (T h a n k y o u v e r y m u c h ! ). T h e y lo ok e d a t m e w i t h al on g i n g s m i l e : "P a s h a l u s t a ! " (You ' r e w e l c o m e ) a n d s o m e o t h e rb o n d i n g w o r d s , I t h i n k . I t is g o o d t o h a v e b e e n h e r e . It is g o odt o b e l e a v in g . B u t I w a n t t o c om e a g a i n , s o on ! S u c h k i n d n e s sa n d f r ie n d l in e s s a m o n g t h e p e o p l e , t h o u g h g e n e r a l ly w i t h am o r e qu i e t , s o m b e r d e m e a n o r .

7. We h a d a d a y o f d e b r i e fi n g a t S t o ck h o l m , S w e d e n . T h e s ew e r e s om e s u m m a r y n o t e s I e n t e r e d i n t o m y d i a r y, b a s e d o ne v e r y on e ' s co m m e n t s :

(a ) O n e - t o -o n e p e r s o n a l co n t a ct s ( on t h e s t r e e t , o u t s i d e t h ec h u r c h e s b e fo r e a n d a f t e r w o r s h i p , in a p a r t m e n t s ) r a t e d v e r yh i g h , t h o u g h s o m e d i d n o t h a v e t h e s e e x p e r i e n ce s .



(b ) T h e S o v i e t s a r e a q u i e t l y f r i e n d l y, e a g e r t o g e t t o k n o wA m e r i ca n s . " W e " a n d " t h e y " a r e t h e s a m e p e op l e .(c) Wo r s h i p in O r t h o d ox , L u t h e r a n a n d B a p t i s t ch u r c h e s w a sm o v in g , gr i p p i n g .(d ) O u r s w a s a t h r e e - le v e l e x p e r i e n c e : r e l i g i ou s , s o ci e t a l a n di n d i v i d u a l .( e ) W e a r e w o e f u l l y a w a r e of t h e n e e d fo r b a l a n c e d r e p o r t i n gb a c k h o m e .i O S o m e o f u s e x p e r i e n ce d o u r o w n h e r i t a g e !(g ) L a n g u a g e o ft e n w a s a b a r r i e r . B u t t h a t i s o u r p r o b le m !H o w e v e r , w e d i d h a v e c om p e t e n t t r a n s la t o r -g u i d esa s w e l l a ss o m e fe l lo w p il g r im s w i t h k n o w l e d g e o f t h e R u s s i a n l a ng u a g e .

V I .

S o, w h a t a b o u t t h e R u s s i a n s ? A r e t h e y, t h e i r officia l g o v e r nm e n t id e o l og y of c om m u n i s m , t h e i r m i li t a r y m i g h t , g oi n g t od e s t r o y u s ? A r e w e g oi n g t o b e s t r o n g e n o u g h t o d e fe n d o u r s e lv e s ? W i ll w e d e s t r o y t h e m ? C a n w e t r u s t t h e R u s s ia n s ? T h e yh a v e t h e s a m e q u e s t i on : H o w ca n w e t r u s t t h o s e A m e r i ca n s ?

I n T he Courage t o L ove, Wi l l ia m S l o a n e C offi n h a s a c h a p t e ro n T h e S ov i et s , F o r ye a r s S o v ie t s a n d A m e r i ca n s h a v e liv e d inm u t u a l fe a r . C o ffi n s a y s : " Wa r s a lw a y s b e g i n i n t h e m i n d . Yo uh a v e f i r s t t o t h i n k o t h e r s t o d e a t h . You c a n n o t k i ll a b r o t h e r .Yo u c a n n o t k i ll a s i s t e r , a fr i e n d , a fe l lo w h u m a n b e i n g . B u t y o uca n k i ll a M a r x i s t , a ca p i t a l is t , a n i m p e r i a l i s t , a le ft i s t g u e r r i l la .M o r e a c cu r a t e l y , w a r s b e g in i n t h e h e a r t w h e n f e a r - o n c e a g a in- d i s p l a c e s l o v e . "

A s C h r i s t i a n s w e k n o w w e w il l a l w a ys m a k e m i s t a k e s , h a v em i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g s a n d m i s g u i d e d a m b i t io n s . S o w il l " t h e y "b e c a u s e t h e y a r e a s h u m a n a s w e a r e . I n C o ffi n 's c on c lu d i n g

w o r d s : "C a n w e t r u s t t h e R u s s ia n s ? C a n t h e y t r u s t u s ? F in a l lyh a v e w e a n y c h o i ce ? F e a r c a n a r m u s , b u t fe a r c a n n e v e r d i s a r mu s . O n l y t r u s t ca n d o t h a t . I f o u r w i ll s a r e n o t p a r a l y z e d , b u tfr e e d a t la s t b y t h e e t e r n a l d i s p e n s e r o f f r e e d o m , t h e e t e r n a ld i s p e n s e r o f l i f e , w e w i l l f r o m n o w o n r e g a r d e v e r y h u m a n b e i n ga s a ch i l d o f G o d . I n e a c h w e w i ll s e e a s i s t er o r a b r o t h e r - a n d



a R u s s i a n , A m e r i c a n , M a r x is t , or c a p i t a lis t a t a l a t e r , m o r eco n v e n i e n t h o u r . An d w ew i l l c on t i n u e t o d o s o b e c a u s e h e w h oca m e t o s h o w u s t h e w a y w il l a l s o s e e u s t h r o u g h . "

H e n r y N o u w e n i n L i f e S i g n s r e m in d s u s t h a t t h e r e a r ea l w a ys t w o t y p e s o f q u e s t i o n s in o u r m i n d s w h i ch a r e t h e s i gno f u n -l if e , o f fe a r . T h e q u e s t i on s b e g i n w it h " W h a t i f a n d w i t h" Ye s , b u t . " S u ch fe a r m a k e s u s w a s t e o u r a n d t h e e n t i r e w o r ld ' sr e s o u r c e s for g e n e r a t i o n s t o c om e a n d s o d e s t r o y u s i n ou r v e r yb e i n g , i n ou r s o u l , l on g b e fo r e s o m e n u c l e a r ca t a s t r o p h e d o e si t . We d o n o t s o m u c h n e e d t o d e f e n d o u r s e l ve s fr o m t h eR u s s i a n s . We d o n e e d t o d e fe n d o u r s ou l s a n d ou r e n t i r ecr e a t i on w i t h i n a n d w i t h o u t , a s t h e U n i t e d M e t h o d is t b i s h o p sw a r n a n d e n c ou r a g e u s in t h e i r s t a t e m e n t .

v n .

I t h a s b e e n s a i d t h a t t h e r e a r e m o r e t e a c h e r s o f E n g h s h int h e S ov ie t U n i on t h a n s t u d e n t s o f t h e R u s s ia n l a n g u a g e in t h eU n i t e d S t a t e s . I t is m y op i n i o n t h a t t h e r e a r e m o r e S o vi e tci t iz e n s w h o k n o w a b o u t t h e h i s t o r y a n d g e og r a p h y of t h eU n i t e d S t a t e s t h a n t h e r e a r e A m e r i ca n ci t i ze n s w it h a s im ila rb a s i c k n o w l e d g e a b o u t t h e S ov ie t U n i on . W h a t e v e r t h e s t a t i s

t i ca l e v id e n c e , a s A m e r i c a n C h r i s t ia n s w e n e e d t o r e p e n t ,c h a n g e o u r m i n d a n d a t t i t u d e , t o o o ft e n b a s e d on i g n o r a n c e ,t o w a r d o u r b r o t h e r s a n d s is t e r s in t h e S ov i et U n i on .

W e a ll h a v e t o b e g i n s o m e w h e r e w i t h o u rm et a n o ia . F o r s om eit w o u l d b e g o od t o a v a il t h e m s e l v e s o f a c ou r s e in b a s i c R u s s i a n .J u s t t o b e co m e s o m e w h a t fa m il ia r w i t h t h e s ou n d , i f n o t t h em e a n i n g , of t h e R u s s i a n l a n g u a g e is a fr e e i n g e x p e r i e n c e .T h e r e a r e s o m e n e w s p a p e r s , l i k e t h e C h r i st i a n S ci en c eM o n i t o r , w h i ch fe a t u r e r e g u l a r l y a r t i cl es on t h e cu l t u r e , h i st o r y , g e o gr a p h y, r e l ig io n a n d g e n e r a l c u r r e n t s i t u a t i on o f t h e

co u n t r y . T h e N a t i o n a l G e o g r a p h i c f e a t u r e s o cc a s i on a l a r t i cl e s .T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e , B u r e a u o f P u b l icA ffa i r s , p r o v i d e s u p d a t e d , w e l l -a n n o t a t e d i s s u e s of a n a t l a s o ft h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d ot h e r h e l p f u l m a t e r i a l s . S o d oe sF r i en d s h i p P r e s s a n d t h e S e r v ice C e n t e r o f t h e G e n e r a l B oa r do f G l ob a l M i n i s t r i e s . I t w o u l d b e w e l l t o g e t o n t h e m a i l in g l is t



o{ M irror, n e w s l e t t e r o f t h e N C C U S S R T r a v e l S e m i n a r P r og r a m , a n d t h e J o h n T. C o n n e r C e n t e r for U S / U S S R R e c on c i li at i on , I n c ., a t 3 2 0 N o r t h S t r e e t , We s t L a f a y e t t e , I N 4 7 9 0 6 . B o t hr e g u l a r l y p r o v i d e l is t i n g s o f a v a i la b l e r e s o u r c e s .

T h e r e a r e i n c r e a s i n g occ a s i on s w h e n c it i z e n s o f t h e S o v i e tU n i o n v is i t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n co n n e c t i on w i t h e d u ca t i on a l ,p r o fe s s i on a l , b u s i n e s s , p e a c e a n d fr i e n d s h i p p r o g r a m s . O n es h o u l d b e w il li n g t o t r a v e l m i l e s t o s im p l y co m e in t o u c h w i t ht h e s e g u e s t s . I t is of t e n a co n v e r s i o n e x p e r i e n c e . T h e b e s tt h i n g s , h o w e v e r , is t o s cr a p e t o g e t h e r d o lla r s b y b o r r o w i n ga n d / o r d e n y i n g o n e s e l f o t h e r c o m f or t s a n d p os s i b il it i e s , a n dt r a v e l t o t h e S o v i e t U n i o n w h i l e t h e w o r l d p o l it i ca l s i t u a t i on i sr e l a t i v e l y c o n d u c i v e . O n e o f t h e b e s t w a y s t o i n v e s t i n t h e

e d u ca t i on o f o u r y o u n g p e o p l e is t o s e n d t h e m E a s t fo r e v en afe w d a y s , p r e f e r a b l y s e v e r a l w e e k s o r m o n t h s . T h i s s or t o ft r a v e l, fo r u s a n d o u r c h i l d r e n , is o n e o f t h e b e s t c on t r i b u t i on st h a t w e c a n m a k e t o t h e p e a ce o f t h e w o r l d , t o t h e p e a c e in o u rh e a r t s .

F r o m a m o n g t h e d o z e n s o f v o lu m e s c on c e r n i n g t h e S o v ie tU n i on t h a t h a v e n o u r i s h e d m e in m o r e r e ce n t t i m e s , I r e c omm e n d t h e fo ll ow i n g s e v e n a s s t a r t i n g p o in t s . A n y o n e o f t h e mw i n le a d t o in c r e a s e d c u r i os i t y , i n t e r e s t i n m o r e d e t a i le d p u rs u i t o f a l l k i n d s o f a s p e c t s o f t h i s g r e a t , m y s t e r i o u s c o u n t r y, it sr e l ig io n , c h u r c h e s a n d p e o p l e .

1. W h a t A b ou t t h e R u s s i a n s ? B r e t h r e n P r e s s , 1 9 8 4 ; 1 6 0p a g e s . T h i s e a s i ly r e a d b o o k fe a t u r e s t e n a u t h o r s d e a l in g w i t ha C h r i s t ia n a p p r o a c h t o t h e U S / S o v i e t co n fl ict . I t ' s a n u n -a p o l og e t i ca l l y C h r i s t i a n a n t h o lo g y b y w r i t e r s w h o for t h e m o s tp a r t h a v e a r i ch b a c k g r o u n d o f d i r e c t co n t a ct s w i t h t h e S o v ie tp e o p l e . T h e q u e s t i o n s p o s e d in t h e ch a p t e r t i t l es a r e t h o s em a n y A m e r i ca n s a r e a s k in g .

2 . M i k h a i l G o r b a c h e v ,Percs t ro ika . H a r p e r , & R o w, 1 9 8 7 ; 2 5 4

p a g e s . I n e l o q u e n t , f or c e f u l , p a s s i on a t e w o r d s t h e S o v ie t l e a d e rp r e s e n t s " n e w t h i n k i n g for o u r c ou n t r y a n d t h e w o r l d ." T h i s isi n d e e d a h i s t o r i c d o c u m e n t o f m a j or p r o p o r t i on s . S a y s G o rb a c h e v : "I t i s n o t e a s y t o ch a n g e t h e a p p r o a c h e s o n w h i chE a s t -We s t r e l a t i on s h a v e b e e n b u i l t fo r fi ft y ye a r s . B u t t h e n e wis k n o ck i n g a t e v e r y d o or a n d w i n d o w. "

3 . T i m o t h y Wa r e , T h e O r t h od o x C h u r ch . P e n g u i n P r e s s , 19 83



r e v i s e d e d i t i on ; 3 5 2 p a g e s . T h i s is a cl e a r , d e t a i l e d i n t r o d u c t i ont o t h e h i s t or y , fa i t h a n d w o r s h i p of t h e O r t h o d o x C h u r c hw r i t t e n f or n o n - O r t h o d o x C h r i s t ia n s a s w e l l a s for O r t h o d o xw h o w i s h t o k n o w m o r e a b o u t t h e i r ow n t r a d i t io n .

4 . N i c h o l a s Z o r n o v, T h e R u s s i a n s a n d t h e ir C h u r eh . S t .V l a d i m i r , 1 9 7 8 ; 1 9 2 p a g e s . A k n o w l e d g e o f t h e p a r t p l a y e d b yt h e O r t h o d o x C h u r c h i n t h e li ve s o f R u s s i a n s b e fo r e a n d a ft e rt h e 1 9 1 7 R e v o l u t i o n i s a k e y t o u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e h i s t o r y a n dc u l t u r e of t h e e n t i r e co u n t r y . T h e ch a n g e a b l e a t t i t u d e o f t h eco m m u n i s t s t a t e t ow a r d s t h e C h u r ch i s d e s cr i b ed .

5 . G e o r g e F. K e n n a n , T he N u c lea r De lus ion : S ov iet -A m er i canR el a t io n s i n t h e A t om i c A g e,P a n t h e o n , 1 9 8 3 ; 2 6 3 p a g e s . W i sd o m a n d l ea r n in g s h i n e t h r o u g h t h e s e v a r i ou s s p e e c h e s a n d

c o m m u n i c a t i o n s f r o m t h e l i fe o f t h i s s t a t e s m a n a n da c a d e m i ci a n . W r i t t e n o v e r t h e co u r s e of s o m e t h i r t y ye a r s(1 9 5 0 - 1 9 8 2 ), t h e s e c o n t r i b u t i o n s b y o n e o f A m e r i c a ' s g r e a t e s tp u b l ic s e r v a n t s s h o w a g r a c e a n d e l e g a n c e co u p l e d w i t h p a ss i on a t e , y e t c o n t r o ll e d a n d r e a s o n e d h u m a n i t y . I t d e a l s a ls ow i t h t h e is s u e o f fu t u r e w e a p o n s s y s t e m s .

6 . T r e v o r B e e s o n , D i s cr et i on a n d Va l ou r. F o r t r e s s P r e s s ,1 9 8 2 ; 4 1 6 p a g e s . T h i s is a n a m a z i n g ly co m p r e h e n s i v e v o l u m eon t h e r e li gi ou s c on d i t io n s in R u s s i a a n d E a s t e r n E u r o p e . T h ep a t t e r n h a s n o t a lw a y s b e e n t h e s a m e , b u t i t is a lw a y s a m a t t e ro f l ife a n d d e a t h . T h o r o u g h l y u p d a t e d , t h i s is a n a u t h o r i t a t i v ea n d m o v in g s u r v e y . T h e a u t h o r h a s s e r v e d r e g u l a r l y a sE u r o p e a n c or r e s p o n d e n t for t h eC h r i s t i a n C e n t u r y.

7 . C o n s t a n t i n G . P a t e l o s , e d i t o r ,T h e O r t h od o x C h u r ch i n t h eE c u m en i ca l M ov em en t . W C C . G e n e v a , 1 9 7 8 ; 3 6 0 p a g e s . A c o ll e ct i on o f d o c u m e n t s a n d s t a t e m e n t s fr o m t h e y e a r s o f 1 9 0 2 -1 9 7 5 . T h e y c ov e r p a t r i a r c h a l e n c y cl i ca l s , P a n - O r t h o d o xc on f e r e n c e s a n d o t h e r o fficia l a n d p e r s o n a l s t a t e m e n t s . T h i s isa s ol i d d o cu m e n t a r y h i s t o r y of t h e p r e s e n c e a n d w i t n e s s o f t h eO r t h o d ox C h u r c h , o f w h i ch t h e R u s s ia n O r t h o d ox C h u r c h i st h e l a r g e s t fa m i ly , a t t h e c e n t e r o f t h e e c u m e n i c a l m o v e m e n t .



S e a r c h f o r a T h e o l o g i c a lP a r a d i g m : A n A s i a n -

A m e r i c a n J o u r n e y

J u n g Y o u n g L e e

R e t u r n i n g t o R o o t s

A cc or d i n g t o L a o -t z u , e v e r y t h i n g h a s a t e n d e n c y t o r e t u r n t oi t s o r ig i n . M y t h e o lo g ic a l t h i n k i n g i s n o e x ce p t i on . I n m y e a r l yd a y s m y t h e o l og i c a l t r a i n i n g w a s d e e p l y i n f l u e n c e d b yp r o m i n e n t E u r o p e a n t h e ol og ia n s s u ch a s K a r l B a r t h , E m i lB r u n n e r , R u d o l f B u l t m a n n , P a u l T i ll ic h , a n d D i e t r i ch B o n h o e f-fe r . T h e y h a d m o l d e d m y t h e o lo g ic a l or i e n t a t i o n . I s o o n d i sc ov e r e d t h a t I w a s t h e o lo g ic a l ly d e p e n d e n t o n t h e o lo g ia n sw h o s e cu l t u r a l a n d p h i lo s op h i ca l r o ot s w e r e q u i t e d i ffe r e n tf r o m m y ow n . T h i s d i s c ov e r y w a s t h e b e g i n n i n g o f m y s e a r c hfor a t h e o l og i ca l p a r a d i g m t h a t w o u l d p r o v i d e a s e n s e o f m e a ni n g a n d a u t o n o m y in m y t h e o l og ica l o r i e n t a t i on . M y s e a r c h w a ss p o n t a n e o u s , fo r I w a s m o t iv a t e d t o r e t u r n t o m y ow n cu l t u r a la n d e t h n i c r o o t s , w h i ch a r e K o r e a n in p a r t i cu l a r a n d As ia n ing e n e r a l .

A s fa r a s I ca n r e c a l l , t h e r e w e r e a fe w o cc a s i o n s t h a tp r o m p t e d m e t o a t t e m p t t o fr e e m y s e l f f r o m m y d e p e n d e n c yo n We s t e r n w a y s o f t h i n k i n g . F i r s t o f a l l, I n o t i c e d t h a t m yC a u c a s ia n f r i e n d s e x p e ct e d m e t o t h i n k a n d a ct d i ffe r e n t l yb e ca u s e of m y O r i e n t a l b a c k g r o u n d . T h i s e x t e r n a l p r e s s u r eh e l p e d m e t o t a k e m y e t h n i c r o o t s s er i ou s l y . I b e g a n t o n o t i ce

t h a t I w a s im i t a t i n g We s t e r n w a y s o f t h i n k i n g a n d o f d o in gt h e o lo g y. I h a d n e v e r s e r i ou s l y co n s i d e r e d t h e fa c t t h a t m ye t h n i c d i ffe r e n c e h a d a n y t h i n g t o d o w i t h m y t h e o lo gi ca l t h i n k -

J u n g Yo u n g L e e i s p r o fe s so r o f r e lig io u s s t u d i e s a t t h e U n i v er s i t y o f N o r t hD a k o t a a n d a m e m b e r o f t h e We s t O h i o C o n fe r e n c e .



in g . T h i s w a s w r o n g . M y t h i n k i n g p r o c e s s h a s s om e t h i n g t o d ow i t h m y e t h n i c b a c k g r o u n d . T h i s w a s t h e b e g in n i n g o f m ys e a r ch fo r a n e w w a y o f t h e o lo gi ca l t h i n k i n g w h i ch w o u l d h a v et o b e a p a r t o f m y l i fe - s t y l e .

S e c o n d l y , m y i n t e r e s t h a d s w i t c h e d f r o m t h e s t u d y o fWe s t e r n t h e o lo gi ca l w o r k s t o t h e s t u d y o f E a s t e r n r e l ig io u s a n dc u l t u r a l t r a d i t i on s . A s p e ci a l a r e a o f i n t e r e s t f or m e e v o lv e da r o u n d t h e C h i n e s e Book o f Changes o r t h e / C h i n g . T h i st r a n s i t i on h a d t o d o w i t h m y d e s ir e t o d is c ov e r m y r o ot s in t h eE a s t e r n c u l t u r e . H o w e v er ,I w a s s e e k in g m o r e t h a n j u s t m y ow ncu l t u r a l h e r i t a g e , for I w a n t e d t o k n o w w h a t m a d e m e t h i n kd i ffe r e n t l y f r o m We s t e r n p e o p l e . In f a c t , I w a s s e e k i n g a b a s i co r ie n t a t i on i n m y ow n c u l t u r a l h e r i t a g e w h i ch h a d a f fe c t e d m yt h o u g h t s a n d a c t i on s . T h i s o r i e n t a t i o n is d i s t i n c t i v e ly d i ffe r e n t

fr o m We s t e r n ci vi li za t ion . T h i s w a s a v e r y i m p o r t a n t p e r i o d form e , b e c a u s e I n e e d e d s o m e t i m e t o r e a s s e s s m y t h e o lo gi ca lo r ie n t a t i on . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h i s w a s a t i m e for m e t o d e t a c hm y s e l f f r o m t h e o lo g ic a l s t u d y in o r d e r t o o r i e n t m y s e l f t o a n e wp e r s p e c t i v e .

T h i r d l y , I h a v e c om e t o n o t i ce t h a t c o s m o lo gy is m o r e i m p o rt a n t t h a n a n t h r o p ol og y in t h e C h i n e s e a n d K or e a n w a y o ft h i n k in g . T h e r e a s on i s t h a t " , . . h u m a n b e i n g s a r e con s i d e r e dt o b e p a r t s of t h e co s m o s . U n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e c o s m o s , t h e r e f or e ,i m p l ie s t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f h u m a n n a t u r e a s w e ll ." M o r e ov e r

t h e co s m o s a n d t h e u l t im a t e r e a l it y a r e in s e p a r a b l y r e l a t e d a n dm u t u a l ly in c lu s i v e in E a s t e r n t r a d i t ion s . M y s t u d y of t h e /C h i n g , t h e e a r l ie s t b oo k o n C h i n e s e c os m o lo gy, h a s h e l p e d m et o g r a s p t h a t t h e c on c e p t o f c h a n g e is t h e e s s e n c e of t h e c os m i cp r o c e s s . A s I w a s t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e im p o r t a n c e o f co s m o lo g yin m y s t u d y, I r e c a l le d t h e p r o fo u n d y e t i m p o s s i b le s u g g e s t i o nb y R u d o lf B u l t m a n n t o d e m y t h o l og iz e t h e t h r e e - s t or i e d -s t r u ct u r e w or l d v ie w o f N e w Te s t a m e n t t i m e s . T h i s c os m o lo gi ca lm y t h h a s b e e n s o d e e p l y i m p r i n t e d in t h e u n c on s c i ou s m i n d o fp e o p l e t h a t i t is s t i ll i m p o s s i b l e t o e l im i n a t e i t f r o m t h e i rt h o u g h t p a t t e r n s . L i k e w i s e , t h e co s m o lo g ic a l p r i n c ip l e o fc h a n g e , w h ic h h a s b e e n k n o w n fr o m t h e b e g in n i n g of h u m a nci vi h z a t i on , h a s b e e n s o d e e p l y i m p r i n t e d i n m y u n c on s c io u st h o u g h t t h a t I , a s a p a r t o f C h i n e s e a n d K o r e a n t r a d i t ion ,c a n n o t s e p a r a t e m y s e l f f r o m it . I k n o w t h a t I a m a p r o d u c t o ft h a t co s m i c p r o ce s s a n d p a r t o f t h e t r a d i t i on t h a t c la i m s c h a n g e



i t s e l f a s t h e a b s o l u t e c a t e g o r y fo r u n d e r s t a n d i n g a l l c os m i cp h e n o m e n a .

F i n a l ly , I h a v e d i s co v er e d t h a t w h a t m a k e s m e t h i n k a n d a ctd i ffe r e n t l y fr o m t h e p e o p l e in t h e We s t i s m y u n c on s c io u sa c ce p t a n ce o f c h a n g e a s t h e a b s o lu t e fr a m e o f r e f e r e n c e . B eca u s e I t h i n k a n d a ct in t e r m s o f ch a n g e r a t h e r t h a n in t e r m so f u n c h a n g i n g b e i n g , I h a v e t o t h i n k a n d a c t d i ffe r e n t l y f r o mWe s t e r n p e o p l e , w h o s e t h o u g h t s a n d a c t ion s h a v e b e e n g r e a t lyc on d i t i o n e d b y t h e s t a t i c o n t o l og y o f H e l l e n i s t i c p h i lo s o p h y.C h a n g e a l w a y s o p e r a t e s i n t h e d i p o l a r r e l a t i o n s h i p k n o w n a sy i n -y a n g . T h i s is cl e a r l y i ll u s t r a t e d b y t h e d i a g r a m o fTa i - ch%

t h e p a r a d i g m o f a l l c o s m i cp r o c e s s e s .

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I ^fl ^ ^ ^ V fr a m e o f r e f e r e n c e for u n d e r -\ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ s t a n d i n g a l l t h in g s , i n cl u d in g

X ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ m y s e l f . P e r s o n a l l y, r e d i s c o v e r -^ " ^ ^ ^ ^ in g t h e s ig n i fica n ce o f t h is s y m

b ol h a s b e e n n o n e o t h e r t h a nt h e r e d i s c o v e r y o f m y o w n i d e n t i t y a s a K o r e a n . I h a v e a l s o co m et o n o t i ce t h e p r o fo u n d m e a n i n g of t h e K o r e a n n a t i on a l fla gw h i ch b e a r s t h e e m b l e m ofTai -ch% t h e y in - y a n g s y m b o l. T h ey i n - y a n g s y m b o l , w h i ch d e p i ct s t h e p r o ce s s o f c h a n g e , is t h e nd e e p l y i m p r i n t e d i n t h e co ll e ct i v e u n c on s c i ou s n e s s o f t h eK o r e a n p e o p l e . I , a s a K o r e a n , s h o u l d s h a r e t h a t c ol le c t i veu n c on s c i ou s n e s s i n m y li fe . D i s c ov e r i n g t h e 5 d n -y a n gS 5 m i b o l i s ,t h e r e f o r e , n o n e o t h e r t h a n t h e d i s co ve r y o f m y s e l f

T h e M e a n i n g o f t h e Y i n -Y a n g S y m b o l

W h a t m a k e s t h i s p a r a d ig m d i ffe r e n t f r o m o t h e r p a r a d i g m so f E u r o p e a n t h e o l og i e s o f t h e p a s t is t h e b a s i c c a t e g o r y o fr e a l it y i t s e l f T h e y in - ya n g s jm i b ol , a s I s a i d , r e p r e s e n t s t h ep r o ce s s o f c h a n g e . I t i s c h a n g e w h i ch t a k e s t h e a b s o lu t eca t e g o r y o f r e a l it y. I n fa c t r e a l it y i s c on c e iv e d a s c h a n g e r a t h e rt h a n a s b e i n g . I t i s n o t t h e s u b s t a n ce t h a t c h a n g e s b u t i t is



c h a n g e t h a t cr e a t e s s u b s t a n c e a n d b e i n g . C h a n g e is a na pr io r ic a t e g o r y o f e x i s t e n c e . B e i n g is n o n e o t h e r t h a n t h e m a n i fe s t at i on o f c h a n g e . W h a t t h e yi n -y a n g s 3m ib ol p r e s u p p o s e s , t h e r e

f or e , is n o t on t o l o g y b u t "c h a n g e o l og y. " I t i s c h a n g e t h a tc h a n g e s a ll t h i n g s , b u t t h e c h a n g e i t s e l f i s ch a n g ele ss .** T h i sp a r a d o x ic a l n a t u r e o f c h a n g e is n o t on l y t h e b a s i c fr a m e o fr e f e r e n c e for t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e c os m o s a n d of h u m a nn a t u r e b u t a l s o o f d i v in e r e a l it y. G o d h i m s e l f c a n b e u n d e r s t o odin t e r m s of ch a n g e r a t h e r t h a n b e i n g , for c h a n g e t a k e s t h ec a t e g or y o f t h e a b s o lu t e . I n t h i s w a y, t h r o u g h t h e y i n -y a n gs y m b o l, I ca n u n d e r s t a n d r e a l it y q u i t e d i ffe r e n t l y t h a n I ca nt h r o u g h t h e We s t e r n o n t o log ic a l a p p r o a c h . W h e n "c h a n g e olog y" b e c o m e s t h e b a s i c fr a m e o f r e f e r e n c e , m y t h i n k i n g a ls o

c h a n g e s . I n fa c t , a c c or d i n g t o "c h a n g e o l og y, " b e i n gis n o n e o t h e rt h a n t h e il l u s io n of c h a n g e , t h e u n c h a n g i n g b e i n g ca n n o t e x is tin r e a l it y , i t ca n e x is t on l y in t h o u g h t a n d m e m o r y, C h a n g e h a st o b e r e a l , for e v e r y t h i n g c h a n g e s i n o n e w a y o r ot h e r . I n t h ey i n - ya n g s y m b o l c h a n g e o l og y r e p l a c e s o n t o lo g y. T h i s , t h e n , ist h e r e v e r s a l of t h e t r a d i t i on a l We s t e r n i d e a o f r e a l i t y .

B e ca u s e u n c h a n g i n g b e in g s a r e u n r e a l , ch a n g e c a n n o t b eu n d e r s t o o d in t e r m s o f b e i n g . I t is b e s t u n d e r s t o o d in t e r m s o fr e l a t i o n s h i p , fo r y i n a n d y a n g a r e r e l a t i on a l s y m b o ls . Yin i s y i nb e c a u s e o f y a n g , a n d y a n g is y a n g b e ca u s e o f y in . B e ca u s e t h e ya r e r e l a t i on a l , o n e c a n n o t e x is t w i t h o u t t h e ot h e r . T h e y a r em u t u a l ly i n t e r d e p e n d e n t b e c a u s e o f t h e i r m u t u a l i n cl u s iv e -n e s s . I f y o u l o o k a t t h e s 3 m i b ol of Ta i - ch ' i o r t h e y i n - y a n gs y m b o l, y o u ca n e a s i ly n o t i c e t h e m u t u a l in c l u s i ve n e s s . Y in h a sy a n g in i t a n d y a n g h a s y i n i n it . T h e y a r e i n c lu s i v e o f e a c ho t h e r . T h e y i n -y a n g s y m b o l t h a t e x p r e s s e s t h e p r o ce s s o fc h a n g e ca n b e s t b e u n d e r s t o od i n t e r m s o f i n cl u s iv e a n d r e l a t i vech a r a ct e r i s t i cs t h a t co m p l e m e n t t h e op p o s i n g fo r ce s o f t h ew o r l d . Yin a n d y a n g a r e o p p o s it e i n ch a r a c t e r , b u t t h e y a r ec om p l e m e n t a r y . T h u s t h e y in - ya n g s y m b o l r e p r e s e n t s t h eh o l is t i c c a t e g o r y t h a t is ch a r a c t e r is t i c of t h e E a s t e r n w a y o ft h i n k i n g .

T h e B o t h -a n d W a y o f T h i n k i n g

T h e y i n -y a n g s y m b o l a l s o p r e s e n t s a d is t i n c t i v e ly d i ffe r e n tw a y of t h i n k i n g f r o m t h e t r a d i t ion a l We s t e r n w a y of t h i n k i n g .



S i n c e y i n a n d ya n g a r e n o t on l y in c l u s iv e b u t r e l a t i ve , t h e yc a n n o t b e e x p r e s s e d in t e r m s o f a n a b s o lu t e c a t e g o r y of a n"e i t h e r / or , " w h i c h h a s b e e n c lo s e ly a s s o ci a t e d w i t h t h e A r i s

t o t e l ia n l og i c i n t h e We s t . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e "e i t h e r /o r , " l og i cis i n s u ffi ci e n t t o e x p la i n t h e p r o c e s s o f c h a n g e a s d e p i c t e d i nt h e y in - y a n g s y m b o l. I t is n o t o n l y t h e yi n -y a n g s y m b o l t h a t h a sp o in t e d o u t t h e li m i t a t i on o f a n e i t h e r / or l og ic b u t t h e m o d e r ns c i e n c e a l s o q u e s t i on s t h e v a l i d it y o f t h i s p r e m i s e :

"Plan ck 's qu an tum th eory and E ins te in ' s theory of re la t ivity ledto the Ar is to te lian *e ither /or* be ing ques t ioned . Th e resu l t o f th efir s t was t h a t t h e ax iom ,natura non f a c it saltus (n a t u r e m a k es n oleap) , become u nt ena ble . Asa consequ ence o f t he quan tum theo ry,we kn ow today t ha t n a tu r e i s ve ry capab l e of mak ing such l ea ps . .. . W e kn ow today t ha t m a t t e r is no t m ere ly a spa t ia l e lemen t bu ta l so a tem pora l one . I t is corpu scular as wel l as wave-l ike , so tha tboth a re m ere ly d iffe ren t aspec ts o fthe sam e th ing. In *thisas wel las th a t ' li es th e dec is ive impetu s wh ich has led to qu es t ion ing th eAristotelian *either-or." '

T h i s c a t e g o r y o f t h e a b s o l u t e b a s e d o n a d u a l i s t ic w o r l d v i e wi s n o t o n l y in c a p a b l e of e x p r e s s i n g t h e c h a n g i n g p r o c e s s b u t a l s oc r e a t e s t h e li m i t a t i on o f t h e o lo g ic a l t h i n k i n g in t h e We s t . A sW i lfr e d S m i t h h a s p o in t e d o u t , "We in t h e We s t p r e s u m e t h a t

a n in t e l l ig e n t m a n m u s t c h o os e :e i ther t h i s or t h a t ."*' A n d t h e nh e h a s s u g g e s t e d , "I n a ll u l t i m a t e m a t t e r s , t r u t h l ie s n o t in a ne i t h e r -o r , b u t i n a b o t h -a n d . "^ I n o t h e r w o r d s , a t h e o lo gi ca lca t e g or y , t h a t i s , t h e c a t e g o r y o f u l t i m a t e c on c e r n s , n e e d s aca t e g or y o f b o t h - a n d . T h e s u p r e m e e x a m p l e of t h i s ca t e g o r ica lt h i n k i n g i s fo u n d i n t h e y in - y a n g s y m b o l.

Yin a n d y a n g ca n n o t b e e x p r e s s e d in t e r m s of a n e i t h e r -o rc a t e g o r y, b e c a u s e y i n i s in y a n g a n d y a n g is in y in . To s p e a k o fy i n m e a n s t o s p e a k o f y a n g , fo r y i n i s i n c l u d e d in y a n g , a n d t os p e a k o f y a n g is a l s o t o s p e a k o f y i n , f or y a n g is in c l u d e d i n y i n .T h a t is w h y t h e y in - y a n g s y m b o l c a n n o t b e e xp r e s s e d in t h ed u a l is t i c c a t e g o r y o f a n e i t h e r - or . I t is a n o n d u a l is t i c s y m b o l,o n l y e x p r e s s e d i n t e r m s o f b o t h - a n d , t h e in c lu s i v e w a y o f t h i n ki n g . T h e n o n d u a l is t i c e x p r e s s i o n o f y i n -y a n g r e l a t i on s h i pd e n i e s n o t on l y a b s o lu t e d u a l is m b u t a l so a b s o l u t e m o n i s m . Ita l so a s s e r t s b ot h d u a l i s m a n d m o n i s m a t t h e s a m e t i m e . It is



b o t h o n e a n d t w o , fo r o n e i s e x p r e s s e d i n t w o a n d t w o is k n o w nin o n e . T h e r e f or e , t h e b o t h -a n d w a y of t h i n k i n g , w h i ch is t h ey i n -y a n g w a y o f t h i n k i n g , d oe s n o t n e g a t e t h e e i t h e r -o r w a y o ft h in k in g .*^ R a t h e r t h e f or m e r i s n o t o n l y in c lu s i v e of t h e l a t t e r

b u t a ls o d e -a b s o lu t i ze s t h e la t t e r . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e e i t h e r -o rca t e g or y n o t o n l y l os e s i t s a b s o lu t e c h a r a c t e r b u t b e c o m e s ap a r t o f t h e i n c lu s i v e ca t e g o r y o f b o t h - a n d t h i n k i n g . To a c ce p tt h e in c lu s i v e ca t e g or y o f b o t h - a n d t h i n k i n g m e a n s t o r e la t i v iz ea n e i t h e r -o r t h i n k i n g a n d l im i t i t s fu n c t i on t o t h e p e n u l t i m a t em a t t e r s on l y . I n a w a y, t h e e i t h e r - or f r a m e o f r e f e r e n c e i sw o r k a b l e in t h e p e n u l t i m a t e m a t t e r s , j u s t a s t h e cla s s ica l N e wt o n i a n la w is fu n ct i on a l i n o r d in a l m e c h a n i cs . H o w e v e r , t h ee i t h e r - or lo gi c c a n n o t fu n c t i o n i n t h e u l t i m a t e m a t t e r s , j u s t a st h e N e w t on i a n la w d oe s n o t w or k in q u a n t u m p h y s i cs . W h a t is

n e e d e d f or u l t im a t e m a t t e r s is t h e in c lu s i ve w a y of b o t h - a n dt h i n k i n g . S i n c e t h e o lo g y d e a l s w i t h t h e u l t im a t e co n c e r n , t h ey in - y a n g w a y o f t h i n k i n g o r t h e b ot h -a n d w a y o f t h i n k i n g ca nb e s t s e r v e a s a t h e o lo g ic a l p a r a d i g m .

A p p l i c a t i o n s t o A s i a n -A m e r i c a n s

H o w e v e r , m y j ou r n e y c a n n o t s t o p h e r e . A s s oo n a s I t h o u g h tt h a t I h a d fo u n d t h e p a r a d i gm a t i c s y m b o l in m e , I b e g a n t oq u e s t i o n w h e t h e r I m y s e l f a m d e e p l y r o ot e d i n t h e s oi l w h e r et h e s y m b o l h a s b e e n n u r t u r e d a n d s u p p o r t e d for m a n y g e n e r at i o n s . I a m n o lo n g e r l iv i n g in A s ia o r i n K o r e a b u t A m e r i ca . T h i sm e a n s t h a t t h e t h e o log ica l p a r a d i g m t h a t I h a v e fou n d h a s t ob e r e l e v a n t t o a n d f u n ct i o n a l in t h e co n t e x t o f A s ia n s inA m e r i ca . I f a t h e o l og i ca l p a r a d i g m is r i g h t fo r m e a n d h a s au n iv e r s a l im p l ica t i on , i t o u g h t t o fu n ct i on in a n y c ir c u m s t a n c e.I t is e s p e ci a l ly s i g n i fi ca n t t o s e e w h e t h e r it i s fu n c t io n a l w i t hr e s p e c t t o t h e co n d i t i on o f A s ia n s in A m e r i ca .

W h a t t h e n i s t h e s i t u a t i on fo r A s ia n s in A m e r i ca ? A s ia n s

l iv in g in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s fin d t h e m s e l v e s in p o s i t io n s v e r ys i m i l a r t o t h o s e o f t h e o p p r e s s e d p e o p l e i n t h e T h i r d Wo r l d .O c cu p y i n g a m i n o r i t y s t a t u s in t h i s c ou n t r y , w e a r e a m a r g in a li z e d p e o p l e b e c a u s e o f o u r r a c ia l a n d cu l t u r a l b a c k g r o u n d .B e c a u s e o f o u r m a r g in a l iz e d c on d i t i on , w e a r e a T h i r d Wo r l dp e o p l e l iv in g in t h e F i r s t W o r l d , T h i s c o n t e x t a l low s u s t o h o l d



s im i la r t h e o lo g ic a l p o s it i o n s a s o t h e r T h i r d Wo r l d p e o p l e h o l d ,t h a t is , a t h e o l og y fo r t h e o p p r e s s e d a n d a t h e o l og y o f l ib e r a t i o n .I n fa c t , w e s h o u l d h a v e a t h e o lo g ic a l o r i e n t a t i on s i m i la r t o t h eB l a ck s a n d w o m e n in t h i s c ou n t r y . W e s e e k l ib e r a t i on n o t o n l y

fr o m e c o n o m i c a n d s o ci a l i n j u s t i c e b u t fr o m r a c ia l a n d c u l t u r a lb i a s . I f w e l iv e in A s ia a s A s i a n s , w e a r e n o t s u b j e ct t o r a c i s ma n d cu l t u r a l b ia s . T h a t is w h y t h e s i t u a t i on o f A s ia n A m e r i c a n si s fa r m o r e c o m p l e x t h a n t h a t o f A s i a n s i n As i a . I f t h e o lo g y, a sa r e f l e ct i o n o n t h i s s i t u a t i o n , is t o p r o v i d e t h e p r a x is o f l ib e r at i on , ca n c h a n g e a s e x p r e s s e d i n t h e yi n - ya n g s y m b o l s e r v e a sa t h e o l og i ca l p a r a d i gm ? U n l e s s t h i s q u e s t i o n i s a n s w e r e d , t h ey i n - y a n g s y m b o l c a n n o t fu n c t i on a s a t h e o l og i ca l p a r a d i g m fo rm e a n d fo r ot h e r As i a n A m e r i ca n s .

L e t m e e x p l a in w h y t h e y in - y a n g s y m b o l ca n s e r v e a s a

t h e o lo g ic a l p a r a d i g m f o r t h e l ib e r a t i n g p r a x is o f A s ia n s i nA m e r i ca . A s I h a v e s a id , t h i s s y m b o l r e p r e s e n t s t h e p r o ce s s o fch a n g e . E v e r y t h i n g ch a n g e s b e ca u s e o f c h a n g e , t h e a b s o lu t ep o w e r w o r k i n g t o t r a n s fo r m e v e r y t h i n g . S o ci a l a n d e c on o m i cs t r u c t u r e s a r e n o e xc e p t i on t o t h i s ch a n g e . R a ci s m a n d cu l t u r a lv a l u e s a r e a l s o s u b j ec t t o ch a n g e . J u s t a s y i n c h a n g e s t o y a n ga n d y a n g ch a n g e s t o y i n , t h e op p r e s s o r ca n c h a n g e t o t h eop p r e s s e d a n d t h e op p r e s s e d t o t h e op p r e s s o r . C h a n g e w o r k ss t e a d i l y a n d i r r e s i s t i b l y in a l l s e c t o r s o f l i fe . L i b e r a t i o n t h e n i sp o s s ib l e t h r o u g h t h i s c h a n g e . T h e p a t t e r n s o f ch a n g e e x p r e s s e din t h e y i n -y a n g s y m b o l is n o t a r e v ol u t i on a r y c h a n g e t h a tp r e s u p p o s e s c on fl ic t in g d u a l is m , b u t a g r a d u a l t r a n s f or m a t i ono f t h e w h o le b a s e d on a n o n -d u a l is m a n d t h e co m p l e m e n t a r i t yo f t h e op p o s i t e s . B e ca u s e t h e y i n - y a n g s y m b o l is n o t o n l yn o n d u a l i s t i c b u t c o m p l e m e n t a r y , t h e o l o g i c a l w o r k b a s e d o nt h i s a p p r o a c h is n o t i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e l ib e r a t i on o f A s ia n s o ro t h e r m a r g in a l iz e d g r o u p s on l y b u t t h e li b er a t i on o f t h o s e w h oo p p r e s s t h e m a s w e l l. T h e p r i m a r y t a s k o f l ib e r a t i on t h r o u g ht h e y in - y a n g p a r a d i g m i s t o l ib e r a t e t h e m a j or i t y o f t h e w h i t e

m i d d l e - a n d u p p e r -cl a s s Am e r i c a n s f r o m t h e ir e x c lu s i v e c once p t u a l fr a m e w o r k , s o t h a t t h e i r li b e r a t i on i s i n e ffe c t t h el ib e r a t i o n o f A s ia n A m e r i c a n s f r o m t h e i r m a r g in a l s t a t u s . Ino t h e r w o r d s , w e a r e n o t s e e k i n g ou r o w n l ib e r a t i on , b u t w e fin dl ib e r a t i on w h e n w e l ib e r a t e t h o s e w h o op p r e s s u s .



T h i s is a l s o t h e w a y o f C h r i s t , w h o t a u g h t u s t o l ov e t h o s ew h o h a t e u s . B y l ov in g t h o s e w h o op p r e s s a n d d i s cr i m i n a t ea g a i n s t u s , w e c a n l ib e r a t e t h e m a n d a l s o o u r s e l v e s . L i b e r a t i o nis a m u t u a l p r o ce s s . T h e l ib e r a t i on o f t h e op p r e s s o r i s t h e

l ib e r a t i o n of t h e op p r e s s e d . T h i s i s b a s e d o n t h e p r i n c i p l e o fr e c ip r o c it y a n d t h e la w of r e t u r n w h i ch a r e in h e r e n t in t h ech a n g in g p r o ce s s . T h e u s e o f t h e y in - y a n g s y m b o l a s a t h e o lo g ica l p a r a d i g m i s , t h e r e f o r e , q u i t e d i ffe r e n t f r o m t h e u s e o f t h eM a r x i s t d i a l e ct i ca l a n a l y s is , w h i ch p r e s u p p o s e s co n fl ict i n gd u a l i s m , or t h e u s e o f s t a t i c o n t o l og y, w h i ch a t t e m p t s t o r e t a i nr a t h e r t h a n t o t r a n s fo r m t h e co n t e x t . I b e l ie v e t h a t t h i sd 3 a ia m ic, i n c lu s i v e a n d op e n - e n d e d p a r a d i g m ca n s e r v e a s t h eb e s t m e a n s t o r e f l e ct o n t h e p r a x i s of t o t a l l ib e r a t i o n .

I m p l i c a t i o n s f o r t h e U n i v e r s a l C h u r c h

W h y d o I l o ok fo r a t h e o lo g ic a l p a r a d i g m ? I s t h i s n o t at r a d i t i on a l a p p r o a c h t h a t h a s b e e n m u c h cr i t i ci ze d b y m a n yT h i r d Wo r l d t h e o lo g ia n s t o d a y ? I f t h e o lo g y i s n o n e o t h e r t h a nm y ow n r e f l e ct i o n o n t h e p r a x is o f l ib e r a t i o n , w h y d o I n e e d at h e o lo gi ca l p a r a d i gm ? I s n ' t t h i s a n o t h e r a t t e m p t t o i d e ol og i zet h e C h r i s t ia n m e s s a g e ? M a n y T h i r d Wo r l d t h e ol og ia n s m a ys u s p e c t m e for m y s e a r c h f or a t h e o l og i ca l p a r a d i gm . L e t m efir s t p o i n t o u t w h y I t h i n k m y a p p r o a c h t o t h e o l og y is d i ffe r e n tfr o m t h e a p p r o a c h o f l ib e r a t i on t h e o lo g y in g e n e r a l , a n d t h e ne x p l a i n w h y a t h e o lo g ic a l p a r a d i g m i s n e e d e d f or a t h e o lo g ic a lt a s k .

M y t h e o lo g ic a l a p p r o a c h i s d i ffe r e n t f r o m t h e a p p r o a c h o fl ib e r a t i o n t h e o l og i a n s b e c a u s e i t is n o t s i m p l y fr o m b e l o w o rf r o m a b o v e . M y a p p r o a c h t o t h e o l og y is f r o m b a c k g r o u n d t ofo r e g r o u n d , if I co n s i d e r A s i a n n e s s a s m y b a c k g r o u n d a n d m yl ife i n A m e r i ca a s m y fo r e g r o u n d . U n l ik e m y t h e o l og i ca l a pp r o a c h , t h e t h e o l o g y o f l ib e r a t i on b e g i n s w i t h f or e g r o u n d o r

c on t e x t , t h e c on t e x t o f t h e op p r e s s e d , t h e p o o r , a n d t h e m a rg i n a l i ze d . T h i s t h e o l og y i s o ft e n k n o w n a s t h e "s e c on d a c t " a n ds h o u l d s e r v e a s a m e a n s o f lib er a t ion .^ ** T h e c e n t r a l t h r u s t o fl ib e r a t i o n t h e o l og y, a s I u n d e r s t a n d i t , is n o t a s e a r ch f or t h eu n i v er s a l t r u t h o f C h r i s t i a n i t y b u t t o fi n d t h e p r a ct i ca l i m p l ic at i on s o f C h r is t i a n t r u t h for t h e c on c r e t e a n d p a r t i cu l a r s i t u a -



t i on s o f o p p r e s s e d p e o p l e . In t h i s r e s p e c t , i t i s , a c c or d i n g t o m yd e f in i t i on , a t h e o l og y fr o m f or e g r o u n d . I t d o e s n o t t a k e b a c kg r o u n d s e r i o u s l y. I t i s a n a t t e m p t t o d e a l w i t h t h e s o ci a l ,p o li t ica l , a n d e c o n o m i c is s u e s o f o u r t i m e . I t is t h e n p r a ct i ca l

a n d r e a l is t i c i n t e r m s o f t h e a ct u a l li fe s i t u a t i o n o f m a n y p e o p l ein t h e T h i r d Wo r l d . I d o n o t d is m is s or u n d e r e s t i m a t e t h ei m p o r t a n c e o f t h i s k i n d o f a p p r o a c h t o t h e o l og y. F o r m a n y y e a r st h e o lo g y h a s b e e n p u r e l y p e r s o n a l a n d s p ir i t u a l i n n a t u r e a n dh a s b e e n ca p t i ve i n a c a d e m i c d i s ci p li n e s w i t h o u t p r a c t ica lr e l e v a n c e t o t h e a c t u a l li fe o f C h r i s t i a n s . H o w e v e r , i n s p it e o fi t s n o b l e a n d p i o u s i n t e n t i o n , l ib e r a t i o n t h e o l og y ca n b er e g a r d e d a s a on e - s i d e d a p p r o a c h t o t h e t h e ol og i ca l e n t e r p r i s e .S o u n d t h e o lo g y s h o u l d b e a p p r o a c h e d fr o m a h o l i s t ic p e r s p e ct i v e .

O u r r e f l e ct i o n o n t h e p r a x is o f l ib e r a t i on is j u s t o n e o f m a n ya s p e ct s o f t h e o l og y. T h e o l o g y s h o u l d n o t b e p r o v i n c ia l , for t h ec h u r ch o f C h r i s t is u n i ve r s a l . O n e of t h e m o s t p r o m i n e n tA fr i ca n t h i n k e r s in o u r t i m e , J o h n S . M b i t i , h a s s o m e t h i n g t os a y in t h i s r e s p e ct . H e s a i d , "t h e C h u r c h h a s b e c om e k e r y g m a t i -c a l l y u n i v e r s a l , b u t i s s t i l l t h e o l o g i c a l l y p r o v i n c i a l , i n s p i t e o ft h e g r e a t g i a n t s o f t h e o l og y. T h i s is a s e r i ou s d i l e m m a a n d i f w ed o n o t r e s o lv e i t , i t w i ll d e s t r o y o u r f ou n d a t i o n s a s t h e c h u r c hi n t h e w or ld ."^ ^ W h e n h e s p o k e a b o u t p r o vi n c ia l t h e o l og y, h ew a s t h i n k i n g o f t r a d i t ion a l E u r o p e a n t h e o lo g y, w h i ch d id n o tt o u c h t h e q u e s t i o n s o f t h e ch u r c h e s in Afr i ca , L a t in A m e r i ca ,a n d As ia . H o w e v e r , t h e s a m e q u e s t i o n c a n b e a d d r e s s e d t o t h eT h i r d Wo r l d t h e o l og i e s in o u r t i m e . T h e i r t h e o lo g ie s a r ep r o v in c i a l a s w e l l , b e c a u s e t h e e m p h a s i s in on t h e i r ow n c o nt e x t . T h e y t e n d t o a b s o l u t i z e t h e i r ow n c o n t e x t a s t h e n o r m fo rt h e ir t h e o lo gi ca l w o r k , a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e y h a v e at e n d e n c y t o r e l a t i vi ze t h e u n i v e r s a l it y o f t r u t h . F o r t h e m t h eC h r i s t i a n t r u t h i s r e l a t i v e t o s i t u a t i o n s , f o r i t d o e s n o t h o l du n i ve r s a l v a l id i t y t o a ll s it u a t i on s . M o r e o v e r , if t h e o l og y a dd r e s s e s on l y t h o s e w h o a r e p o o r a n d o p p r e s s e d , i t i s a l s o p r o v i ncia l . I t d o e s n o t a d d r e s s t h o s e w h o b e l on g t o t h e e l i t e a n d t h eu p p e r e c o n o m i c a n d s o ci a l cl a s s . I a m n o t d e n y i n g t h e v a l id i t yo f a co n t e x t u a l t h e o lo g y, b u t I a m s i m p l y p o in t i n g o u t t h ed a n g e r of p r o v in c ia l i s m i n h e r e n t i n c on t e x t u a l iz a t i on . I f J o h nM b i t i ' s co n c e r n , t h a t i s , t h e d a n g e r o f p r o v in c i a l t h e o l og y, is



i m p o r t a n t fo r t h e u n i ve r s a l c h u r c h , I a l s o s e e t h e d a n g e r o fc on t e x t u a l t h e o l og i e s a s w e l l.

A s ou n d t h e o lo g y is t h e n b o t h c on t e x t u a l a n d u n iv e r s a l . I no r d e r t o a l lo w fo r t h e u n i v e r s a l i t y o f o u r fa i t h , I n e e d a t h e o l og i

ca l p a r a d i g m t h a t h a s a s p e c ia l s i g n i fi ca n ce t o a p a r t i cu l a rs i t u a t i on a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e is o p e n t o a l l o t h e r p o s s ib i li t ie s .I n o r d e r w o r d s , a t h e o lo gi ca l p a r a d i gm h a s t o b e b ot h u n i ve r s a la n d p a r t i cu l a r . I t h a s t o b e b o t h i n d u c t iv e a n d d e d u c t i ve i n it sa p p r o a c h . Wi t h o u t a t h e o lo g ic a l p a r a d i g m it is n o t p os s i b l e t oh o ld b o t h d i m e n s i on s . I t is m y h o p e t h a t a t h e o l og ica l p a r a d i g mb a s e d o n t h e y i n - y a n g s y m b o l ca n b e h o l is t i c e n o u g h t o d ea l n o ton l y w i t h m y b a c k g r o u n d b u t w it h m y fo r e g r o u n d , n o t o n l y w i t hm y p a r t i cu l a r s i t u a t i on in t h i s co u n t r y b u t a ls o w i t h o t h e rs i t u a t i on s u n l ik e m y ow n .

F i n a l ly , I w a n t t o m a k e c le a r t h a t I a m n o t s u g g e s t i n g at h e ol og ica l p a r a d i gm for t h e w h o le c h u r c h . I f I d o , l a m a s g u i lt ya s t h e t r a d i t io n a l d o g m a t i c t h e o lo gi a n s w h o a t t e m p t t o p r o v id ev a l i d t h e o l o g i c a l t h i n k i n g f o r t h e w h o l e c h u r c h . S u c h a s n e v e rb e e n m y in t e n t i on . M y s e a r ch for a t h e o lo gi ca l p a r a d i g m h a sb e e n , a s I s a id b e fo r e , a s p o n t a n e o u s e x p e r i e n c e , a n d i t h a s b e e ni n t e n d e d f or m y ow n t h e o lo g ic a l w o r k . E v e n i f t h e y in - y a n gs y m b o l h a s a u n i ve r s a l im p l i ca t i on , it is n o t m y in t e n t i o n t oi n s is t on i t a s a u n iv e r s a l p a r a d i g m f or t h e w h o le c h u r c h .P e r h a p s I ca n r e n d e r a n i m p o r t a n t s e r v ice t o t h e ch u r c h i np r e s e n t i n g t h i s t h e o l og i c a l p a r a d i g m is t o a s s i s t o t h e rt h e o lo g ia n s in fi n d i n g t h e i r o w n t h e o lo g ic a l p a r a d i g m s , a n d i nt h i s w a y a l s o h e l p o t h e r s t o r e a l iz e t h e p a r t i cu l a r i t y a n d t h eu n i v e r s a l it y o f t h e C h r i s t i a n fa i t h . I w o u l d a l s o l ik e t o i n v i t et h o s e w h o a r e in t e r e s t e d in t h i s op e n -e n d e d p a r a d i gm t o b ec om e p a r t n e r s in t h e s e a r c h for t h e w h o le n e s s o f G o d ' s t r u t ha n d h i s l ib e r a t i n g a c t in t h e w o r l d . W e a r e j oi n e d t o g e t h e r i nt h i s v e n t u r e , a s y i n a n d y a n g a r e j oi n e d t o g e t h e r in t h e p r o ce s so f c h a n g e .

N o t e s

1. A s a r e s u l t o f m y s e r i ou s s t u d y o f t h i s b o o k , I h a v e p u b l i s he d a c ou p l e o f b o o k s o n t h e /C h i n g a n d m a n y a r t icle s . S e e J u n gYo u n g L e e , T he P r inc ip l e o f Ch an ges : U n de r s t an d in g t he IC / im ^ ( N e w Yo r k : U n i v e r s i t y B o o k s , 1 9 7 1 ) a n dT h e I C h i n g a n d



M od e r n M a n : M et a p h y s i ca l I m p l ica t i on s of C h a n g e (N e w Yo r k :U n i v e r s i t y B o o k s , 1 9 7 4 ).

2 . Te c h n i ca l l y , y i n m e a n s t h e n o r t h e r n s l op e o f a m o u n t a i n ,a n d y a n g m e a n s t h e s ou t h e r n s l op e ofa m o u n t a i n , Yin , t h e r e

f o r e , m e a n s s h a d o w, y a n g m e a n s l ig h t . H o w e ve r , y in a n d y a n ge x p r e s s t h e i n f in i t e p o s s i b il it i e s o f o p p o s i t e ch a r a c t e r i s t i c s int h e w o r l d . Yi n m e a n s f e m a l e , d a r k , c o l d , r e c e p t i v e , e t c . , a n dy a n g m e a n s m a l e , b r i g h t , h o t , cr e a t i v e, e t c . T h e or i gin a l s y m b o lo f y i n a n d y a n g i n t h e / C h i n g h a s b e e n r e g a r d e d a s t h ei n v e n t i on o f K i n g F u H s i , t h e le g e n d a r y k i n g o f C h i n a . T h e r ef o r e , t h e or i g i n o f t h e y i n - y a n g s y m b o l g o e s b a c k t o t h e p r e h i st o r y of C h i n a .

3 . I n h i s a d d r e s s , "I n M e m o r y o f R i ch a r d W i l h e l m , " d e l iv e r e din M u n i ch , M a y 1 0 , 1 9 3 0 . It is r e p r i n t e d i n t h e a p p e n d i x o fT h e

S ecre t of th e Golden F low er, t r . R i ch a r d W i lh e l m ( N e w Yor k :H a r c ou r t , B r a ce a n d Wo r l d , 1 9 6 2 ).

4 . T h i s is a cl a s s i ca l d e f i n i t i o n o f c h a n g eitself. Ta o Te C h i n gs a y s , "E s s e n t i a l n a t u r e is e v e r c h a n g i n g - ch a n g l e s s "( ch a p t e r 1 6 ).

5. J e a n G e b s e r in P. J . S a b e r , E a s t er n W i sd o m a n d We s ter nT h o u g h t : A C o m p a r a t i v e S t u d y in t h e M o d er n P h i l os op h y ofRel ig ion ( N e w Yo r k : B a r n e s a n d N o b l e , 1 9 7 0 ), p . 1 0.

6 . Wi l fr e d C a n t w e l l S m i t h , T h e F a i t h of O t h e r M en ( N e wYor k : N e w A m e r i c a n L i b r a r y, 1 9 6 3 ), p . 7 2 .

7 . I b i d .8 . S e e m y "T h e Yi n - Ya n g Wa y o f T h i n k i n g : A P o s s i b l e

M e t h o d f o r E c u m e n i c a l T h e o l o g y, " i nIn t e rna t i ona l Rev iew o fM i s s i o n , J u l y 1 9 7 1 .

9 . S o fa r I h a v e d o n e m y t h e o lo g ic a l w o r k w i t h o u t c on s i d e r i n gt h e s o c io -p o l it i c a l i m p l i ca t i o n s o f m y co n t e x t i n A m e r i ca . I no t h e r w o r d s , I h a v e u t i li ze d a t h e o l og i ca l p a r a d i g m t o r e - t h i n ks o m e of t h e a c ce p t e d C h r i s t ia n b e l ie f s . S e e m y b o o k s :T h eT h eo logy o f Ch an ge: A Concep t o f God f rom an Ea s t ern Pe r spect ive (M a r y k n o ll , N e w Yo r k : O r b i s B o o k s , 1 9 7 9 );Cosm ic R elig ion

(N e w Yor k : H a r p e r & R o w, 1 9 7 8 ) ;T h e I : A Ch r i s t ian Concep t o fM a n ( N e w Yor k : P h i lo s o p h i c a l L i b r a r y, 1 9 7 1 ),10 . G u s t a v o G u t i e r r e z ca l l s t h e o l og y t h e "s e c on d a c t ," w h i le

o n e ' s c om m i t m e n t t o a n d s ol i d a r i t y w i t h t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h ep o o r a n d o p p r e s s e d i s c a l le d t h e "fi r s t a c t ." S e eT h e Power o f t he



Poor i n H i s t o ry (M a r y k n o l l, N e w Yor k : O r b i s B o o k s , 1 9 8 3 ) , p p .v i , x i , 103 .

1 1 . J o h n S . M b i t i , "T h e o lo gi ca l I m p o t e n c e a n d t h e U n i v e r s a lC h u r c h , " i n M i s si on T r en d s N o , 3 : T h i r d W or l d T h e ol og i es ,e d .

G . H . A n d e r s o n a n d T . F . S t r a n s k y (N e w Yo r k / G r a n d R a p i d s :P a u h s t / E e r d m a n s , 1 9 76 ), p . 8.



T h e o l o g y o f H a n( t h e A b y s s o f P a i n )

A . S u n g P a r k

T h e p a p e r p r o p o s e s t o e x p l or e t h e H a n o f t h e K o r e a n M i n -j u n g -- t h e op p r e s s e d c o m m o n p e o p l e . T h e r a t i on a le for t r e a t i n gt h e id e a o f H a n is t o co m p l e m e n t t h e o n e -s i d e d d o ct r i n e o f s ini n t r a d i t ion a l C h r i s t i a n t h e o l og y.

L e t u s b e g i n w i t h d e f in i t i o n s . S i n is t h e w r o n g d o in g o f p e o p l e

t ow a r d G o d a n d t h e i r n e i g h b o r s . H a n i s t h e p a in e x p e r i e n c e db y t h e v i ct i m i z e d n e i g h b o r s . S in is t h e u n j u s t a c t i on o f t h eo p p r e s s o r s ; H a n , t h e p a s s i ve e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e i r v i ct i m s . S i n i so f t h e o p p r e s s o r ; H a n , o f t h e v i c t i m s .

R e c e n t l y fe m i n i s t t h e o l og ia n s h a v e i d e n t i fi e d t h e i m p o rt a n c e o f t h i s i s s u e . Va l e r i e S a l v in g , fo r e x a m p l e , r e j e ct s R e i n -h o l d N i e b u h r ' s u n d e r s t a n d i n g of s in : "F o r t h e t e m p t a t i on s o fw o m a n a s w o m a n a r e n o t t h e s a m e a s t h e t e m p t a t i on s o f m a na s m a n , a n d t h e s p e c ifi ca l l y f e m i n i n e f o r m s o f s i n , . . h a v e aq u a l it y w h i ch c a n n e v e r b e e n c om p a s s e d b y s u c h t e r m s a s

' p r i d e ' a n d 'w i l l-t o -p o w e r ' . T h e y a r e b e t t e r s u g g e s t e d b y s u c hi t e m s a s t r i v i a l i t y, d i s t r a c t i b i l i t y, a n d d i f f u s e n e s s ; l a c k o f a no r g a n i z in g c e n t e r o r focu s .""^ F o r h e r , p r i d e is t h e s i n o f m a l e s ,n o t t h e s i n o f f e m a l e s .

T r a d i t ion a l t h e o lo g y h a s e m p h a s i z e d on e - s i d e d ly t h e s in o fa l l p e o p l e , w h i le i g n o r i n g t h e p a i n o f t h e v ic t i m . I t s d oc t r i n e o fs in m u s t b e c om p l e m e n t e d b y d ea l in g w it h t h e s u ffe r i n g o f t h ev i ct i m . B y in v e s t i g a t i n g t h e H a n o f t h e M i n j u n g a n d p o s s ib lew a y s t o h e a l t h e i r w o u n d s , w e c a n e x p l o r e on e w a y t o b a l a n c et h e t r a d i t io n a l d o c t r i n e o f s i n .

To e x a m i n e t h e r e a l it y a n d t h e c u r e o f H a n , w e m u s t lo ok a tt h e id e n t i t y o f M i n j u n g , t h e or i g in o f M i n j u n g t h e o l og y, t h e

A . S u n g P a r k i s a s s i s t a n t p r o r c s s o r o f t h e o l o g y a n d K o r e a n s t u d i e s a t t h e S c h o o la t

T h e o l o g y a t C l a r e m o n t .



d e fi n i t io n o f H a n , t h e s t r u ct u r e o f H a n , a n d t h e r e s o l u t i on o fH a n - H a n P o or i .

T h e M i n j u n g a r e t h e s u b j e ct s o f M i n j u n g T h e o lo g y. L e t m eb r i e fl y e xp l a in w h o t h e M i n j u n g a r e .

T h e M in j u n g a r e t h e co m m o n p e o p le in K or e a n h i s t or y .C h i -h a K i m , a w e l l -k n o w n M i n j u n g p oe t , d e fi n e s t h e M i n j u n ga s t h e p a r t n e r s of t h e co ve n a n t w i t h G o d fr o m t h e b e g i n n i n ga n d t h e t r u e s u b j e ct s o f h u m a n h i s t or y .^ Yon g B o c k K i m c onf i r m s t h i s : "T h e M i n j u n g is t h e p r o t a g o n i s t i n t h e h i s t or i ca ld r a m a . It is t h e s u b j e ct ; a n d i t s s o ci o-p o li t i ca l b i o g r a p h y i s t h ep r e d i ca t e ."^ A b i b li ca l s c h o l a r , B y u n g M . A h n , e q u a t e s t h eM i n j u n g w i t h "a m haa re t z , " a l ow cl a s s o f p e o p l e i n t h e fi r s tc e n t u r y B . C . a n d "o ch l os , " t h e p e o p l e o f t h e a l ie n a t e d c la s s i nt h e g os p e l o f M a r k a s op p o s e d t o ' 7 a o s / ' t h e p e o p l e o f G o d ' ^ To n g

H w a n M o o n e xp l a i n s t h e o r ig in s o f t h e t e r m M i n j u n g :Dur ing the Yi Dynas ty, t he common o rd ina ry peop le wereoppressed by the Yangban, the ruHng c lass of the t ime. Theburd en of t h e Min jun g g rew worse t oward th e end o f t h edynas ty when the popu la t i on o f t he Yangban su rpas sed fou rmi l l i on . A t t h i s t ime anyone who was exc luded f rom theYangban was a Min jun g .^

I n s h o r t , t h e M i n ju n g a r e t h e d ow n t r o d d e n w h o b r o o d H a n .T h e y h a v e b e e n p o li t ic a l ly op p r e s s e d , e c on o m i ca l l y e x p l oi t e d ,s o ci a l ly i s ol a t e d , a n d / o r cu l t u r a l l y a l i e n a t e d . E x p e r i e n c in g t h ep a i n of d o h u m a n i za t i on , t h e y cr y ou t fo r j u s t i ce a n d h u m a nd i gn i t y . T h e M i n ju n g h a v e n o t g iv e n i n b u t h a v e d e f ie d t h e i ro p p r e s s o r s , c l a i m i n g t h a t a s t h e p r i n ci p le c h a r a c t e r s o f h i s t o r yt h e y a r e d e s t i n e d t o d e t e r m i n e t h e c o u r s e o f t h e i r h i s t o r y .

T h e O r i g i n o f M i n j u n g T h e o l o g y

M i n j u n g h i s t o r y s t a r t s a s e a r l y a s t h e b e g i n n i n g o f K o r e a nh i s t o r y . I t is b e l ie v e d t h a t s t e p b y s t e p , t h e M i n j u n g h a v e

p r e p a r e d t h e g r o u n d fo r t h e m s e l ve s s o t h a t t h e y m a y b e c o m et h e s u b je ct s o f K o r e a n h i s t or y . M o d e r n a n d co n t e m p o r a r ym a j or M i n j u n g m o v e m e n t s a r e : t h e Ton g h a k R e v o lu t i on in1 8 94 , t h e M a r c h F i r s t I n d e p e n d e n ce M o v e m e n t i n 1 9 1 9, t h eA p r il N i n e t e e n t h S t u d e n t R e v o lu t i on i n 1 9 6 0, t h e K w a n g juU p r i s in g i n 1 9 8 0 , a n d t h e J u n e C i t i ze n U p r i s i n g in 1 9 87 .^



T h e g r e a t M i n j u n g m o v e m e n t s i n h i s t o r y h a v e le d t o t h eM i n j u n g t h e o lo g y, b o r n i n t h e 1 9 7 0 s . U n d e r t h e h a r s h r u l e o fd i ct a t or P a r k , a fe w C h r i s t ia n l e a d e r s , p r o f es s o r s , s t u d e n t s , a n dw r i t e r s t o o k p a r t in t h e s t r u g g l e i n v ol ve d in t h e m o v e m e n t

t o w a r d M i n j u n g r ig h t s . T h e y e x p e r i e n c e d t h e s u ffe r i n g o f t h eM i n j u n g t h r o u g h p a r t i ci p a t i on i n t h e i r ca u s e . M i n j u n g t h e o lo g y is t h e o u t c om e o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e s o f t h e s e C h r i s t i a n s , w h ot o o k p a r t i n s it -in s t r i k e s a n d s t r e e t d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a n d w e r efo r c ed t o r e f le c t u p o n t h e i r C h r i s t i a n d i s ci p le s h i p i n i n t e r r o g at i o n r o o m s , c ou r t m a r t ia l t r i b u n a l s , a n d / o r p r i s on s . ^ T h e yb e g a n t o s e e t h e t r u e m e a n i n g o f t h e C h r i s t i a n g os p e l in t h el ig h t o f t h e s u f fe r i n g M i n j u n g . I n M i n j u n g t h e o lo g y, t h e C h r i st ia n g os p e l ca n n o t b e u n d e r s t o od w i t h o u t k n o w in g t h e p a in o ft h e M i n j u n g . O n l y t h r o u g h t h e s u f fe r i n g o f t h e M i n j u n g d o w e

u n d e r s t a n d t h e s u f fe r i n g o f J e s u s . J e s u s p e r s o n i fi es t h e M i nj u n g in h i s t o r y . To k n o w J e s u s C h r i s t i n K or e a i s t o k n o w t h eM i n j u n g of K o r e a .

T h e D e f i n i t i o n o f H a n

O n e of t h e m a j or t h e m e s o f M i n j u n g t h e o lo g y is t h e H a n o ft h e M i n j u n g . H a n is t h e in d i v id u a l a n d co ll e ct i v e e x p e r i e n c e o ft h e M in j u n g . T h e M i n j u n g a r e t h e H a n - la d e n . L e t u s fin d o u tw h a t H a n i s .

N a m D o n g S u b d e f in e s H a n a s "a d e e p f e e li n g t h a t r is e s o u to f t h e u n j u s t e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e p e o p l e " o r "ju s t i n d i g n a t i on . "^F o r C h i -h a K i m , "H a n is t h e M i n ju n g 's a n g e r , a s a d s e n t i m e n tt u r n e d in w a r d , h a r d e n e d a n d s t u ck t o t h e ir h e a r t s . H a n i sca u s e d a s on e ' s o u t g o i n g n e s s i s b l oc k e d a n d p r e s s e d fo r a ne x t e n d e d p e r i od o f t i m e b y e x t e r n a l o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l oi t at ion ."*^ F o r You n g - H a k H y u n , "H a n i s a s e n s e o f u n r e s o lv e dr e s e n t m e n t a g a i n s t in j u s t i ce s u f fe r e d , a s e n s e o f h e l p l e s s n e s sb e c a u s e o f t h e ov e r w h e l m i n g o d d s a g a i n s t , a fe e l i n g o f a c u t ep a i n o f s o r r o w."^ ^

H a n i s t h e b o il e d - d o w n f e e li n g o f p a i n c a u s e d b y in ju s t i ce a n do p p r e s s i on . I t is t h e d e e p - s e a t e d l a m e n t a t i on o r b i t t e r n e s s o ft h e s u ffe r i n g M i n j u n g .

H a n c a n b e c om p a r e d t o a b l a ck h o l e t h e o r y in a s t r o n o m y.W h e n a s t a r o f fi ve s ol a r m a s s e s g e t s o ld , i t e x p a n d s a n d g r o w s



t o b e a r o d g ia n t . I t s in s i d e b e c o m e s a s i n g l e g ia n t a t o m i cn u cl e u s , o ccu p y in g a m u c h s m a l le r v o lu m e t h a n t h e p r e c u r s o re l e ct r o n s a n d i r on n u c l e i. T h e c or e i m p l o d e s vi ol e n t l y a n d as u p e r n o v a e x p l o s i on fo ll ow s . A ft e r t h i s fa n t a s t i c e x p l o s i on , t h e

s t a r co ll a p s e s t o a b la c k h o l e . I t s g r a v i t y is s o s t r o n g t h a tn o t h i n g , n o t e v e n li g h t , ca n g e t o u t . L i k e a b l a ck h o l e , w h e ns u f fe r i n g r e a c h i n g t h e p o i n t o f s a t u r a t i on , it im p l o d e s a n dc ol la p s e s i n t o a c o n d e n s e d f e e li n g o f p a i n . T h i s c ol la p s e d fe e l in go f p a i n is I l a n . S o m e t i m e s , i t e x p l o d e s a n d b r i n g s fo r t h s o ci a lr e f o r m a t i o n o r d e s t r u c t i o n .

H a n is t h e a b y s s o f g r i e f w h i ch h a s b e e n d e e p l y e m b e d d e d int h e c ol le ct i v e u n c on s c i ou s h i s t o r y of t h e K o r e a n M i n j u n g . A s aB u d d h i s t p o e t t o K o E u n s t a t e s , "We K o r e a n s w e r e b o r n fr o mt h e w o m b o f H a n a n d b r o u g h t u p in i t."^ ^ F o r a lo n g p e r i o d o fh i s t o r y , t h e M i n j u n g h a v e b e e n a f fl i ct e d b y n u m e r o u s fo r e ig ni n v a s ion s a n d t h e i r o n r u l e of t y r a n t s . W o m e n , p a r t i cu l a r l y ,h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d t h e l on g s u ffe r i n g o f d e h u m a n i z in g p a t r i a rch y . T h e i r H a n is m u c h d e e p e r t h a n m e n ' s .

T h e S t r u c t u r e o f H a n

H a n is a co m p l e x f ee l in g w h i ch c a n n o t b e n e a t l y a n a l y ze d .N e i t h e r ca n i t b e b i fu r c a t e d , b u t f or e x p l a i n i n g i t s d e p t h , I w i lld i v id e it i n t o fo u r f a c e t s . H a n h a s t w o d i m e n s i o n s : p e r s o n a l a n d

c o l l e c t i v e .^'̂ E a c h d i m e n s i on h a s t w o l ev e ls : c on s c io u s a n d u nc o n s c i o u s .

A t it s co n s c io u s p e r s o n a l le v e l , H a n i s e x p r e s s e d in t h e f o r m so f a n g e r , h e l p l e s s n e s s , d e e p s ig h s , a n d r e s e n t m e n t . A t i t s u nc on s c io u s p e r s o n a l l e v e l, H a n is b u r i e d i n d e e p a n g u i s h , a n db i t t e r n e s s . S o m e t r a u m a t i c p e r s o n a l or in t e r p e r s o n a l e v en t sb r i n g a b o u t co n s c i ou s or u n c on s c io u s p e r s o n a l H a n .

A t it s c o n s c i o u s c ol l e ct i v e l e v e l , H a n i s d e m o n s t r a t e dt h r o u g h c ol le c t iv e w r a t h , r a g e , s t r e e t d e m o n s t r a t i on s a n dr e b e l li on . A t it s u n c on s c i o u s c ol le c t i v e le v e l , H a n i s s u b m e r g e di n r a c ia l l a m e n t a t i o n . S oc ia l i n j u s t i c e , p o li t ic a l o p p r e s s i o n ,e c o n o m i c e x p l o it a t i o n o r fo r e i g n i n v a s i on s w h i ch a ffe ct t h eM i n j u n g a s a w h o l e r a i s e c ol le c t i v e H a n . U n c on s c i o u s c ol le c t i v eis t r a n s m i t t a b l e . W h e n t h e M i n ju n g e x p e r i e n c e s u f fe r i n g o v e rm a n y ge n e r a t i on s w i t h o u t r e le a s e , t h e y d e v el op u n co n s c io u s



c ol le ct i v e H a n i n t h e i r h e a r t s a n d t r a n s m i t i t t o t h e i r p o s t e r i t y .I n J u n e i a n t e r m s , t h i s is s o m e t h i n g l ik e "co ll ect i v e u n c ons c i o u s . " B u t , it is d i ffe r e n t b e c a u s e f or J u n g , "t h e S e l f is n o to n l y t h e c e n t e r o f b u t t h e w h o le c ir c u m f e r e n c e w h i ch e m b r a c es

b o t h c on s c io u s a n d u n c on s c i ou s ; i t is t h e c e n t e r o f t h i s t o t a l i t y ,j u s t a s t h e e g o i s t h e c e n t e r o f con s ciou s n e s s ."^ * '^ C o l le c t i v e H a nis n o t on l y e m b e d d e d in t h e s u b s t r a t u m o f t h eself, b u t a l s o i nt h e b o t t o m o f r a c ia l u n c on s c io u s h i s t o r y a n d h e r s t o r y . U n c ons c io u s c ol le c t i v e H a n is t h e r a c ia l a b y s s o f p s y c h o -s o m a t i c a n dp n e u m a t i c s u f fe r i n g e x p e r i e n c e s w h i ch h a s b e e n d e e p e n e do ve r m a n y g e n e r a t i on s in t h e h i s t o r y of t h e M i n j u n g .

H a n P o o r i ( T h e R e s o l u t i o n o f H a n )

T h e g os p e l o f J e s u s C h r i s t i s g o o d n e w s fo r K o r e a n s , fo r i tn o t on l y a b s o l ve s t h e s in o f p e o p l e , b u t a l s o r e s o lv e s t h e H a n o fp e o p l e . I f t h e g os p e l is n o t c on c e r n e d w i t h t h e H a n o f t h eM i n j u n g , it w i ll n o t b e g o o d n e w s a t a ll .

To u n r a v e l H a n , w e n e e d t o u n d e r s t a n d i t s n a t u r e . H a n i sfr o z e n e n e r g y t h a t c a n b e u n r a v e le d e i t h e r n e g a t i v e ly o r p os it i v el y. W h e n i t e x p l o d e s n e g a t i v e ly, t h e M i n j u n g w il l k i ll , s e e kr e v e n g e , o r d e s t r o y ot h e r s . W h e n i t i m p l o d e s n e g a t i ve ly , t h eM i n ju n g fa l l i n t o a fa t a l i sm w h i ch m a y d e v e l o p i n t o m e n t a ld i s o r d e r s o r s u i ci d e . I f H a n i s u n r a v e l e d p o s i t i v e ly, i t ca n b e

c on v e r t e d i n t o t h e co n s t r u c t i v e e n e r g y n e e d e d t o c h a n g e s ocia li n j u s t i c e .

H o w ca n w e d i s in t e g r a t e H a n in a p o s it i v e w a y ? I p r o p os e t w os t e p s . T h e fi r s t s t e p is "a w a k e n i n g ", t h e s e c on d , "d i s e n t a n g l em e n t ." A l t h o u g h I s u g g e s t t h e s e t w o s t e p s in d e a l in g w it h H a n ,t h e y a r e i n s u ff ic ie n t f or r e s o l v in g t h e d e p t h a n d c om p l e x i t y o fH a n i n fu l l m e a s u r e . T h e s e s t e p s a r e n o m o r e t h a n l i m i t e dg u i d e l i n e s for t h e p os i t i ve d i s in t e g r a t i on o f H a n .

A . A w a k e n i n g

A t t h e ou t s e t , t h e M i n j u n g n e e d t o b e c o m e a w a r e o f t h e i rs u r r o u n d i n g s a n d t o fi n d t h e ca u s e s o f H a n . A lt h o u g h i t isi m p o s s ib l e t o n a m e a ll t h e ca u s e s o f p e r s o n a l H a n , t h e y a r eu s u a l ly g e n e r a t e d b y a n u n e x p e c t e d d e a t h in fa m i ly , p o v e r t y .



fa m i ly r e l a t i on s , a t r a g e d y, a n a c ci d e n t , in j u s t i ce , e t c . I n m a n yc a s e s , h o w e v e r , p e r s o n a l H a n is i n t e r c o n n e c t e d w i t h co ll e ct i v eH a n .

I n t e r m s o f c o l l e c t i v e H a n , s o c i a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , p o l i t i c a l

o p p r e s i o n , e c o n o m i c e x p l o it a t i o n , e t c ., a r e it s r o o t s . I h a v es e l e ct e d t h r e e m a j or s o u r c e s o f c ol le ct i v e H a n i n K o r e a n h i st o r y : p a t r i a r c h y, h i e r a r c h y, a n d fo r e i g n i n v a s i on .

1. P a t r i a r c h y

P a t r i a r ch y h a s g e n e r a t e d w o m e n ' s H a n g r e a t l y in K o r e a nh i s t o r y. S i n c e C o n fu c ia n i s m b e c a m e t h e s t a t e r e l ig i on o f t h e YiD y n a s t y (1 3 9 2 - 1 9 1 0 ) , p a t r i a r c h a l o p p r e s s i on h a s b e e n i nt o le r a b l e . I n t h e Yi D y n a s t y , h u s b a n d s c ou l d u n i la t e r a l ly a b a nd o n t h e i r w i v e s fo r a n y on e o f s e v e n r e a s o n s : i n c om p a t i b i li t y

w i t h p a r e n t s - i n - l a w ; i n a b i l i t y t o b e a r a s o n ; h e r e d i t a r y o r i rr e m e d i a b l e d i s e a s e ; j e a l o u s y ; a d u l t e r y ; t a l k a t i v en e s s ; ort h i ev e r y . M a r r i a g e w a s n o l es s t h a n i m p r i s o n m e n t for m a r r i e dw o m e n . T h e y h a d t o s e r v e la r g e n u m b e r s o f in - la w s in t h ee x t e n d e d f a m i l y s y s t e m . T h e w i v e s o f t h e l o w e r c l a s s w e r ep a r t i c u l a r l y o p p r e s s e d a m o n g t h e o p p r e s s e d . T h e y w e r e t h eb o t t o m o f t h e s ocia l h i e r a r ch a l p yr a m i d . M a n y o f t h e m d id n o te v e n ow n t h e i r n a m e s . T h e i r H a n w a s d e e p e r t h a n t h a t o f a n yo t h e r g r o u p .

L e t m e r e c o u n t a l e g e n d a r y s t o r y, "S t o n e G a t e , " t o il lu s t r a t ew o m e n 's H a n . I h a d i n t e n d e d t o p r e s e n t a t r u e h i s t or i ca l s t or ya c c ou n t o f w o m e n ' s H a n , b u t I fa i l ed t o fin d a n a p p r o p r i a t e o n eb e c a u s e w o m e n ' s e x p e r i e n c e s w e r e h a r d l y r e c o r d e d i n h i s t o r y .S t o r i e s , h o w e v e r , r e v e a l p oi gn a n t e x a m p l e s o f w o m e n ' s H a n .T h e fo ll ow i n g i s o n e o f t h e m .

Before a fl icker ing can dle l ight ,a b r i d e a n d g r oom w e r e p r e p a ring for the f i r s t n ight . The groom got up to use the outdoorlava tory. H e walked outso fa s t t h a t his long Korean robe cau ghton a h inge o f t he doo r. Deeming tha t t he b r ide , l o s ing he r

propr ie ty, had he ld h is r obe ou t of lus t , th e groom an gr ily le fthome a t t ha t very m omen t . Aft e r t h a t , whoeve r openedthe doorto see th e ins ide of th e r oom sudden ly fe ll down dead .

Fo r ty yea r s pas sed in t h i s way. One day the g r oom , pas s ing byth e house on bu s iness , s topped by an d opened th e door. Beforehis eyes , th e per fect ly pr ese ived body of th e br ide in her w ed-



d ing d re s s was s it t i nga t the r igh t spot w h e r e s h e sa t forty year sago . H e a l so saw h is robe ly ing on th e floor cau ght on a h ingeof the door. Deep ly r emors fu l fo r t h e wrong he had done to h i sb r ide , he en t e r ed th e room . H e r epen ted with a s ince re hea r tand touched he r body. A t la s t , he r H an -b rooded body tu rned

in to a sh es and imm ed ia t e ly depa r t ed t h i s Ha n- r idden w or ld .

F o r t h e b r i d e , t h e fir s t n i g h t , w h i ch s h o u l d b e ch e r i s h e d a n dh o n o r a b l e , t u r n e d in t o a n i g h t o f s h a m e a n d n ig h t m a r e . S h ed i d n o t h a v e a n y ch a n c e t o ex p la i n . N o t h i n g c ou l d h e a l h e rb r o k e n p r i d e a n d d r e a m . T h e b r i d e fo s t e r e d H a n .

E v e n d e a t h d i d n o t r e s o lv e h e r H a n . To s h o w t h e r e a l it y , h e rb o d y w a i t e d fo r fo r t y y e a r s . A ft e r m a k i n g t h e t r u t h cl ea r , h e rH a n -r i d d e n s o u l w e n t t o it s p l a c e . T h e g r o om ' s r e a l iz a t i on o ft h e fa c t , h o w e v e r , d i d n o t fu l ly r e s o l ve h e r H a n . N o t h i n g co u l d

c om p e n s a t e f or t h e t r a g i c e n d o f h e rl i f e . H e r e l i es t h e u n r e s o lv -a b l e d i m e n s i on o f H a n . I t c a n n o t b e fu l ly r e s o lv e d b u t m u s t b et r a n s c e n d e d .

I n t h i s l e g e n d , t h e H a n o f t h e b r i d e is n o t h e r H a n on l y . H e rH a n o f for t y y e a r s d u r a t i on r e p r e s e n t s t h e H a n o f K o r e a nw o m e n o ve r t h o u s a n d s o f y e a r s . H e r d e a t h s y m b o l i ze s t h es i le n t s u f fe r i n g o f K o r e a n w o m e n .

T h e g os p e l o f p a t r i a r c h y i s n o t g oo d n e w s b u t b a d n e w s f orK o r e a n w o m e n . I n t h e g os p e l , w e fin d t h e cr u c ifi x io n o f t h e S o no f G o d . T h e d e a t h o f t h e S on o f G o d m e a n s t h e d e a t h o f t h e

m a l e g o d , w h i ch is g oo d n e w s f or t h e d a u g h t e r s o f G o d . T h e S o no f G o d h a d t o d i e s o t h a t C h r i s t c ou l d a r i s e . T h e m a l e i m a g e o fG o d w a s b r o k e n a t t h e cr u c ifi x io n . T h e r i s e n C h r i s t s i g n i fi est h e e n d o f t h e p a t r i a r c h a l c on c e p t o f G o d . T h e n o n -p a t r i a r c h a lC h r i s t fo r h u m a n i t y i s t h e h e a l i n g m e s s a g e fo r w o m e n inK o r e a n a n d e ls e w h e r e .

2 . H i e r a r c h y

K o r e a i s a C on fu c ia n s o ci e t y. C o n fu c ia n e t h i cs e n f or c e t h eh i e r a r c h a l s oci a l or d e r . D u r i n g t h e Yi D y n a s t y, t w o s o ci a l cl a ss e s ca m e in t o b e i n g : t h e Ya n g b a n a n d t h e S a n g n o m . T h eYa n g b a n , t h e u p p e r cl a s s , m a n i p u l a t e d , e x p l oi t e d , a n d o pp r e s s e d t h e S a n g m o n (t h e M i n j u n g ).

A c co r d i n g t o N a m D o n g S u h , "A t a ce r t a i n p o i n t i n K o r e a nh i s t o r y , a b o u t h a l f o f t h e p o p u l a t i on w a s r e g i s t e r e d a s



h e r e d i t a r y s la v e s , a n d w e r e t r e a t e d a s p r o p e r t y r a t h e r t h a n a sp e op le o f t h e n a t i o n . * ' T h e y h a v e d e fe n d e d t h e c ou n t r y w it ht h e i r b a r e b o d i e s a g a i n s t fo r e i g n i n v a s i on s w h i le t h e r u l e r s f le df or t h e i r l i v e s . T h e y h a v e p r o d u c e d r i ce , h a v e b u i lt w a l ls ,c a s t l es , a n d o t h e r b u i ld i n g s , a n d h a v e cr e a t e d K o r e a n a r t s . Ye tt h e y h a v e b e e n t r e a t e d a s s la v e s .

T h e M i n j u n g , t h e u p h o ld e r s o f h i s t o iy , a r e d e s t i n e d t op r o m p t t h e d ir e c t i on o f h i s t o r y . N o p o w e r ca n p e r m a n e n t l yr e p r e s s t h e i r p o w e r . T h e G o d o f t h e g os p e l is t h e G o d o f t h ed o w n t r o d d e n o c/i /o i. G o d w a s in c a r n a t e d a m o n g t h e b i b h c a lM i n ju n g , l i ve d w i t h t h e m , a n d d ie d a s o n e o f t h e m . T h e i n c a rn a t i on w a s t h e b e g i n n i n g o f G o d ' s u l t i m a t e d e n i a l o f h i e r a r c h y,t h e c r u c i fi x io n d i s c lo s e d it s cl im a x , a n d t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n s i gn i fi ed t h e i t s h i s t or i ca l c on s u m m a t i o n . T h e K i n g of k i n g s a b d i

ca t e d a n d w a s e x e cu t e d a t t h e c r o s s for t h e s a k e of h u m a n k i n d .T h i s G o d o f n o n - h i e r a r c h y i s t h e h o p e o f h i s t o r y fo r t h e M i nj u n g .

3 . F o r e i g n I n t e r v e n t i on

I n 9 9 3 A . D . , d u r i n g t h e K o r y o d yn a s t y (9 3 6 -1 3 9 2 ), t h e K h i t a ne m p i r e b a s in g a t L i o-Ya n g i n v a d e d t h e K o r y o b o r d e r fr o m t h en o r t h w e s t w it h 8 0 0 ,0 0 0 t r o op s . F o r t h i r t y y e a r s , t h e y a t t a ck e dK o r e a a n d d e v a s t a t e d i t s la n d a n d p e o p l e . I n 1 2 3 1 , t h e M o n g o lsi n v a d e d K o r e a a n d it s r u l e r s fl ed t o K a n g h w a I s la n d . F o r a b ou tt h i r t y y e a r s , t h e M i n j u n g p u t u p w it h t h e br u t a l it y of t h eM o n g o l a r m i e s . I n 1 5 9 2 , J a p a n u n d e r t h e r u l e o f H i d e y os h iTo y o t o m i i n v a d e d K o r e a w i t h 1 5 0 ,0 0 0 t r o op s a n d d id n o t s u cc e e d , b u t r u i n e d t h e p e n i n s u l a . I n 1 5 9 7, h e s e n t h i s a r m i e s a n dfa i l e d a g a i n . I n 1 6 2 7 , t h e M a n c h u s c r os s e d t h e Ya l u R i ve r a n dt h e r u l e r s fl ed t o K a n g w a h I s la n d . I n 1 6 3 9 , t h e y in v a d e d K o r e aa g a i n . K i n g I n jo ca p i t u l a t e d a n d s e n t p r i n c e s a s h o s t a g e s .

I n 1 89 2 , t h e T on g h a k m o v e m e n t - t h e fi r s t m od e r n M i n ju n gm o v e m e n t - e v o l v e d i n t o t h e g r e a t e s t r e v ol u t i on i n K o r e a n h i st o r y a n d a l m o s t t o p p l e d t h e c or r u p t Yi D jm a s t y . K i n g K o jo n ga p p e a l e d t o C h i n a fo r h e l p in s u b d u i n g t h i s r e b e l l io n . B u tJ a p a n , w i t h o u t K o jo n g ' s i n v it a t i on , i n t e r v e n e d a n d s u p p r e s s e dt h i s r e v o lu t i on t o h o ld i t s h e g e m o n y i n K o r e a . T h i s a c t io n o fJ a p a n t r i gg e r e d t h e S in o -J a p a n e s e Wa r in 1 89 4.



E v e n t u a l l y, i n 1 9 1 0 , J a p a n a n n e x e d K o r e a . S u r p r i s in g l y, ou ra n n e x a t i on w a s n o t e x e c u t e d b y J a p a n a l on e . A cc or d i n g t o D r .Ty l e r D e n n e t t ' s d o ct o r a l d i s s e r t a t i on . P r e s i d e n t T h e o d o r eR o os e v e l t w r o t e t o t h e E m p e r o r o f R u s s i a , "K o r e a m u s t b eu n d e r t h e p r o t e c t or a t e of J a p a n ." I n J u l y 19 0 5 , K a t s u r a Ta r o ,t h e J a p a n e s e P r i m e M i n i s t e r , a n d W i ll ia m H ow a r d Ta ft , t h eA m e r i ca n S e c r e t a r y of Wa r , s e cr e t l y m e t i n To k y o . T h a t m e e tin g p r o d u c e d t h e Ta ft -K a t s u r a A g r e e m e n t , in w h i ch t h e U . S .s a n c t i on e d J a p a n ' s i n t e r e s t s in K o r e a in r e t u r n f or a J a p a n e s ep l e d g e n o t t o o b je c t t o A m e r i c a n r u l e in t h e P h i li p p i n e s . N o tk n o w in g t h i s , t r u s t i n g a t r e a t y o f a m i t y w i t h t h e U . S . in 1 9 0 5,K i n g K o jo n g s e n t a n e m i s s a r y t o P r e s i d e n t R o os e v e l t t o b e g f orh e l p . R o o s e v e l t r e f u s e d t o s e e t h e e m i s s a r y , h o w e v e r , b r e a k i n gt h e t r e a t y of a m i t y w h i ch s t ip u l a t e d m u t u a l p r o t e c t i on on t h e

b a s i s o f f r i e n d s h i p . ' ^ ^T h e U . S . a l s o p l a y e d a vi t a l r o l e i n t h e d i v is i on o f K o r e a .

P a t r i ck M . B la c k e t t , t h e 1 9 4 8 N o b e l P r i z e r e c i p ie n t i n p h y s i cs ,h a s w r i t t e n t h a t t h e r e a l r e a s o n for t h e d r o p p i n g of t h e t w oa t om i c b o m b s w a s a p o h t i ca l o n e . Tow a r d t h e e n d o f t h e w a r ,t h e U . S . d i d n o t n e e d t o d r o p t h e a t o m i c b o m b s t o w i n t h e w a ra g a in s t J a p a n . T h e a l l-ou t a i r a t t a c k o n J a p a n w a s a c c om p l is hi n g t h i s . B u t , a l l o f a s u d d e n , t h e A m e r i ca n s d r o p p e d t w on u cl ea r b o m b s o n J a p a n , k i ll in g n u m e r o u s , in n o c e n t civ il ia n s .T h i s a c t i on w a s d u e t o t h e fa c t t h a t t h e l on g - d e m a n d e d S o v ie toffe n s i v e w a s s u p p o s e d t o t a k e it s p la n n e d c ou r s e o n Au g u s t 8 ,1 94 5 , a n d t h e S o vi e t a r m i es m i g h t i n v a d e M a n c h u r i a a n d c la i mJ a p a n . T h e U .S . w a n t e d t o i n s u r e t h a t t h e J a p a n e s e g ov e r nm e n t s u r r e n d e r e d t o A m e r i ca n fo r ce s a lon e . T h e r e f or e , t h eU . S . u s e d t h e a t o m i c b o m b on A u g u s t 6 , t w o d a y s b e f or e t h eS o v ie t U n i on d e c la r e d w a r o n J a p a n . ^ ^

A ft e r t h e u n co n d i t ion a l s u r r e n d e r o f J a p a n , t h e U . S . s u gg e s t e d t o t h e S o v ie t U n i o n t h e b is e c t i on o f K o r e a , d r a w i n g t h el in e o f t h e t h i r t y -e i g h t h p a r a l l el . T h e S o v ie t U n i on a c c e p t e dt h i s p r o p o s a l . G e r m a n y lo s t it s w a r a n d w a s d iv id e d b e c a u s e i tw o u l d b e a p o t e n t i a l t h r e a t t o fu t u r e w o r ld p e a c e . J a p a n l os t i t sw a r b u t w a s s a v e d f r o m d i vis i on . K o r e a , h o w e v e r , a n o n -t h r e a t e n i n g co u n t r y , t h a t h a d b e e n u n ju s t l y o p p r e s s e d b yJ a p a n fo r a b o u t f or t y y e a r s , w a s d i vi d e d a g a i n s t i t s w i ll .

E v e n w o r s e w a s t h e d iv is ion ca l le d t h e K o r e a n w a r , a n o u t -



c om e o f t h e C o ld Wa r b e t w e e n t h e S ov i et s a n d t h e U . S . I t co s tt h o u s a n d s o f l iv e s .

I n a d d i t io n t o t h i s , t h e d iv is i on h a s b u r d e n e d K o r e a w i t h

h e a v y m i li t a r y s p e n d i n g . B o t h N o r t h a n d S o u t h K o r e a s p e n d3 0 t o 4 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e i r n a t i on a l b u d g e t s a n d s i x t o t e n p e r c e n to f t h e i r G N P f or n a t i o n a l d e fe n s e . T h e M i n j u n g in d i v id e dK o r e a h a v e p a id t h e h i g h c os t o f t h e d iv is i on . N o r t h K o r e a h a sn e v e r p a id t h e w o r k e r s a n d f a r m e r s e n o u g h ; i t h a s t o s u p p o r t7 8 0 , 0 0 0 s o l d i e r s in a p o p u l a t i on o f 1 8 m i lh o n . ^ ^ S o u t h K o r e am a i n t a i n s 6 2 0 , 0 0 0 s ol d ie r s a m o n g i t s 4 0 m i ll io n p e o p l e . I n s p i t eo f i t s r e c e n t e c o n o m i c g r o w t h , i t h a s a l m o s t 4 5 b i ll io n d o l la r s o ffo r e ig n d e b t s , a n d i t s a n n u a l i n t e r e s t p a y m e n t s a m o u n t t o fiv eb i lh o n d olla r s .^ ^ E v e n w o r s e , t h e U . S . m a i n t a i n s s o m e 2 5 0

d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f n u c l e a r w e a p o n s a n d p l a n s t o d e p l o y t h en e u t r o n b o m b i n S o u t h K o r e a . T h e d i vi s ion , t h e r o o t o f a llk i n d s o f e v il , h a s b e e n t h e m a i n c a u s e o f t h e p r e s e n t K o r e a nM i n j u n g ' s H a n . T h e U . S . c a u s e d t h i s d i v i s i o n . E v e r s i n c e t h et r e a t y of a m i t y in 1 8 8 2 , t h e U . S ., w h o m K o r e a n s h a v e t r u s t e dm os t , h a s r e p e a t e d l y b e t r a y e d t h e m . T h e s u p p r e s s ion o f t h eK w a n g ju U p r i s in g i n 1 9 80 e x p os e s t h e d o u b l e -d e a l in g o f t h eU .S . a g a i n s t t h e M i n ju n g .^ ^

B . D i s e n t a n g l e m e n t

To a w a k e t o o n e ' s o w n s u r r o u n d i n g s a n d t o d i s co ve r t h eca u s e s of H a n i s t h e fir s t s t e p t ow a r d t h e r e s o lu t i o n o f H a n . T h en e x t s t e p is d i s e n t a n g l e m e n t . T h i s s t e p s t a r t s fr o m e n v i s io n i n g .A v is i on is t h e r u d d e r t o t r a n s m u t e H a n i n t o p o s it i v e e n e r g y.W i t h o u t a v is i on , t h e M i n j u n g m a y s e e k r e v en g e a n d t h ed e s t r u c t i on o f s o ci e t y. Wi t h a v i s i on , t h e M i n j u n g a r e a b l e t oc on f r o n t t h e r e a h t y o f H a n -ca u s i n g e le m e n t s . C o n f r o n t a t i on i st h e co u r a g e t o fa c e r e a l i t y r a t h e r t h a n e s c a p i n g fr o m i t .T h r o u g h c on f r o n t i n g t h e r oo t s o f H a n , t h e M i n j u n g co m e t ot h e s t a g e o f d i s e n t a n g l e m e n t . D i s e n t a n g l i n g c o n s c i o u s H a n i sd i ffe r e n t fr o m t h a t o f u n c on s c io u s H a n .

1. C o n s c i ou s H a n

C o n f r o n t i n g H a n -c a u s i n g p r o b le m s w i t h a v is i on ca n r e s o lv e



b o t h p e r s o n a l a n d c ol le c t i v e co n s c io u s H a n . A t a p e r s o n a l l e v e l ,a v i s i on o f r e c on c il i a t i o n , r e u n i o n , o r t h e r e s t o r a t i on o f b r o k e nr e l a t io n s h i p s e n a b l e s a H a n -b r o od i n g p e r s o n t o co n fr o n t H a n -

ca u s in g s it u a t i on s a n d ch a n g e t h e m . I n t h e m i d d le o f t r a n sfo r m i n g H a n - ca u s i n g ci r c u m s t a n c e s , o n e w il l e x p e r i e n c e t h ed i s e n t a n g l e m e n t o f H a n , b u r n i n g H a n a s t r a n s f or m in g f u e l. A ta c ol le c t i v e le v e l , a v i s i on o f a n e w s o c ie t y e m p o w e r s t h e M i nj u n g t o co n f r on t a n d t r a n s fo r m t h e ca u s e s o f t h e M i n ju n g 'sH a n - p a t r i a r c h y , h i e r a r ch y , for e i g n in t e r v e n t i on , e t c .

A n e w s o ci e t y in K o r e a i s a H a n l e s s co u n t r y . A H a n l es ss o ci e t y , i n co n c r e t e t e r m s , ca n b e t h e co u n t r y o f d e m o cr a c y,i n d e p e n d e n c e , r e u n i f ica t i on , a n d e g a li t a r i a n i s m . A H a n l e s ss o c i e t y is t h e co m m u n i t y in w h i ch t h e M in j u n g d e t e r m in e t h e i r

o w n d e s t i n y a n d c oo p e r a t e t o a c t u a l iz e t h e p o t e n t i a l it i e s o fe a c h ot h e r . A s t h e M i n j u n g a r e i n v ol ve d in t r a n s fo r m i n g t h ep r e s e n t s o ci e t y t o t h e vi s u a l i ze d H a n l e s s s o ci e t y , t h e y a r e a b let o e x p e r i e n c e t h e r e s o lu t i o n o f H a n .

2 . U n co n s c i ou s H a n

W h i le t r a n s fo r m a t i on is t h e k e y w o r d f or r e s o l vi n g p e r s on a lo r co ll e ct i v e co n s c i ou s H a n , t r a n s c e n d e n c e is a n e s s e n t i a l n ot i on f or d i s e n t a n g l in g p e r s o n a l or co ll e ct i v e u n c on s c io u s H a n .

T h e u n c on s c io u s H a n o f t h e M i n ju n g ca n n o t b e r e s ol ve d b ye l i m i n a t i n g t h e H a n -ca u s i n g e l e m e n t s a l on e . T h e d a m a g e ds p ir i t o f t h e M i n j u n g n e e d s t o b e h e a l e d i n d e p t h . To r e s o lv et h e u n c o n s c io u s H a n o fa v i ct i m , t h e r e c ol le c t i on o f a H a n -ca u si n g i n c id e n t is i n d i s p e n s a b l e . F o r e x a m p l e , in t h e H a n P o or i o fa d r o w n e d v i ct i m , t h e s h a m a n r e p la y s t h e p r o ce s s o f d r o w n i n gs t e p b y s t e p , d e m o n s t r a t i n g t o t h e b e r e ft f a m i ly t h e w a y t h ev i ct i m d i e d . T h i s c a r e f u l r e p l a y h e l p s t h e i n v o lv e d p e o p l e c o nfr o n t t h e r e a l i t y o f t h e t r a g e d y a n d s e e k p o s it i v e w a y s t o i n v e s tt h e e n e r g y of H a n . U n r a v e h n g t h e fu l l s t o r y of t h e t r a g e d y, t h e

g r i e vi n g fa m i ly b e g i n s t o r e c og n i z e t h e i r H a n (c on fr o n t a t i on )a n d u s e t h e p a i n fu l e x p e r i e n c e o f H a n t o p r e v e n t s u ch a t r a g ice v e n t fr o m o cc u r r i n g a g a i n ( v is i o n ) . T h e p r o ce s s o f t h e r e c o gn i t i on o f H a n a n d t h e p o s i t i v e a t t i t u d e in u s i n g H a n -e n e r g y w i llle a d t h e m t o t h e p oi n t o f t r a n s c en d e n ce a n d t h e d i s e n t a n g lem e n t o f H a n .

T h e p oi n t o f t r a n s c en d e n c e ca n b e a t t a in e d w h e n t h e g r i ev -



i n g p e o p l e r e a l iz e t h e i r ir r e t r i e v a b le s i t u a t i on s a n d e m b r a cet h e i r H a n , L i k e t h e "cr i t ica l p oi n t " i n Te i h a r d d e C h a r d i n ' st h e o r y , t h e p e o p l e ' s H a n b e g i n s t o b e d i s s ol ve d a t t h e p o i n t o ft r a n s c en d e n ce . ^ T h e t r a n s c en d e n t p o i n t is t h e m o m e n t a tw h i ch o n e r e a l iz e s o n e ' s o w n l im i t a t i on s a n d p o s s ib i li t ie s a t t h es a m e t i m e .

I f a H a n - ca u s i n g i n c i d e n t i s i r r e v o ca b l e , s u ch a s t h e d r o w n i n gc a s e , u n r a v e li n g t h e s t o r y of H a n l e a d s t o t h e p o in t o f t r a n s c e nd e n c e a n d t o t h e d i s s o lu t i on o f H a n . I f a H a n -ca u s i n g i n c id e n tis r e m o v a b l e , o n l y p a r t i ci p a t i on i n t h e t r a n s fo r m a t i on o f t h es i t u a t i on b r i n g s fo r t h t h e p o i n t o f t r a n s c e n d e n c e a n d t h e d i si n t e g r a t i on o f H a n . I n a ca s e in w h i ch t h e H a n o f t h e M i n j u n gh a s u n c on s c io u s l y a c cu m u l a t e d u n d e r t h e o p p r e s s i on o f a d i c

t a t o r , i t ca n b e d i s s o lv e d o n l y t h r o u g h g e t t i n g in v o lv e d in t h es t r u g g le of d e m o cr a t i z a t i on . I f d e m o cr a c y i s g i v e n t o t h e p e o p l ew i t h o u t t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n , t h e i r c o n s c i o u s c o l l e c t i v e H a n c a nb e d i s s oci a t e d , b u t t h e i r u n c on s c io u s co ll e ct i v e H a n r e m a i n s .O n l y w h e n t h e M i n j u n g t a k e p a r t in t r a n s for m in g H a n -ca u s in ge l e m e n t s w i ll t h e y e x p e r i e n c e t h e d is s o lu t i on o f t h e i r u n c ons ci ou s H a n in t h e p r o c es s v ia t r a n s c en d e n c e .

C o n c l u s i o n

I n t h e b e g in n i n g , I d e fi n e d t h e M in j u n g a s t h e H a n -b r o od i n gd o w n t r o d d e n a n d H a n a s t h e a b ys s of p a i n . F o r d e ci p h e r i n g it ss t r u c t u r e , I i n t r o d u c e d t h e fo u r a s p e c t s o f H a n : p e r s o n a l c ons c i o u s ; p e r s o n a l u n c on s c i o u s ; co ll e ct i v e c o n s c i o u s ; a n d c ol l e ct i v e u n c o n s c i ou s H a n . To d i s s o lv e p e r s o n a l o r c o ll e ct i v ec on s c io u s H a n , I p r o p o s e d t w o s t e p s . "Aw a k e n i n g " i s n e e d e d t od i s co ve r t h e c on c r e t e ca u s e s of H a n . I n a m e d t h e t h r e e m a j ors o u r c e s of H a n in K o r e a : p a t r i a r c h y, h i e r a r c h y, a n d fo r e ig ni n t e r v e n t i on s . "D i s e n t a n g l em e n t " i s i n v o lv e d in r e s o l vi n g H a n .

To d i s s o lv e p e r s o n a l or c o ll e ct i v e c o n s c i o u s H a n , I s u g g e s t e dt h a t w i t h a v is i on o f n e w r e l a t i o n s h i p s o r t h e H a n l e s s s o ci e t y ,w e co n fr o n t t h e H a n -ca u s i n g e l e m e n t s a n d t r a n s f or m t h e m . Tou n r a v e l p e r s o n a l or c ol le c t iv e u n c on s c io u s H a n , I s t a t e d t h a tw e n e e d t o r e a ch t h e p oi n t o f t r a n s c e n d e n c e b y e i t h e r r e c ol le c ti n g t h e s t o r y o f t h e M i n j u n g 's H a n o r p a r t i ci p a t i n g in t h eo p er a t i on o f t r a n s f or m i n g H a n -ca u s in g e l e m e n t s .



W i t h o u t d e a U n g w i t h t h e r e a l i t y o f H a n , t h e d o ct r i n e o f s inw i l l b e fr a g m e n t e d . W i t h t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f H a n o f p e o p l e ,w e w il l h a v e a b e t t e r p i ct u r e o f t h e C h r i s t ia n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f

s i n a n d s a l v a t i on . J e s u s c a m e d o w n n o t on l y fo r fo r g i vi n g s i n ,b u t a l s o fo r r e s o lv i n g H a n . J e s u s C h r i s t p r o cl a i m s h i m s e l f t h a th e h a s s e n t t o h e a l t h e b r o k e n h e a r t e d ( t h e H a n -la d e n p e o p l e ),t o r e c ov e r t h e s i gh t o f t h e b li n d , t o s e t t h e d o w n t r o d d e n fr e ef r o m o p p r e s s o r s ( L u k e 4 :1 8 ). C h r i s t i a n i t y w a s b r o u g h t o u t o fG o d ' s d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o d is s o lv e t h e H a n o f t h e s u ffe r i n g . T h u s ,t h e Wo r d o f G o d d e c la r e s , "S u r e l y h e h a s b o r n e o u r g r i e fs a n dc a r r i e d ou r s o r r o w s " (I s a i a h 5 3 : 4 ) . T h e c r u c if ix i o n s i g n i fi e s t h eH a n P o or i (r e s o lv i n g H a n ) o f G o d fo r t h e s u f fe r i n g p e o p l e . T h ecr o s s i s G o d ' s u l t i m a t e n e g a t i on t o t h e H a n o f t h e a f fl ic t e d . T h e

r e s u r r e c t io n o f C h r i s t a s t h e n e g a t i o n o f t h e n e g a t i v e c on n o t e sG o d ' s u l t i m a t e a f f i r m a t i o n o f t h e H a n l e s s n a t u r e o f a n e wh e a v e n a n d a n e w e a r t h . T h e r e , "G o d w i ll w i p e a w a y e ve r y t e a rfr o m t h e i r e y e s , a n d d e a t h s h a l l b e n o m o r e , n e i t h e r s h a l l t h e r eb e m o u r n i n g n o r cr y i n g , n o p a i n a n y m o r e , fo r t h e fo r m e r t h i n g sh a v e p a s s e d a w a y " ( R e v e l a t i o n s 2 4 : 4 ). T h e fi n a l g oa l o f t h ed i r e ct i on o f h i s t o r y is t h i s n e w h e a v e n a n d n e w e a r t h w h e r ep e o p l e ' s H a n w i l l b e fu l l y r e s o l v e d . W e a r e c a l l ed t o t h i s v is i ono f H a n l e s s s o ci e t y o n e a r t h . T h u s , w e p r a y ce a s e l e s s l y: "T h yK i n g d o m c o m e , t h y w i ll b e d o n e o n e a r t h a s it is i n h e a v e n . "

N o t e s

1. Valer ie Sa lv ing , "The Human Si tua t ion: A Feminine View," inWomanspirit R i s in g : A F e m i n i s t R ea d erin Re l ig ion ,ed . Caro l R. Chr is tand J ud i th P l a skow (New York : H ar pe r & Row, 1979), p . 37 .

2. Nam Dong Suh, "Historical References of Theology of Minjung,"in M i n j u n g T h eo lo gy,ed . Yong Bock Kim (Singapore : The Chr is t ianConferen ce of Asia, 1 981), p . 156.

3 . David Kwang-sun Suh, "A Biographica l Sketch of an AsianTh eological C onsu ltat ion ," inM i n j u n g T h eo lo gy,p. 33 .

4 . Byun g Mu Ahn , "J e sus and th e Min jun g in t he Gospe l of Mark , "in M i r y u n g T h e ol og y,pp . 148-149.

5. Tong Hw an M oon , "Korean Minjun g Theology," un pu bl ish ed paper(J an u aiy, 1982) , pp . 3-4 .

6. Nam Dong Suh, "Historical References of Theology of Minjung,"p p . 170-173. F or th e Kw an gju Up r is ing , see note 24 , The J u n e ci t izen



upr is ing , a se r ies of m il itan t s t ree t dem onst ra t ions , dem an ded a d i rectpresident ial e lect ion. The mil i ta iy regime f inal ly conceded having thedirect e lect ion on De cemb er 10, 1987.

7 . David Kwang-sun Suh, "A Biographica l Sketch of an Asian

Th eological Con su ltat ion ," p. 18.S ,Ibid. , p. 27.9. Ton g Kwan M oon , "Korean Min ju n g Th eology," p. 4.10. Sang Yi l Kim, "Han and Nan: Theologica l In te rpre ta t ion of

Han i sm," in Han ism as Korean M i n d , ed . Sa ng Yil K im and Youn g ChanRo (Los Angeles : Th e Ea s te rn Academ y of H um an Sciences , 1984), p .103.

11. Car l Sagan , C o s m os , (New York: Ra nd om H ouse , 1980) , pp ,238-242.

12. Nam Dong Suh, "Towards a Theology of Han," inM i n j u n gTheology, p. 54.

13. Cf. David Kwang-sun Suh, "A Biographical Sketch of an AsianTh eological Consu ltat ion," pp. 27-28.

14 . C a r l J u n g ,Let te rs , ed . G. Adler (Pr ince ton : Pr ince ton Un ivers i tyP r e s s , 1973), p. 408.

15. Car l Jung , " Indiv idual Dream Symbol i sm in Rela t ion to Alchem y," ed . R. M. Fordh am and G. Adler inCol lec ted W orks ,vol. 12,(Lon don : Rou tledge, 1934), p . 41 .

16. N a m D o n g S u h ,M i n j u n g Sinhak u n i Ta m g u , (Seoul: Ha ngilsa,1983), pp . 88-89.

17. Na m Dong Su h, "Toward a Th eology of H an ," inM i n ju n g T h e ology, p. 54 .

18. T. Denn e t t , R oo sev el t a n d t h e R u s s o -J a p a n es eWa r, Ph .D . D i s -soi ta t ion, (N ew York , 192 5), pp . 68, 161.

19. Wo o - K e u n H a n , The Hi s to ry o f Korea , (Seoul: The Eul-YooPubl i sh ing Co., 1970), p . 447.

20. Kyung Bae Min , T h e Ch urch H i s tory o f K orea , (Seoul: TheChr ist ian Li te ra tu re Socie ty), pp . 174-178.

21 . P. M, S. Blacket t , F ea r, W a r, a n d t h e B o m b , (New York : Wh i tt lesey H ous e, 194 8), pp . 127-142.

22 . Ph ilip Pott er, "Si tuat ion Rep ort : Korea," inPeace an d J us t i c e inNortheast A s i a , (Comm iss ion ofthe Ch ur ches on In te rn a t iona l Affa i r s :

World Coun cil of Chu rches , 1985), p . 36.2S . I b i d , p. 35 .24. Bru ce Cu m ings, "Peaceful Set t lemen t of Conflicts by th e Un ited

Na t ions a nd O th er In t e rgovernm enta l Bodies ," inPeace and J ust ice inNortheast A s i a , p. 94.

25. On May 17 , 1980 , t he gove rnm en t run by Gene ra l Doo KwanChun dec l a r ed mar t i a l l aw and a r r e s t ed K im Dae Jung , t he mos t



prominen t opposi t ion leade r. S tuden t s i n Kwa ng ju were demons t r a t i ngfor the re lease of Dae Jung Kim and the democra t iza t ion of Korea .Pa ra t r oope r s were s en t i n to Kwang ju to pu t down th e dem ons t r a t i on .Theybayone t t ed and bea t r ock -th rowing s tuden t s , o the r p ro t e st e r s , and

even on looke r s . The up r oa r con t inued , and on May21 , t he pa ra t r oope r sbegan shoot ing demonst ra tors . Agains t th i s v io len t suppress ion , thes tuden t s r e s is t ed w i th t he a rm s wh ich th ey cap tu red from police s t at ions . With the sanc t ion of the U.S . , the mi l i ta ry t roops of the f rontmoved in to the c i ty and s laughtered over two thousand c i t izens . Thecom m an der ofthe U.S. mi li ta ry forces in Korea h as com m an ded a ll theKorean m ili tary forces s ince1950. Withou t h i s orde r, t he Korean t roopsof the fron t could n otmove . Th e U.S . has suppor ted the m ili tary regimesagainst the wil l of the Minjung because of i ts geopoli t ical interests inthe pen insu l a .

26. For Teihar d , cr i t ica l p o in t s involve a cha nge of s ta te""th e cur vedoubles ba ck , th e su r face cont ra cts to a poin t , the sol id d is in tegra tes ,th e liqu id boi ls , th e germ ce ll d ivides , in tu i t ion sudden ly bu rs t s on th epiled-up facts." T h e P h e n om en o n o f M a n ,(New York : Harpe r & Row,P ub lish ers , 1955), p . 78.



W h a t M a k e s — a n d S u s t a i n s

a n E f f e c t i v e M i n i s t r yJ a n e t F . F i s h b u r nN e i l l Q . H a m i l t o n

W h o is t h e id e a l U n i t e d M e t h o d is t m i n i s t e r ? E v e r y o n e h a sa n i d e a , or a t l e a s t a s e t o f i m p r e s s i on s , o f w h a t t h e p e r fe c tp a s t o r s h o u l d b e , d o , a n d p r o c la i m . U s u a l ly t h i s t a k e s t h e fo r m

o f a fa v or i t e i n d i v id u a l m i n i s t e r , or a c om p o s i t e o f t h e b e s ta s p e c t s o f s e v e r a l i n d i v id u a l m i n i s t e r s . B u t l e ft t o c h a n c e , w i l le n o u g h U n i t e d M e t h o d is t s e n c ou n t e r t h e i r id e a l p a s t or ~ o r w il lt h e y l oo k fo r h i m o r h e r in o t h e r , a n d p e r h a p s g r e e n e rd e n o m i n a t i o n a l p a s t u r e s ?

W h e n t h e ch u r c h i d e n t i f ie s i t s fu t u r e c le r g y, i t i d e n t i fi e s i t sow n e s s e n c e . A s t h e o n g o in g w o r k o f t h e C o m m i s s io n fo r t h eS t u d y of M i n i s t r y s h o w s , r e f le c t io n o n t h e n a t u r e o f m i n i s t r yis a c om p l e x a n d t i m e - co n s u m i n g e n d e a v or . O n e i m p o r t a n ta s p e c t o f t h e ch u r c h - w i d e e ffo r t t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e n a t u r e o fm i n i s t r y is t h e u s e o f e m p i r ic a l r e s e a r c h i n t o t h e t r a i t s a n dc h a r a c t e r i s t i cs o f t h e e ffe c t iv e m i n i s t e r . W e b e g a n t h e r e s e a r c hr e p o r t e d h e r e a ft e r b e c o m i n g a w a r e t h a t t h e r e is v e r y l it t l er e s e a r c h a v a i la b l e o n t h i s a r e a o f c h u r c h l ife .

B a c k g r o u n d R e s e a r c h : G o a l s , M o d e l s ,a n d D e n n i t i o n s

I n t h e s p r i n g o f 1 9 84 , t h e N o r t h e a s t e r n J u r i s d ic t i on b r o u g h tt o g e t h e r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of c a b i n e t s , B o a r d s of O r d a i n e d M i n

i s t r y, t h e o lo g ic a l fa c u l t i e s , a n d n e w l y or d a i n e d p a s t o r s t o d i sc u s s s u p e r v i s io n f or e f fe c t i ve m i n i s t r y . We w e r e t h e r e a s

J a n e t F. F i sh b u r n i s a s s o ci a t e p r o fe s so r o f t e a c h i n g m i n i st r i e s a n d N e i llQ.H a m i lt o n is p r o fe s s or o f N e w Te s t a m e n t a t t h e T h e o l og ic a l S c h o o l, D r e wU n i v e r s i t y.



m e m b e r s o f a d e l e ga t i on fr o m t h e T h e o lo g ic a l S c h o o l o f D r e wU n i v e r s i t y . T h e O c e a n C i t y C o n s u l t a t i o n p r o d u c e d t h e fo ll owin g s t a t e m e n t :

1 ) Th e re i s a r ead ines s am ong Ca b ine t s a nd Boa rds of Ordained Ministry and theological facul t ies to develop as t ronge r pa r tne r sh ip i n equ ipp ing wom en a nd m en for m inis t ry. We seek no th ing le s s t han t h e r enewa l o f t he chu rchth rough the r enewa l o f c l e rgy. The need i s g r ea t and t hehu nge r for r enewa l is p r e sen t t h roughou t t h e chu rch .2) Superv is ion provides a mos t p romis ing vehic le for th i spa r tn ersh ip . Su perv is ion is in tegra l t o e ffect iveness in m inis t ry : a ) i t i s a way to deve lop leadersh ip , bo th lay andorda ined; b ) i t i s a way t o u t i li ze th e r esources of oth ers forl i fe- long growth in minis try.3) Though good superv is ion rese t s upon cer ta in persona lt r a i t s -em pa th y, the a b il ity to speak the t r u th in love , effect ive m odel in g- i t i s a cu lt iva ted and not a na tura l sk il l. It isbes t l ea rn ed in th e in te rp lay of th eory and pr ac t ice .4) Qua lity su perv is ion re la tes to a ll d imen s ion of m in is t ry :th eo logica l under s ta nding , growth in fa ith , persona l m atu rat ion, pa storal sk i lls , congr egat iona l an d con ne ct iona l lea dersh ip .

P a r t i ci p a n t s i n t h e c on s u l t a t i o n w e r e co n v i n c e d o f t h e p o t e nt ia l for c h u r c h r e n e w a l t h r o u g h c a r e f u l s u p e r v i s ion a n d e v a l u at i on o f m i n i s t r y . A t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e y r e c o g n i z e d t h e l a ck o fs t a t e d c r i t e r i a o f g o o d m i n i s t r y t o a s s i s t t h e s e l e c t i o n o f c a nd i d a t e s fo r or d i n a t i on a n d t h e s u p e r v is i on o f or d a i n e d c h u r c hl e a d e r s . O n e co n s u l t a t i on s p e a k e r o b s e r v e d t h a t "w e d is s ip a t es o m a n y r e s o u r c e s a n d c om m e n s u r a t e l y i m p o v er i s h o u r c orp o r a t e w or k b y g oi n g t h r o u g h a l l t h e s e t a s k s w i t h o u t a co n s i st e n t a g r e e m e n t a s t o t h e n a t u r e o f t h e m i n i s t r y w e p r o fe s s a n dt h e m e t h o d s w h i ch w e b e li e v e a r e m o s t e f fe ct i v e fo r e n a b l i n gi t ."^ A ft e r t h e co n s u l t a t i on w e d e c id e d t o d e s ig n a r e s e a r c hp r o je c t t h a t w o u l d a t t e m p t t o d e f in e e ffe ct i v e m i n is t r y .

I n ou r i n it i a l l it e r a t u r e s e a r c h w e fo u n d t h a t t h e A s s o ci a t i ono f T h e o lo g ic a l S c h o ol s h a d s p o n s o r e d a m a j or e c u m e n i c a l r es e a r c h p r o j e c t a b o u t t h e cr i t e r i a fo r m i n i s t r y f r o m 1 9 7 3 -1 9 7 9 .T h e o u t c om e o f t h a t r e s e a r c h w a s p u b h s h e d i n a v o lu m e t i t le d



M i n i s t r y i n A m er i ca . ^ O u t of t h e s e fi n d i n g s t h e r e s e a r ch e r sd e v e l op e d " R e a d i n e s s F o r M i n i s t r y, " a n i n t e r v i e w w i d e l y u s e db y s e m i n a r i e s t o a s s e s s p e r s o n a l ch a r a ct e r i s t i cs a n d o r i e n t a t i ont o m i n i s t r y o f e n t e r i n g s e m i n a r i a n s . ' ^

T h e A s s o ci a t i o n o f T h e o l og i ca l S c h o ol s r e s e a r c h r e v e a l e dt h a t U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t s a r e d i s t i n g u i s h e d f r o m o t h e rd e n o m i n a t i on s b y t h e i r s t r o n g em p h a s i s o n a n in t e r p e r s o n a ll e a d e r s h i p s t y l e . T h e y l o ok f or c o n s i s t e n c y i n t h e fa m i ly l ife a n dp e r s o n a l s t yl e o f t h e p a s t o r . G i v e n a ch o ic e , U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t sw a n t p a s t or s t o s p e a k u n d e r s t a n d a b l y a b o u t r e l i gi ou s m a t t e r sr a t h e r t h a n w i t h t h e ol og ica l c or r e ct n e s s . T h e r e s e a r ch e r s c onc l u d e d t h a t f o r U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t s e c c l e s i o l o g y f u n c t i o n s a st h e o l o g y.

T h e M i n i s t ry i n A m er i ca r e s e a r c h i n d i ca t e d t h a t t h e r e is ac on c e r n a m o n g U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t s w it h a l ife -l on g e d u c a t i onfo r "a l e a r n e d m i n i s t r y." T h i s fin d i n g i s c on s i s t e n t w i t h s i gn i fi ca n t l e gi s la t i o n p a s s e d b y t h e 1 9 8 0 G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c er e q u i r i n g a ll p a s t o r s t o p a r t i ci p a t e i n co n t i n u i n g e d u c a t i one v e n t s a n n u a l l y. Ye t , t h e d a t a r e p o r t e d inM i n i s t ry i n A m er i cais d e s cr i p t i v e , n o t n o r m a t i v e . I t is n o t c on c e r n e d w i t h c h a r a ct e r i s t i cs t h a t a U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t p a s t o r m i g h t s e e k t o d e v e l opt o e n h a n c e h i s or h e r m i n i s t r y . A s s u c h i t d e s cr i b e s t h e t y p e o fl ea d e r s h i p n e e d e d t o m a i n t a i n t h e s t a t u s q u o o f U n i t e d

M e t h o d i s t ch u r c h e s ; i n t h i s s c h e m a s u p e r v is i on o f p a s t o r sm i gh t a m o u n t t o l it t l e m o r e t h a n i n s t i t u t i on a l m a i n t e n a n ce .

A s w e l o ok e d fo r a w a y t o b e g i n r e s e a r c h t h a t w o u l d d e s c r i b ee ffe ct i v e m i n i s t r y w e r e a d a b o u t S e l e c t i on R e s e a r c h I n c orp or a ted .^ * T h e i r w or k l e d t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n i n s t r u m e n tu s e d t o d e t e r m i n e t h e a p t i t u d e of C a t h o li c ca n d i d a t e s f orp r i e s t h o od . L i k e "R e a d i n e s s fo r M i n i s t r y, " t h e "P r i e s t P e r c e i v e rI n t e r v i ew " ( P P I ) i s i n t e n d e d t o p r e d i c t p r o m i s e fo r g r o w t h i nm i n is t r y in p e r s o n s e n t e r i n g s e m in a r y . T h e P P I i n t e r v ie w w a sd e s i g n e d t o t e s t fo r t h e p r e s e n c e of fo u r t e e n "l ife t h e m e s " t h a tw e r e e s t a b l is h e d a s t y p ica l o f a g r o u p o f t w e n t y o u t s t a n d i n g ,e x p e r i e n c e d p r i e s t s .

T h e i n t e r v i e w, w h i ch is n o w b e i n g u s e d b y m a n y C a t h o li cs e m i n a r i e s , co v e r s a l l fo u r t e e n t h e m e s a n d co n t a i n s 1 7 5 q u e st i o n s . "T h e d a t a c ol l e ct e d i n d i c a t e s t h a t a s i g n i fi ca n t p o s i t i v eco r r e l a t i on e x is t s b e t w e e n t h e r e s u l t s of t h e in t e r v i e w a n d



fi r s t -h a n d ju d g m e n t s m a d e b y p e r s o n s i n le a d e r s h i p p o s i t i on sw i t h i n t h e g iv e n d i o ce s e a n d b y p e r s o n s w h o k n e w t h e p r i e s tw e l l. T h e P P I h e l p s i d e n t i fy m o s t r e l i a b ly t h e q u a l i t i e s a l w a ysk n ow n t o b e p r e s e n t i n t h e s o r t of p r i e s t s t h a t t h e ch u r c h a n d

t h e p e o p l e o f G o d h a v e a l w a y s w a n t e d m o r e o f "W e d e c i d e d t o fo ll ow a p r o ce d u r e s i m i la r t o t h a t u s e d i n

d e v e lo p in g t h e P P I . A t t h i s p o in t t h e N o r t h e r n N e w J e r s e yC o n fe r e n c e a p p o in t e d a t a s k fo r c e t o w o r k w i t h u s t h a t i n c lu d e db o t h n e w l y a p p o in t e d a n d e x p e r i e n c e d p a s t o r s , a d i s t r i ct s u p e ri n t e n d e n t , D a v i d F o ll a n s b e e o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e B oa r d , a n d t h eR e v. M s . Vir g i n i a S a m u e l , D e a n o f S t u d e n t s a t t h e T h e o lo gi ca lS c h o o l a t D r e w U n i v e r s i t y .

E f f e c t i v e n e s s i n M i n i s t r y : P r o j e c t D e s i g n

a n d S c o p eWe d e v e l op e d a d e s c r i p t i on o f e ffe c t i ve m i n i s t r y i n t e n d e d t o

r e f l e ct p r o fi ci e n c y i n t h e f ou r m a j o r a s p e c t s o f o r d a i n e d m i n i st r y s t a t e d i n t h e J 3 o o ^ of Disc ip l ine : e q u i p p i n g la i t y fo r t h e i rm i n i s t r y , p r o v id i n g m i n i s t r y t o t h e co n g r e g a t i o n , p r o v id i n gm in i s t r y t o t h e c om m u n i t y , a n d a d m i n is t e r i n g p r op e r t y . T h ed e fi n i t io n s u b s e q u e n t l y u s e d i n t h e r e s e a r ch r e a d s a s fo ll ow s :

An effect ive pas t or i s one w h o i s ab le to comm un ica t e t he wh oleness of miss ion so th a t la ity a r e ab le to par t icipa te in t he m iss ion ofth e chu rch as co-nu r t ur ers and co-m iss ioners on a l l l eve ls of th echu rch from local con grega t ion to global m inistry.

W e fu r t h e r d e f in e d m i s s io n t o i n c lu d e : 1 ) e v a n g e li s m a n do u t r e a c h ; 2 ) c h a r i t y ; a n d 3 ) s o ci a l j u s t i c e . A t a s k f o r c e m e m b e rw o r k e d w i t h u s i n a d a p t i n g t h e C a t h o l ic "h fe -t h e m e s " t od e s c r ib e t h e ch a r a ct e r i s t i cs o f U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t m i n i s t e r s w ek n e w t o b e e f fe c t i v e i n le a d i n g la i t y i n t o m i n i s t r y.

D u r i n g t h i s t i m e w e a ls o co n t a c t e d R i ch a r d Ye a g e r w i t h t h eB o a r d o f H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n a n d M i n i s t r y . H e h a d i n d e

p e n d e n t l y fo r m u l a t e d a s e r i e s of q u e s t i on s t o e v a lu a t e t h ec h a r a c t e r i s t i cs a n d q u a l it i e s o f e ff e ct i v e m i n i s t r y b a s e d on t h e1 9 80 D is c ip l in e .^ Ye a g e r o r g a n i ze d 5 5 ch a r a c t e r i s t i cs u n d e r 1 2t h e m e s : s e l f-a w a r e n e s s , o p e n n e s s t o p e r s o n s , s e lf-co n t r o l,o p e n n e s s t o g r o w t h , l oy a l t y t o t h e ca l l t o m i n i s t r y a n d m i s s i ono f t h e c h u r c h , o r g a n i z a t i on a l s k i ll a n d i n t e n t i on a l it y , p e r s o n a l



fa i t h d e v e l o p m e n t , s e n s i t i vi t y t o h u m a n n e e d s , t r u s t in c o mm u n i t y , in t e g r a t i on o f p r o fe s s i on a l a n d p e r s o n a l l ife , a dm i n i s t r a t i v e a b i li t y a n d a b i l i t y t o w o r k w i t h g r o u p s . H i sch a r a ct e r i s t i cs w e r e s im i la r t o t h o s e b e i n g d is cu s s e d b y t h e t a s k

fo r ce . I n a d d i t i on , h e h a d in c lu d e d t h r e e t h e m e s u n d e r " p e rs on a l fa i t h d e v e l op m e n t " co n s i d e r e d i m p o r t a n t b y t a s k f o r c em e m b e r s : "a ) s t r i v e s t o gr o w in a p e r s o n a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n dr e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d ; b ) r e f l e ct s t h e o lo g ic a l l y o n t h e c h u r c h ' sm in i s t r y , m i ss i on , a n d p r o gr a m ; a n d c ) c om m u n i ca t e s a n a w a r en e s s o f t h e p r e s e n c e of G o d . "

A ft e r e x t e n s i v e d is cu s s i on w i t h Ye a g e r a n d t h e t a s k f or c e , w ea g r e e d u p o n t h e f o l l o w i n g f o u r t e e n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . T h e l i s tr e f le ct s a h i s t o r i c U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t s t a n ce a n d p r e s e n t p o li cys t a t e m e n t s . M e m b e r s o f t h e t a s k for c e t h e n a d d e d q u a h t i est h e y fo u n d i n p a s t o r s w h o a p p e a r e d t o b e e ffe ct i v e a t e n g a g in gl a it y in m i n i s t r y. T h e r e i s n o r a n k o r d e r i n t h e fo ll ow i n g li s t .

1 ) Denominat iona l Loyal ty- -a pas tor wi th a love for theUn it ed Me th od i s t Chu rchas a necessa iy ins t i tu t iona l m eansof represen t ing th e body of Chr is t in t h e wor ld so tha t h e orshe par t ic ipa tes in the var ious leve ls of denominat iona ls t ru ctu r e w i thou t be ing un du ly d iscou ra ged byits s h o r t c o mings .

2) Evangel ical Witness--a pastor who is comfortable talkingabout th e presen ce of God as a p r ima ry source of b less ing inordin a iy dai ly li fe .3 ) Mis s ion -a pas to r w i th a conv ict i on tha t t h e chu rch a s acommuni ty, and indiv idua ls in the i r ca lUng, ex is t ( s ) as amiss ion for the wor ld tha t inc ludes wi tness , char i ty andjus t ice .4) Rela t iona l Ca pa c ity-pa s tor w h o comm un ica t es God 's loveverba l ly and by persona l exam ple thr ough bu i ld ing pos it ivepersona l re la t ionsh ips with o ther p eople .

5 ) En ab ler of La i ty -a pas to r wh o is ab le t o he lp m ember s ofa congrega t ion see th a t m inis t iy be longs to th e whole peopleof God a nd t o equ ip lai ty for m inist iy as th e focu s of his orhe r min i s t i y.6) Sc l f-a ff irm ing-a pas t or wh o ha s a Spir i t -g iven a war enessof accepta nce a s a chi ld of God t ha t issues in a rea l is t ic bu t



gent le appra isa l of self and o th ers .7) Communi ty Bui lder- -a pas tor who i s ab le to fac i l i t a tecommuni ty l i fe so tha t members of the congrega t ion loveeach o ther , l ive and w ork t oge th er as th e body of Chr is t .

8 ) Em pa th i c--a pas to r w i th an accep t ing awarenes s of wha tpeop le a r e t h ink ing and f ee l ing a s t hey in t e r ac t w i th t hep a s t or a n d ot h e r s in t h e c h u r c h .9 ) Nu r tu r ing - a pas to r wh o en joys s ee ing sp ir it ua l g rowth ino the r s , un de r s t an ds t he p roces s of sp ir it ua l form a t ion andthe r e sou r ces i t r equ i r e s .10) Th eologica l ly Ar t icu la t e - a pas t or wh o can ar t icu la te th evis ion of God ' s in t en t ion for c rea t ion so th a t th e good newsof the gospel clearly relates to the world in whichpa r i sh ioner s l ive .

11) H opefu l --a pas t or w h ose expecta t ion th a t e ffor t s on t hepar t o f the church for wi tness , char i ty, and jus t ice wi l l beused by God to serve the p resen t ye t ever-coming Kingdomof God conveys fa i thfu l op t imism about the fu ture to thepeople of God in spi te of evidence tha t t h e Kingd om of Godis n ot ye t com ple ted .12) Spi r i tua l Vi ta l i ty -a pas tor who i s exc i ted by a s t rongvision of the wh olenes s God in t en ds for p e r sons , t he chu rchand the w or ld so t ha t h is o r he r w i ll ingness t o ac t t o li ve ou ttha t v i s ion in sp i te of ambigui ty and cont rad ic t ion en

cour ages o th ers t o accept a m bigui tyas part of Ch ris t ian fai than d l i fe .13) Cou ra geous -a pas to r wh o has t he cou ra ge to ca ll a t t ent ion to the d i ffe rence be tween the wor ld par i sh ioners comfor t ab ly inh ab i t and the K ingdom ofGod in bo th p r iva t e an dpublic discourse.14) Organ iza t iona lly Sk i l led -a pa s tor wh o kn ows h ow to se tobject ives , lead and eva lua te th e ex ten t to which par t icipat ion in worsh ip and smal l g roups for s tudy, miss ion , andchu rch ad m inis t ra t ion cont r ibutes p os i t ive ly to the sp i r itua lform a t ion and g rowth of m em ber s o fthe congregat ion.

T h e r e s e a r c h p r o je ct w a s d e s i gn e d t o le a r n a b ou t t h e p e rs on a l t r a i t s , p r a c t ic e s , a n d l e a d e r s h i p s t y l e s o f p a s t o r s w h o a r es e e n a s e m b o d y i n g t h i s d e s c r i p t i on o f m i n i s t r y . W e c om p o s e dq u e s t i on n a i r e s t o c ol le ct t h i s i n f or m a t i on , l im i t in g t h e s a m p l e



t o a t ot a l o f 3 6 p a s t o r s w h o h a d f ift e e n o r m o r e y e a r s e x p e r i e n c ei n p a r i s h m i n is t r y/*^ W e i n t e r v i e w e d e a c h p a s t o r , fi v e o r s i xm e m b e r s o f t h e con g r e g a t i on , a n d t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t . O n eh a l f o f t h e p a s t o r s w h o p a r t i ci p a t e d w e r e n o m i n a t e d b y t h e irs u p e r i n t e n d e n t s a s b e i n g t h e p e r s o n in t h e d is t r ict w h o m o s tr e s e m b l e d o u r d e f in i t i on o f e ffe ct i v e m i n i s t r y . T h e o t h e re i gh t e e n p a s t o r s ' n a m e s ca m e fr o m t h e s a m e d is t r ict s , b u t w e r ech o s e n b y a r a n d om s a m p le m e t h o d . T h e r a n d om s a m p l e w a su s e d t o a v oid r e l y in g s o le ly on s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s ' i n t e r p r e t a t i on so f o u r d e f i n i t i on . W e a l s o h a d a s u s p i ci on t h a t s o m e v e r y f in ep a s t o r s m i g h t b e o v e r l oo k e d b y s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s b e ca u s e of t h en a t u r e o f i m p l i c it d e f in i t i o n s o f "e f fe c t i v e n e s s " n o w in u s e i ns u p e r v i s i o n . ^

We u s e d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s t o c o ns t r u c t a p r o f il e o f e a c h p a s t o r . T h e p r o fi le s co n t a i n d e t a i le di n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t s k i l l s i n e i g h t t a s k s ( f u n c t i o n s ) o f m i n i s t r y- w o r s h i p , p r e a c h i n g , t e a c h i n g , a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , p a s t o r a l c a r e ,l e a d e r s h i p in e v a n g e li s m , le a d e r s h i p in m i s s io n , a n d a c t in g a sa s p ir i t u a l g u i d e . T h e p r o fi le in d i ca t e s w h a t t h e p a s t o r d o e s a n dd o e s n o t d o , t h e w o r k o f t h e la i t y, a n d h o w t h e p a s t o r c a r r i e so u t f u n c t i o n s w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o p e r s o n a l s t y l e a n d r e l a t i o n a lca p a ci t y. We a l s o co m p i l e d b a s i c s t a t i s t i cs a b o u t e a ch c on g r e g at i o n .

T h e q u e s t i on n a i r e p h a s e of t h e r e s e a r ch w o u l d u l t i m a t e l yi d e n t i fy s ix p a s t o r s in t h r e e r e g i o n s - t h e S o u t h w e s t , t h e M i dw e s t , a n d t h e N o r t h e a s t - w h o b es t ex e m p l if i ed o u r d e fi n i t io no f e ffe c t iv e m i n i s t r y. T h e s e s ix p a s t o r s p a r t i c ip a t e d in a t a p e di n -d e p t h i n t e r v i e w d e v e lo p e d t o t e s t fo r p r e s e n c e a n d s t r e n g t hi n e a c h o f t h e f ou r t e e n ch a r a c t e r i s t i cs . I n t e r v i e w q u e s t i o n sw e r e d e s i g n e d t o e l ic it co n c r e t e , i d e n t i fi a b l e e v i d e n c e o fs t r e n g t h in a ch a r a ct e r i s t i c. F o r i n s t a n c e , o n e o f t h e q u e s t i on su s e d t o a s s e s s s t r e n g t h i n "e v a n g e l ica l w i t n e s s "w a s : ca n y o u t e l l

m e a b ou t a t i m e w h e n y o u h e lp e d a m e m b e r of y o u r co n g r e g at i o n s e e G o d ' s p r e s e n c e in h i s o r h e r l ife in a n e w w a y ? P a s t o r sw h o t h i n k a b o u t m i n i s t r y in t h i s w a y ca n q u i ck l y r e c a l l m u l t i p l ee x a m p l e s o f s i t u a t i o n s , r a n g i n g f r o m p a s t o r a l c a r e t o t e a c h i n ga n d p r e a c h in g , w h e n t h i s h a s h a p p e n e d .

We w a n t e d t o k n o w i f t h e ch a r a ct e r i s t i cs w e h a d n a m e d a n d



d e f in e d w e r e i n d e e d p r e s e n t i n p a s t o r s p e r c e i v e d a s "e fi 'e ct i ve ."I f s o , a r e t h e r e i d e n t i fi a b l e c lu s t e r s o f c h a r a c t e r i s t i cs t h a tp r o d u c e d i f fe r e n t s t y l e s o f m i n i s t r y ? A r e t h e r e cl u s t e r s o fc h a r a c t e r i s t i cs r e l a t e d t o p a r t i cu l a r s i z e s o r t y p e s o f c on g r e g at i on s ? A r e s o m e o f t h e ch a r a c t e r i s t i cs m o r e e s s e n t i a l t o e ff e ct iv e m i n is t r y t h a n o t h e r s ? W h a t i s t h e m i n i m u m n u m b e rn e c e s s a r y fo r e f fe c t i v e m i n i s t r y ?

T h e i n t e r v i e w s r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e f ou r t e e n ch a r a ct e r i s t i csh y p o t h e s i z ed a s r e le v a n t t o U n i t e d M e t h o d is t m in i s t r y w e r e infa c t p r e s e n t i n t h e p a s t o r s i n t e r v ie w e d . E a c h p a s t or i n t e rv ie w e d h a d s t r e n g t h i n s e ve n or m o r e ch a r a ct e r i s t i cs . T h es t r o n g e s t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c h e l d in c o m m o n w a s "e n a b l e r of la i t y."T h i s w a s r e a s s u r i n g in t h a t i t d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e s e le ct i on

p r o ce s s co u l d a c cu r a t e ly id e n t i fy p a s t o r s w h o m a k e t h i s t h e i ri n t e n t i on a l goa l . A lm o s t a s m u c h s t r e n g t h w a s p r e s e n t in t h ec a t e g o r i e s n a m e d "e m p a t h i c, " "m i s s i on , " a n d "s e l f-a f i ir m i n g . "T h e w e a k e s t c h a r a c t e r i s t i cs w e r e "t h e o lo g ic a l ly a r t i cu l a t e " a n d" h o p e f u l . "

S t a t i s t i ca l a n a l y s i s r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c scl u s t e r e d i n t o t h r e e g r o u p i n g s . A n a n a l ys is of t h e c lu s t e r s l e a d st o t h e co n c lu s i on t h a t t h e y a r e r e l a t e d t o t h r e e a s p e ct s o fm i n i s t r y -p r e a c h i n g a n d t e a c h i n g , m i s s ion a n d a d m in i s t r at ion .^ ^ A n o t h e r d i s t i n c t i on a l s o a p p e a r e d i n t h e s t a t is t ica l

b r e a k d o w n . A l t h o u g h e a c h p a s t o r is d i fi 'e r e n t , t h e p r o fi le o ffou r p a s t o r s w h o s e r v e t o w n a n d s u b u r b a n c o n g r e g a t i on s a r em o r e l i k e e a c h o t h e r t h a n t h e y a r e l i k e t h e t w o p a s t o r s w h os e r v e u r b a n c o n g r e g a t i o n s .

P r o f i l e s i n E f f e c t i v e M i n i s t r y

T h e t w o u r b a n p a s t o r s h a v e le d t h e i r r e s p e c t i ve c on g r e g at i on s i n t o s i g n i fi ca n t m i n i s t r y t o t h e i r lo ca l c om m u n i t i e s . O n eis t h e s e n i o r p a s t or o f a 5 2 5 -m e m b e r co n g r e g a t i on w i t h a

fiv e-m e m b er s t a fi". H e h a s a r e p u t a t i o n f or b e i n g a b l e t od e l e ga t e a u t h o r i t y t o la y le a d e r s a n d st afi* m e m b e r s . T h e i n t e rv i e w c on f ir m e d t h a t h e e x ce l s a t h e l p i n g l a it y i d e n t i fy t h e i rg ift s fo r m i n i s t r y . H e h a d t h e co u r a g e t o u n d e r t a k e t h e e s t a bl is h m e n t o f a ci t y -w i d e P e a c e C e n t e r i n t h e ch u r c h d e s p i t e t h er e s i s t a n ce it e li ci t e d fr o m s o m e m e m b e r s o f t h e co n g r e g a t i on .



T h r o u g h w o r s h i p a n d p r e a ch i n g t h a t la y le a d e r s s a y is "u n eq u a l l ed ," h e l ea d s a n d s h a p e s t h e co n g r e g a t i o n ' s c o m m i t m e n tt o i t s o w n m i n i s t r y.

A l a y l e a d e r d e s c r i b e d t h i s p a s t o r ' s m i n i s t r y a s fo ll ow s : "H ee n c ou r a g e s m e m b e r s o f a d i ve r s e c on g r e g a t i o n t o w o r kt o g e t h e r - n o t t o b e c o m e m o r e l ik e e a ch o t h e r , b u t r a t h e r t o liv ecl os e r t o t h e e x a m p l e o f J e s u s . " T h i s p a s t o r h a s s t r e n g t h in o n l ys e v e n ch a r a ct e r i s t i cs ; b u t h e , a n d m e m b e r s o f h i s c on g r e g a t i on ,a r e a w a r e o f h i s g i ft s a n d h i s l im i t s . T h e y s a y t h a t h e h a s ar e s e r v e d p e r s o n a l it y a n d i s n o t c om fo r t a b l e i n co u n s e l in g s i t u at i on s . H e c h o o s e s t o w o r k w i t h s t a ff m e m b e r s a n d la y l ea d e r sw h o h a v e s k i ll s i n a r e a s in w h i ch h e is l e s s g i ft e d , t h u s fo s t e r i n ge ffe c t i ve m i n i s t r y in t h e c on g r e g a t i o n . P r e d i ct a b l y, h e is a

s t r o n g ly s e lf-a f fi r m i n g p e r s o n . H e d e m o n s t r a t e s s t r e n g t h ino r g a n i za t i on a l s k i l ls , a n d h e i s t h e o lo g ic a l ly a r t i cu l a t e .

T h e s e co n d u r b a n p a s t o r is q u i t e d i ff e r e n t f r o m t h e fir s t . H ei s n o w s e r v i n g h i s l a s t a p p o i n t m e n t b e f o r e r e t i r e m e n t , a n8 3 - m e m b e r , d y i n g c h u r c h s a d d l e d w i t h a c h u r c h b u i ld i n g fa rl a r g e r t h a n t h e co n g r e g a t i o n ca n u s e . H e h a s b e e n a b l e t o le a da s m a l l, d i s co u r a g e d c on g i 'e g a t i on i n t o co m m u n i t y m i s s ion t h a ti n c lu d e s op e n i n g a h e a l t h c li n i c in t h e ch u r c h a n d m a k i n g t h eb u i ld i n g a v a i la b l e t o a n e w l y f or m e d H i s p a n i c c on g r e g a t i o n .T h e h e a l t h c li n i c is a n e c u m e n i ca l m i n i s t r y. I t i s "t h e C h r i s t i a nw a l k , " t h e c a p a c i t y f o r e v a n g e l i c a l w i t n e s s a n d t h e s p i r i t u a lv it a l i t y of t h e p a s t o r t h a t h a s i n s p i r e d m e m b e r s o f h i s c on g r e g at i on t o fo ll ow h i s e x a m p l e a n d p a r t i ci p a t e in c om m u n i t y m i n i st r y .

A b oa r d m e m b e r r e p o r t e d t h a t "t h r ou g h h i s le a d e r s h i p ou rc h u r c h h a s g r ow n i n co u r a g e t o a s s is t a n d e n c ou r a g e a S p a n i s h -s p e a k i n g ch u r c h s e r v i c e .. .y e s , a s a c h u r c h w e w e r e n e a rca p i t u l a t i on a n d i n n e e d o f a C h r is t i a n p a s t o r w h o w a s c o nc e r n e d . " T h i s p a s t o r is t h e on l y p e r s o n i n t e r v i e w e d w h o d i d n o t

a t t e n d s e m i n a r y . H i s i n t e r v ie w r e v e a l e d t h a t h i s e f fe ct i v e n e s sa s a p a s t o r h a s n e v e r b e e n r e c o gn i z e d . H e h a s r e p e a t e d l yr e c e i ve d n e w a p p o in t m e n t s w i t h n o s a la r y i n c r e m e n t , n o t e v e nt o m a t c h t h e r a t e o f i n f la t i on . Ye t h i s on l y cr i t i ci s m o f t h ed e n o m i n a t i on , a n d h i s on l y d is a p p oi n t m e n t w i t h m i n is t r y a s aca l l in g , is t h e e x t e n t t o w h i ch h i s fa m i ly h a s s u f fe r e d e c o n o m i cd e p r i v a t i on b e c a u s e o f h i s w o r k .



T h i s m a n , w i t h s t r e n g t h i n t e n ch a r a ct e r i s t i cs , e m e r g e d f r o mt h e r a n d o m s a m p l e . A lt h o u g h h is s u p e r i n t e n d e n t d id n o t e h o ww e ll h e h a s a d a p t e d t o m i n i s t r y in a n u r b a n c h u r c h , t h e s u p e ri n t e n d e n t d id n o t n o m i n a t e h i m a s a p er s o n w h o m a t ch e d ou r

d e s c r i p t i on o f e ff e ct i v e m i n i s t r y. L i k e h i s m o r e r e c o g n i z e du r b a n c ou n t e r p a r t , h e is a w a r e o f h i s ow n l im i t s - e s p e c i a l l y int h e a r e a o f t h e o lo g ic a l e d u c a t i o n . H e h a b i t u a l ly l oc a t e s e d u c at ion a l e v en t s w h e r e h e ca n l e a r n w h a t e v e r h e n e e d s t o k n o w a ta p a r t i cu l a r t i m e in h i s m i n i s t r y .

T h e p r o fi le s o f t h e o t h e r f ou r p a s t o r s a r e s im i la r t o e a c ho t h e r b u t d i fl 'e r in t e r m s of l e a d e r s h i p s t y l e . T h r e e o f t h e s ep a s t or s a r e b e t w e e n 3 9 a n d 4 3 y e a r s ol d . T h r e e o f t h e m c u rr e n t l y s e r v e in m i d d l e-cl a s s s u b u r b a n or s m a ll t o w n c on g r e g at i on s . A ct i v e m e m b e r s h i p in t h e co n g r e g a t i on s v a r i e s fr o m 1 2 5t o 2 8 3 . A l l a r e s i n g l e -s t a ff, a l l w h i t e c o n g r e g a t i o n s . A c c o r d i n gt o t h e d a t a , a t j ^ i c a l e f fe c t i ve p a s t o r i n t h e s u b u r b s i s l es s l ik e l yt h a n u r b a n p e e r s t o b e l e a d i n g l a i t y i n t o s u b s t a n t i a l s o c i a lj u s t i c e m i n i s t r y. M o s t o f t h e s e c on g r e g a t i o n s a r e i n v o lv e d w i t hm i s s i on a s c h a r i t y, s u c h a s o p e r a t i n g s ou p k i t c h e n s or fo odp a n t r i e s , o r p r o v id i n g s h e l t e r f or d e s t i t u t e fa m i li e s . M o s t a r ei n v ol ve d w i t h m i s s io n a s e va n g e li s m a n d o u t r e a c h , p r i m a r i lyt h r o u g h c a ll in g b y t h e p a s t o r . T h e s e p a s t or s a r r a n g e s o m en u r t u r e a n d p a s t o r a l ca r e by l a i t y t h r o u g h s h e p h e r d i n g

p r o g r a m s . B u t n o n e of t h e s u b u r b a n c on g r e g a t i on s , in c lu d i n go n e b l u e - co ll a r c on g r e g a t i o n , is e v e n m i n i m a l l y in v o l v e d in a n ys oci a l j u s t i c e m i n i s t r y.

A s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s a i d o f o n e o f t h e s e p a s t o r s , " H e i s n o tw i t h o u t s oc i a l c on s c io u s n e s s b u t t h i s c h u r c h s e t t i n g a n dm i n d s e t a l m o s t r u l e s o u t s o c i a l c o n c e r n s a n d o u t r e a c h . " Ac o m p o s i t e e f fe c t i v e p a s t o r p r o f il e fo r t h i s t y p e o f c on g r e g a t i o ns u g g e s t s t h a t t h e y e x ce l a t c om m u n i t y b u i l d in g a n d m in i s t r yw i t h i n t h e c on g r e g a t i o n . Al l a r e g oo d a t b u i ld i n g p o s it i v em o r a l e in t h e co n g r e g a t i on a l t h o u g h t h e y d o it in d i ffe r e n tw a y s . Tw o l ea d t h e i r co n g r e g a t i o n s p r i m a r i ly t h r o u g h p e r s o n a lca l l in g a n d co n v e r s a t i o n . T h e ot h e r t w o h a v e e s t a b l is h e d w e l l -d e fi n e d a n d a cc ou n t a b l e i n t e r n a l n e t w o r k s of c om m u n i ca t i ona m o n g a l l o r g a n i za t i on s i n t h e co n g r e g a t i on . "H i s e n t h u s i a s mis l ik e a s h o t i n t h e a r m . " A ll a r e li k e d a n d a p p r e ci a t e d b y t h e i rco n g r e a t i on s . O f e a c h , la i t y s a y t h a t h e i s t h e b e s t p a s t o r t h e



con g r e g a t io n h a s e v e r h a d .F e w p e r s o n s c a l l e d t o l e a d t h e c h u r c h w i ll h a v e a ll o f t h e m o s t

d e s i r a b l e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s fo r e f fe c t i v e m i n i s t r y. F r o m a c omp o s i t e p r o fi le o f a l l s ix p a s t o r s w e le a r n e d t h a t e a c h h a s s t r e n g t hin e m p a t h y or r e l a t i on a l ca p a ci t y , s t r e n g t h i n co m m u n i t y b u i l di n g or o r g a n i za t i on a l s k i ll , s t r e n g t h in e v a n g e l i ca l w i t n e s s o r i st h e ol og ic a l ly a r t i cu l a t e . T h i s s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e r e is a n id e a lc lu s t e r o f c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s n e c e s s a r y fo r e ffe c t i v e p a s t or a ll e a d e r s h i p . A c c or d i n g t o t h e c om p o s i t e p r o fi le , e ffe c t i v e p a s t o r sa r e fu n d a m e n t a l l y p e r s o n s w h o a r e s e lf-a f fi r m i n g , w h o ca ns p e a k a b o u t t h e p r e s e n c e o f G o d i n li fe , a n d w h o ca n o r g a n i z ea c on g r e g a t i on s o t h a t l a i t y ca n b e c o-n u r t u r e r s a n d c o-m i ss i o n e r s .

T h e B a s i c P r o f i l e O f A n E f f e c t i v e P a s t o r

B a s e d on i n for m a t i on g a t h e r e d f r o m t h e q u e s t ion n a i r e s a n di n t e r v i e w s , w e p r o p o s e fo u r g e n e r a l i z a t i on s a b o u t w h y s o m ep a s t or s a r e m o r e e f fe ct i v e t h a n t h e i r p e e r s . F i r s t , t h e s ix p a st o r s i n t e r v i e w e d i n - d e p t h s h o w e d m o r e in t e n t i on a l fo cu s on t h ela i t y c om p a r e d t o t h e o t h e r t h i r t y p a s t o r s i n t h e s a m p l e . I n a llca s e s t h e i r co n g r e g a t i o n s a r e b e t t e r i n f or m e d , t h e y h e l p inp l a n n i n g p r o ce s s e s , a n d t h e y w o r k w i t h t h e p a s t o r t o a c h i e v e

t h e i r co m m o n o b je ct i ve s . T h e s e p a s t o r s c om m u n i ca t e m o r ec le a r l y, a r t i c u l a t e a v is i on fo r t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n , a n d l e a d i n s u c ha w a y t h a t l a i t y ca n p a r t i ci p a t e i n t h e s t a t e d m i s s io n o f t h ec o n g r e g a t i o n .

T h e s e p a s t or s a r e n o t t h r e a t e n e d b y la y l ea d e r s h i p , n o ru n d u l y co n fl ic t e d b y r e s i s t a n c e t o t h e i r l e a d e r s h i p . T h e y w a n tt o s e e la i ty g r ow a s C h r i s t i a n s t h r o u g h t h e i r p a r t i ci p a t i on inm i n i s t r y. T h e y a r e g o od a t h e l p i n g la i t y i d e n t i fy t h e i r g ift s , a tfin d i n g s u i t a b l e p r e p a r a t i o n f or t h e t a s k a n d a p l a c e t o e x e r c is et h e i r g i f t s .

S e c on d , t h e r e i s e v id e n c e t h a t w h e n p a s t o r s h a v e a n i n t e nt i on a l fo cu s in t h e i r m i n i s t r y , t h e y a r e e n g a g e d i n m o r e o f t h ee i gh t t a s k s o f m i n i s t r y l i s t e d a b o ve . T h e y p a r t i ci p a t e i n t e a c hin g a n d n u r t u r i n g o f c h u r c h m e m b e r s m o r e oft e n t h a n o t h e rp a s t o r s q u e s t i on e d . I f s p e c ia l t r a i n i n g is n e e d e d t o f or ms h e p h e r d i n g g r o u p s t h e y fin d a t r a i n in g e v e n t t o p r e p a r e t h e m -



s e lv e s . F o r e x a m p l e , i f a d u l t s n e e d i n t r o d u c t o r y B i b le s t u d yt h e y l e a r n h o w t o l e a d a d u l t -l e v e l B i b l e s t u d y. A w o m a n s a id o fo n e s u c h p a s t o r , "O u r a d u l t s t u d y p r og r a m s a r e s t r o n g e r a n dm o r e e f fe c t iv e t h a n I h a v e e v e r s e e n i n m y fo r t y y e a r s a s a

U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h r i s t i a n . . . t h i s i s d i r e ct l y a t t r ib u t a b l e t o(ou r p a s t o r 's ) l e a d e r s h i p in t r a i n i n g a d u l t s t o t e a c h a d u l t s ."

T h i r d , p a s t o r s a r e m o r e e f fe c t iv e w h e n t h e r e i s a g oo d f itb e t w e e n t h e ch a r a c t e r i s t ic s a n d p e r s o n a l s t y le of t h e p a s t or a n dt h e p e r s o n a l it y o f t h e c on g r e g a t i on . O n e o f t h e s ix m o s t e f fe ct iv e p a s t o r s r e p o r t e d t h a t h i s p r ior a p p o in t m e n t h a d b e e n "ad i sa s t e r . " T h i s p a s t o r , w h o t h i n k s o f h i m s e l f a s a " ch u r c hb u i l d e r " w a s a p p o i n t e d t o a c on g r e g a t i on h e w a s u n a b l e t o le a d .H is s k ills a r e b e t t e r s u i t e d t o n e w c h u r c h d e v e l op m e n t t h a n t oa l r ea d y e s t a b h s h e d c on g r e g a t i on s . H i s p r e s e n t a p p o in t m e n tm a k e s b e t t e r u s e o f h i s s k il l s in m i n i s t r y .

F o u r t h , m o r e e f fe c t iv e p a s t o r s fin d h e l p in a r e a s of m i n is t r yt h a t r e q u i r e a d d i t io n a l s k i ll or k n o w l e d g e . In t h i s p a r t i cu l a rs a m p l e , s k i lls i n t e a c h i n g a n d n u r t u r e , l e a d e r s h i p in e v a ng e l is m a n d m i s s io n a r e li m i t e d . T h e p a s t o r b e s t e q u i p p e d t oe n g a g e in t e a c h i n g a n d s p ir i t u a l fo r m a t i on r e c e n t l y c o m p l e t e da D o c t o r o f M i n i s t r y d e g r e e i n w h i c h t h i s w a s t h e s u b j e ct o f h i sfin a l p r o je c t . T h r e e o f t h e s i x p a s t o r s i n t e r v i e w e d h a d r e c e n t l yc om p l e t e d D o ct o r o f M i n i s t r y d e g r e e s in w h i ch t h e y h a d

w o r k e d a t s om e o f t h e s k il ls t h a t c u r r e n t l y co n t r i b u t e t o t h e i re f f e c t i v e n e s s i n m i n i s t r y.

P e r s o n a l C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d L e a r n e d S k i l l s

W h a t k i n d o f p e r s o n m a k e s t h e m o s t e ffe ct i v e p a s t o r ? O u rr e s e a r c h i n d i ca t e s t h a t e f fe c t iv e p a s t o r s a r e s t r o n g ly c omm i t t e d p e r s o n s - t h e y h a v e a ca p a ci t y for e v a n g e l ica l w i t n e s s ,t h e in t e l li g e n c e t o b e c o m e t h e o lo gi ca l l y a r t i cu l a t e a n d e n o u g hs e l f-c on f i d e n c e t o b e a b l e t o l ea d a c on g r e g a t i on . F u r t h e r m o r e

t h e e v id e n c e in d i ca t e s t h a t if t h o s e p e r s o n a l ch a r a c t e r is t i cs a r ep r e s e n t t o s o m e d e g r e e , t h e n m i n i s t r y sk i lls s u c h a s p r e a c h i n g ,t e a c h i n g , n u r t u r e , a d m in i s t r a t ion , p a s t or a l ca r e a n d l ea d e r s h i ps k i ll s ca n b e l e a r n e d o r i m p r o v e d a t a n y p o i n t i n a p a s t o r a lc a r e e r .

O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e c h a r a c t e r is t i cs s e e m i n g ly le a s t s u b -



j e c t t o e d u c a t i on a l p r o ce s s e s i s "s e l f-a f fi r m a t i on . " W h i l eself-af

fir m a t i on ca n ch a n g e , g r o w a n d d e e p e n t h r o u g h t h e m e a n s ofg r a c e a n d p a r t i ci p a t i on in m i n i s t r y , t h e r e i s a n e e d fo r s o m eb a s i c l e v e l o f a w a r e n e s s o f "a c c e p t a n c e a s a ch i ld o f G o d t h a ti s s u e s i n a r e a l is t i c b u t g e n t l e a p p r a is a l o f s e l f a n d o t h e r s . " T h i sd e f i n i t i o n o f s e l f -a ff ir m a t i o n i s n o t a p s y c h o l og i c a l o n e , n o r i ss e l f-fu l fi ll m e n t i t s g oa l . I f i t w e r e , M a r t i n L u t h e r a n d J o h nWe s l e y w o u l d n o t b e c on s i d e r e d f or o r d i n a t i o n ! A s e l f-a f fi r m i n gC h r is t i a n i s r a t h e r a p e r s o n w it h s p i r it u a l s e n s i t iv it y , s o m e o n ef or w h o m G o d ' s p r e s e n c e is v e r y r e a l a n d vi t a l t o l ife i t s e l f T h i sm e a n s t h a t t h e y h a v e a ca p a ci t y t o g r o w s p ir i t u a l ly , t o b e c o m em o r e s e n s i t iv e t o o t h e r s a n d r e a l is t i c a b o u t t h e m s e l v e s .

T h e r e s e a r c h in d i ca t e s t h a t s e l f-a f fi r m a t i on i s a l s o t h e k e yt o t h e o t h e r ch a r a ct e r i s t i cs t h a t ca n b e r e g a r d e d a t le a s t p a rt ia l ly a s p e r s o n a l t r a i t s - e m p a t h y a n d r e la t i on a l ca p a ci t y. P u ta n o t h e r w a y, "s e l f-a f fi r m a t i on " r e m a i n s c on s t a n t w h e r e a s "r e l at i on a l ca p a ci t y " a n d " e m p a t h y " a r e v a r i a b l e s in t h e p r o fi le s o ft h e p a s t o r s w e i n t e r v i e w e d . We d e f i n e d s e l f-a f fi r m i n g a s a"S p i r i t -g iv e n a w a r e n e s s " b e c a u s e a l t h o u g h t h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c iss o m e w h a t m y s t e r i ou s , t h e r e l a t i on o f t h e s e l f t o G o d i s fu nd a m e n t a l t o s e l f-a c ce p t a n c e a n d g o od p e r s o n a l r e l a t i on s h i p s .B y u s i n g t h i s la n g u a g e w e a r e t r y i n g t o co n n o t e t h e w a y in

w h i ch t h e r e s e a r ch i n d i ca t e s t h a t s e lf-a w a r e n e s s i s r e l a t e d t os e n s i t iv it y t o o t h e r s a n d t o G o d .W h e n a s k e d h o w t h e y h e l p in d i v id u a l s s e e G o d ' s p r e s e n c e in

t h e i r l i v e s t h e m o s t s t r o n g l y s e l f - a f f i r m i n g p a s t o r s i n v a r i a b l ys a id , "b y l e t t i n g t h e m k n o w t h a t I l ov e t h e m . " T h e r e a r ediffe r e n t w a y s t o d o t h i s , b u t t h e s e p a s t o r s h a v e a n a t u r a l lo ve o fp e o p le t h a t is t o le r a n t w it h h u m a n in a d e q u a c y a n d co m p a ss i on a t e w i t h h u m a n s u f fe r i n g . T h e co r ol la r y o f t h i s s e e m i n g l ys p o n t a n e o u s l o v e fo r p e o p l e i s t h e a b i li t y t o g iv e of t h e m s e l v e sw i t h o u t u n d u e s e lf-p r o t oc t iv e n e s s .

A co m p o s i t e p o r t r a i t o f a n "i d ea l " p a s t o r d r a w n f r o m o u ri n t e r v i ew s s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e b e s t p a s t o r s s p e a k e a s i ly a b o u t t h ep r e s e n c e of G o d i n o r d i n a r y l i fe . T h i s t o o is d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t os p i r i t u a l s e n s i t i v i t y t o G o d , self, a n d o t h e r s . F o r s o m e , t h eca p a c it y fo r t h e o lo g ic a l r e f l e ct i o n is d e v e l o p e d . F o r o t h e r s , t h ea b i li t y t o c on c e p t u a l iz e a n d a r t i cu l a t e G o d ' s p r e s e n c e is r e l a t e d



t o sk i ll i n p l a n n i n g a n d le a d i n g w o r s h i p . P a s t o r s k n o w n for g o o dp r e a c h i n g k n o w h o w t o c on n e c t t h e g o od n e w s o f t h e g os p e l t ot h e li ve s o f p e r s o n s in t h e c on g r e g a t i o n . T h e i r c a p a c it y t oe s t a b l i s h g o o d p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s a l l o w s t h e m t o k n o wo t h e r s d e e p l y . O r , t h e y i d e n t i fy w i t h o t h e r p e o p l e b e c a u s e t h e ya r e i n t u i t iv e ly e m p a t h i c.

T h e s e p a s t o r s a r e p e o p l e w h o fe e l c om p e l l e d t o p r e a ch t h eg o o d n e w s b e c a u s e G o d ' s l ov e is r e a l t o t h e m . T h e p a s t o r w h oh a s a p a s s i on f or G o d , t h e c h u r c h , a n d G o d ' s w o r l d is e n t h u s i a st i c a b o u t m i n i s t r y . S e ve r a l of t h e p a s t o r s in t e r v i e w e d t o ld u st h a t t h e t h a t t h e y l ov e t h e i r w o r k : "...I ca n h a r d l y w a i t t o g e t u pe v e r y m o r n i n g . "

I n r e c e n t y e a r s t h e r e h a s b e e n a n e m p h a s i s o n t h e "h e l p er

p e r s o n a l i t y " a s a n a s s e t in m i n i s t r y . I n f or m a t i on g a t h e r e dt h r o u g h i n t e r v i e w s in d i ca t e s t h a t e ffe ct i v e p a s t o r s h a v e a k i n do f s e lf-a w a r e n e s s t h a t g o e s c on s i d e r a b l y b e y o n d w h a t is u s u a l lym e a n t b y "h e l p e r p e r s o n a l it y ." W h i le l e a d e r s h i p s t y le s v a r y ,t h e s e p a s t o r s h a v e t h e a b il i t y t o r e a c h o u t t o o t h e r p e r s o n s - n o tj u s t t o offe r t h e i r h e l p , b u t t o a s k fo r h e l p . T h e y a r e n o t a fr a i dt o r i s k a r e fu s a l w h e n t h e y r e c r u i t la i t y for m i n i s t r y . T h e y a r en o t a fr a i d t o r e f u s e t o p e r f o r m a s e r v i ce , s u c h a s a b a p t i s m o r aw e d d i n g , t h a t w il l c om p r o m i s e t h e i r ow n i n t e g r i t y i n m i n i s t r y .

C o n c l u s i o n

O u r r e s e a r c h c on f i r m s t h a t m i n is t r y a s d e fi n e d b y U n i t e dM e t h o d i s t p oU t y is p o s s i b le in t h e c h u r c h t o d a y. P a s t o r s a n dco n g r e g a t i on s c a n w or k t o g e t h e r t o e v ok e a n d co m p l e m e n t t h eg i f t s , k n o w l e d g e a n d s k i l ls fo r m i n i s t r y f ou n d i n a l l C h r i s t i a n s .F e w p e r s o n s ca l le d t o l ea d t h e ch u r c h t h r o u g h or d i n a t i on t oWo r d , O r d e r , a n d S a c r a m e n t w i ll h a v e a ll o f t h e m o r e d e s ir a b lec h a r a c t e r i s t i cs fo r e f fe c t i v e m i n i s t r y, a n d t h a t i s w h y a g o o d

m a t ch b e t w e e n p a s t o r a n d co n g r e g a t i o n is s o cr u ci a l t o t h em i n i s t r y o f a l l C h r i s t i a n s . A ft e r a l l , i t i s o n l y in t h e r e l a t i o n s h i pb e t w e e n t h e p a s t o r a n d a g iv e n con g r e g a t i on t h a t t h e p a s t o r 'sg ift s a n d g r a c e s fo r m i n i s t r y a r e ca l le d o u t a n d t e s t e d .

O u r h o p e fo r t h e u s e o f t h i s r e s e a r c h i s t h a t t h e d e fi n i t io na n d ch a r a c t e r i s t i cs o f e f fe c t i v e m i n i s t r y w il l p r o v id e a s t a r t i n g



p o i n t f o r c o n t i n u i n g d i s c u s s i o n s a b o u t t h e s e l e c t i o n , s u p e rv i s io n , a n d e d u c a t i o n o f p a s t or s . T h i s k i n d o f r e s e a r c h t e s t s a n do r g a n i z e s s a l i e n t f e a t u r e s o f g o o d m i n i s t r y a l r e a d y k n o w n i nt u i t i v e ly b y t h o u g h t f u l la i t y a n d g oo d p a s t o r s . B u t it a l s o s e r v e sa s a ch a l le n g e t o t h e c h u r c h in a t im e w h e n t h e k i n d o f p a s t orw e h a v e d e s cr i b e d d oe s n o t r e p r e s e n t t h e n o r m a m o n g U n i t e dM e t h o d i s t p a s t o r s . I n t h i s s e n s e , w e c on c u r w i t h t h e s t a t e m e n to f t h e O c e a n C i t y C o n s u l t a t i on . "We s e e k n o t h i n g le s s t h a n t h er e n e w a l of t h e ch u r c h t h r o u g h t h e r e n e w a l of t h e cl e r g y. T h en e e d is g r e a t a n d t h e h u n g e r for r e n e w a l is p r e s e n t t h r o u g h o u tt h e c h u r c h . "

N o t e s

I . T h e o l o g ic a l E d u c a t i o n a n d P a s t o r a l M i n i s t r y : M ^ o r L e a r n i n g s o f t h eO c e a n C i t y C o n s u l t a t i o n .

2."Th o R o le o f S u p e r v is io n in E q u i p p in g M e n a n d Wo m e n fo r M i n i s t i y ,"p r e s e n t e d a t t h e O c e a n C it y C o n s u l t a t i on .

3 . D a v id S . S c h u l le r , M e r t o n P. S t r o m m c n a n d M i l o L . B r e k k e , e d i t o r s ,M i n i s t r y in A m e r ic a (S a n F r a n c i sc o : H a r p e r & R o w , 19 8 0 ).

4 . D o r o t h y L . Wil l ia m s , M i l o L . B r e k k e , D a n i e l O . A le s h i r c ,R e a d i n e ss f orM i n i s t r y I n t e rp r e t i v e M a n u a l f o r E n t e r i n g S e m i n a r i a n s , t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o fT h e o l o g ic a l S c h o o l s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d C a n a d a , 1 9 7 9.

5 . T h e s e o b s e r v a t i o n s a r e fr o m "U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t M i n i s t i y ," b y F. T h o m a sT r o t t e r in S c h u lle r e t a l .,M i n i s t r y in A m e r ic a p p . 4 4 5 - 4 5 6 .

6 . J o A n n M i ll e r , P a t r i c k M c C a s l in , G e o r g e A . D e i n l e in , "H o w t o I d e n t i fy aF u t u r e P r i e s t ," A m e r i c a ( F e b . 1 8, 1 9 84 ) .

7 . M i l l e r e t a l ., "F u t u r e P r i e s t , " p . 1 0 58 . J . R ic h a r d Ye a g e r , "E v a l u a t i v e Q u e s t i o n s fo r t h e C h a r a c t e r i s t ic s a n d

Q u a l i t ie s fo r E ffe c t i v e M i n i s t r y " (u n p u b l i sh e d s t u d y ) .9 . T h e C o n f er e n c e s r e p r e s e n t ed in t h e r e s ea r c h w e r e ch o s e n s o t h a t p a s t or s

in t e r v ie w e d m i gh t in c lu d e e t h n i c m i n o r i t y o r w o m e n p a s t o r s . T h a t w a s a nu n r e a l is t ic e x p e c t a t io n g i ve n t h e r e la t i ve ly s m a l l s iz e o f t h e s a m p l e . We a r e n o win t e r v ie w i n g w o m e n p a s t o r s a n d p a s t o r s fr o m t h e b la c k t r a d i t i on .

10. S o m e o f t h e q u e s t io n s in t h e in t e r v ie w a r e b e i n gused by s u p e r i n t e n d e n t sin t h e N o r t h e a s t e r n J u r i sd i c t io n fo r s u p e r v is io n p u r p o s e s . C o p i es o f t h e fu l lr e p o r t i n c l u d e t h e q u e s t io n n a i r e s , t h e i n t e r v i e w, a n d p r o fi le s o f e a ch p a s t o r ."E fTe c t iv e n c s s i n M i n i s t r y R e s e a r c h R e p o r t " i s a v a i l a b l e o n r e q u e s t t o J a n e t F.

F i s h b u r n , T h e T h e o l o gi c a l S c h o o l , D r e w U n i v e r s it y , M a d i s o n , N . J .I I . T h e s t a t is t ic a l a n a l y sis o f t h e d a t a w a s d o n e b y D r . P e t e r F is h b u r n o f

B e ll L a b s a t M u r r a y H i ll . M i k e N i c k e r s o n , s o c io lo g ic a l r e s e a r c h e r fo r t h e B o a r do f H i g h e r E d u c a t i on a n d M i n i s t r y , c o n c u r s t h a t t h e s t a t is t ic a l a n a l y si s is v a li d .B o t h t h e q u e s t io n n a i r e a n d t h e i n t er v ie w d a t a c ou l d b e s u b je ct e d t o o t h e r k i n d so f a n a l y s e s.



C l a i m i n g t h e W o r l do f t h e R i s e n J e s u s :

E a s t e r L e c t i o n sf r o m t h e G o s p e l o f J o h n

G a i l R . O ' D a y

I f we w ere to eva lua tethe tex ts in t h e lect iona iy accord ing to frequ ency o f appea ra nce, t hen w e m igh t ea s ily conc lude tha t t h e chu r ch ' s t h r eeyear lect iona ry cycle does n ot a t ta ch m uch impor ta nce to the G ospel ofJ oh n . E a ch of t h e ot h e r t h r e e g os p e ls h a s it s o wn y e a r - M a t t h e w (A ),Mar k (B) , Luk e (C) , yet th ere i s n o year f rom J ohn . The l itu rg ica l cycleseem s a r r anged t o r e in force t he v i ew th a t J ohn is d iffe r en t , t ha t J ohndoes not qu i te " f i t . " When the preacher encounters tex ts f rom thesynopt ic gospe ls in each recur r ing cycle , she or he a t l eas t has t he sen seof reestabl ishing contact with a famil iar voice, of having "been herebefore ." The prea chin gtask is eve r n ew, bu t a t le a s t t h e t e r r i t ory s eemsclea r ly m ark ed . Joh n , howeve r, a lways s eems to r em a ina s t ra nge voice ,f rom a s t r ange l and . P reache r s t hus t end to shy away f rom fu l lyengaging John, f ind ing suppor t for the i r re t icence in the lec t iona iy ' sin f r equen t u se o f J ohn .

I f , howeve r, we look a t when the Gospe l o f John appea r s i n t helect iona ry ins t ead of how often , we ar r ive a t a very d i ffe ren t p ictu re ofth e p lace and power of J ohn in th e lect iona ry cycles . This a l te rna t iveway of l ook ing a t J ohn in t h e lect i ona ry r evea ls t h a t wh en th e chu rchhas s ometh ing except iona l ly imp or tan t t o say, i t chooses to say it withJ ohn ' s vo ice .

In each ofthe th ree lec t ion a iy cycles , th e ce lebra t ions of Ch r is tm as ,L e n t , a n d E a s t e rare m a r k e d by texts fr o m J o h n . E v e r y y ea rthe wonde rof Chr i s tma s Day i s com m un ica t ed th rough th e poe t ry o fthe Prologueto J ohn (1 :1-18) . Lent en prepa ra t ion an d d iscip line , in keeping with a

pa t t e rn e s t ab lished in t h e ea r ly chu rch , a r e shaped by t ex t s from J ohn ,par t icu lar ly in Years A and B. F ina l ly, the Eas te r season i s a lwaysce lebra ted in the words of John . The voice of John ' s gospe l has the

G a i l R . O 'Day is a s s is t a n t p r o fe s s o r o f b i b li ca l p r e a c h i n g a t C a n d l e r D iv i n i t yS c h o o l o f E m o r y U n i v e r s i t y .



pr ivileged pos it ion of inv it ing th e chu rch in to th e n ew wor ld ca l led in tobe ing by the r esur rec t ion .

Wh en th e chu rch ' s s t ory is a t it s he igh t , t he chu r ch t u r ns t o J ohn .Wh en words a r e needed to ponde r t h e b i r t h o fJ e s u s , to prepar e u s for

h is dea th , and t o m arve l in j oy a t h i s r e su r r ect ion , t h e chu rch t u r ns t oJ ohn . We may n ot meet J ohn often in t he l itu r g ica l cycles of th e ch u rch ,b u t w h e n we do--take note! Som eth ing wor ld -sha t t e r ingis a t h a n d . T h epreache r t he re fore shou ld no t shy away from J ohn wh en it appea r s inth e lect ion a iy, nor ta ke infrequ ency of appea ran ce asa v a lu e j u d g m e n t .Ins tead we should a t t end carefu l ly to th ese tex ts tha t voice th e grea tm yster ies of ou r fa i th .

Th e gospe l lessons for th e seven Sun days in E as te r , Year C, providethe p reache r w i th a fr e sh oppor tu n i ty t o exp lore t h e dep th and powerof the Johannine voice and v is ion . The lessons for the f i r s t th reeSun days (J ohn 20:1-18 ,20:19-31 ,21:1-19) a re s tor ies of th e ap peara ncesof th e r isen J e s u s . The lessons for th elast four Su nda ys (J ohn 10:22-30 ,13:31-35, 14:23-29, 17:20-26) are w ords of J esu s wh ich ref lects on th em ean ing of h is dea th and r e su r r ect ion .

Note carefu l ly th e sequ ence of these texts as we m ove th rough th eEa ster sea son: th ree s t or ies followed by fourtexts of in t e rpre t a t ion . T hissequen ce r e flects t he dyna m ics of our fa i th : s tory precedes in t e rpr e tat ion . The pr ima ry lan guage of fa i th is tha t of s tory te ll ing , song , prayer,and p ra i s e, and so i t is no a cciden t t ha t t he f ir s t t ex t s o f Ea s t e r a r e t h es tor ies of our fa i th . Afte r th e s tor ies h ave been to ld an d found a hom ein the communi ty, then we proceed to the language of re f lec t ion and

in t e rp re t a t i on . Wha t do these s tor i es m ean? In to wha t new wor ld a ndnew l ife do they sum m on u s?

The J oha nn ine Ea s t e r le s sons t h us embody the dynam ic in t e r ac t ionbe tween s tory and in t e rp re t a t i on tha t lie s a t t he hea r t of p roclam a t ion .Th e stories ofthe r is en J e sus f rom J ohn 20 and 21 inv it e t he r eade r t obe pr esent as the f ir s t d i scip les leave behind a wor ld shaped by dea thand em brace a wor ld de ter m ined by th e r isen J esu s . The lessons f romJ e s u s ' t e ach ings i nv it e t h e r eade r t o r e th ink w ha t i t m eans t o ce leb ra t ethe crucif ixion and resurrct ion ofJ e s u s . Th e r ich and d is t inc t ive tex tsof the Four th Gospel p lace before th e reader a wor ld in wh ich new l ifeis indeed poss ib le. As we read t hr ough th e seven Ea s te r lessons , we a reinvi ted to c la im th e wor ld of th e r i sen J esus as our own.As we pr oclaimthe seven E as te r lessons , we offer tha t wor ld to oth ers .

J o h n 2 0 :1 -1 8

The lesson for E as te r Sun day cons is t s of an in t roduct ion (w , 1-2) andtwo subsequen t scenes a t the em pty tomb (w . 3-10 , 11-18).



Wh en Mary a r r ives a t J e sus* tom b , t h e s cene i s not wha t she expect ed . The tom b has been t am pered wi th , t he s tone ro lled away (v. 1 ).M a r y r u n s t o sh a r e t h e n e w s o f w h a t s h e h a s s e en w i t h P e t e r a n d t h ebe loved d iscip le , "They ha ve taken th e Lord out ofthe t o m b , a n d w e d o

no t kn ow wh ere t h ey la id h im " (v. 2 ) .Ma iy can on ly s ee t h e even t s a t t h e t omb t h r ough eyes governed by

th e wor ld 's cat egories of logic an d cau sal i ty: I fthe tomb is empty, t hensom eone m us t have t aken the body. The re can be n o othe r log ica l lyp laus ib le explana t ion . Noth ing in Mary ' s exper ience could havep repa red he r i n advance fo r t he r ea l r ea son the t omb i s empty. Thewor ld ' s ca t egor ies d o n ot readi ly inc lud e "resu r rec t ion ." The wor ld t ha tMar y kn ows i s ca l led in t o ques t ion a t th i s tom b before h er very eyes ,a n d s h e d o es n ot k n ow w h a t t o m a k e o fit .

Pe te r an d th e be loved d iscip l e run to t he t omb in r e sponse t o Mar y 's

words . Pe t e r en t e r s t h e t omb fir s t and sees t h e li nen bu r i a l cloth s l y ingin t he t om b ( w . 6 -7 ). Mar y wa s r i gh t -th e body is gone . Bu t wha tg rave robbe r wou ld unwrap the body f rom i t s bu r i a l c lo th s? Pe t e r ' sr e sponse t o wh a t he s ees i s no t r epo r t ed , h owever. H is p re sence a t t h etom b s imply provides cor r obora t ion of Ma ry ' s repor t , no th ing m ore .

By cont ra s t , th e r esponse of th e be loved d iscip le wh o enter s the t ombnext i s rep or ted : "and he saw and be lieved" (v. 8 ) . Th e tex t i s s ilen t onw h a t he bel ieved, however . On e couldguess that perhaps he , too, merelybe lieved wha t M ary had sa id , bu tthat conclus ion render sv. 8 tr ivial an dabsu r d . The t e r se s t a t emen t of be lie f in v. 8 m us t b e t aken a s t he fir s tan noun cem ent of E as t e r fa i th in t h i s gospe l . Wh en th e be loved d iscip lesaw the em pty tom b an d th e bu r i a l cloth s , he be lieved th a t dea th wa sno t t he v icto r an d J e sus wa s n ot dea t h ' s v ict im . He be lieved th a t J e sushad overcome dea th an d t he wor ld (cf. 16 :33) .

Wh y d id th e be loved d iscip le n ot sha rehis fa i th , an nou nce i tto M a r y,Pe ter , an d th e o ther s? Wh y d id h e s imply go back h ome (v. 10)? Verse9 may provide the reason for h i s s i lence . The d isc ip le d id not speakbecau se he d id n o t ye t kn ow wha t words t o speak . He d id n ot yet k nowthe sc r ip tu r e s abou t t h e r e su r r ec t ion ,he had no t yet s een th e r is en Lord .H e d id n o t kn ow wh a t form th i s conques t of dea th h ad t aken , s im p lytha t it had indeed occu r r ed . H e d id n ot kn ow h ow and cou ld no t speak

abou t it , bu t t h e bu r i a l cloth s t o ld h im th a t J e sus h ad de fea t ed dea th .Th is s t o iy of th e be loved d iscip le is th e bar e bones of Eas te r fa i th . As

w e read t h r o u gh t h e rest of this lesson an d the o ther resu r rec t ion s t or iesin J ohn , we wi ll s ee t ha t Ea s t e r fa i t h com es in ma ny d iffe r en t sha pes .All the su bsequ ent s tor ies , however, begin h ere : wi th th e be lief tha tJ e s u s h a s con q u e r e d d e a t h .



Th e focus re tu rn s to Ma iy in w , 11-18 . She does not go hom e withthe o the r two, b u t r e m a i n s at the t omb to g r i eve . She does no t ye t kn owtha t J e sus ha s conqu e red dea th . She kn ows on ly he r pa in , and so sheweeps . Two ange ls appea r t o Mary and a sk he r w h y she i s weep ing (v.

13a ) . T h e r e i s o n e i m p o r t a n t d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e t w o a nnoun cemen t s , howeve r. In v. 2 Mary spoke in t h e fir s t pe r son p lu ra l ;now she speaks i n t he f ir s t pe r son s ingu la r. Mary is no m ere r epor t e rof n e w s . H er own wor ld i s d i rect ly a ffected by wha t has taken p lace.

Someone e l s e t hen appea r s t o Mary, a man she t akes t o be t hega rdene r. The r eade r, howeve r,is told tha t the man is J e sus (w . 14 -15 ).T h e r e a d er k n o w s m or e t h a n M a i ydoes, and th is increases th e r ichn essof th e scene a nd t he leve l of reader pa r t icipa t ion . We a re dra wn in to thed ram a , eager ly an t i cipa t ing the m omen twh en Mary willreahze th e t r u eidenti ty of her conversa t ion par tn er. We wai t to d iscover when and howMar y wi l l join us in recogniz ing J esu s .

The m omen t of recogni t ion is s im ply ye t powerfu l ly na r ra ted . J esusca l ls Ma iy by nam e (v. 16 ), and in t ha t m om en t she kn ows J e sus forwh o he i s . Ma iy kn ows the voi ce o fthe good shep her d (10:1-6, 27 ) , andthe fear, d i s t ress , and gr ie f wi th which she contempla ted the emptytomb d i sappea r. The em pty tom b h ad been no th ing m ore for M ary a tf i r s t t han a sign tha t the wor ld had s t ru ck one m ore b low aga ins t J e sus .N ow, w i th t h e r i s en J e sus s t an d ing be fore he r, she knows in s t ead th a tit is J esus wh o has s t ruck th e b low. J e sus has t r i um phed and a ll Ma iy*sl im ited cat egories of logical possibil ity and cau sal i ty are redefined .

M a i y t u r n s t o J e s u s in jo y a n d w a n t s t o h o ld h im , b u t J e s u s g r e et sher w i th th e fi r s t l esson of Ea s te r fa i th , "Do n ot h old m e" (v. 17) . In th eimm edia te context ofthis lesson , to hold J esus would in te r fe re wi th h isascens ion and wi th th e crea t ion ofa new fam ily ofGod (cf., "m y Fa th erand your Father" ) . To h old J esus w ould l im i t h i s g ift s .Th e word aga ins thold ing m oves beyond th e imm edia te con text of th i s lesson , however.On e of th e m ost se r ious cha l lenges to a v ibran t a nd v i ta l fa i th is ourp ropens i ty t o t ry t o h old J e sus . We wan t t o gra sp on to J e sus , t o de fineh im a ccord ing to ou r ca t egor i es and ho ld h im t o who we th ink he sh ou ldbe . The J e sus o f t he F our th Gospe l wa r ns u s aga ins t su ch t enden cies .To ho ld J e sus i s t o lose h im , not t o keep h im. J e sus m oves beyond a ll

our carefu l ca tegor ies , an d w e m us t n ot r es t r ict h i s freedom , becau se inth is m ovin gbeyond , in r edefin ing wh atis poss ib le and im poss ib le , Jesu soffers u s n ew life.

Mary does n o t hold J e sus , bu t in s t ead a nn oun ces t he good news toth e disciples , "I ha ve seen th e Lord" (v. 18). Ma ry ha s t ra veled far fromher in i t ia l an n oun cem ent of v. 2 to her a nn ouncem ent of v. 18! Ma ryha s moved f rom confus ion to joyous proclam at ion . In te l ling th i s s to iy.



J ohn inv i t es each one o fus to t ra ve l wi th M a r y. In p reach ing this E a s t e rtex t , we can offer t h e sam e invi ta t ion to our congrega t ions .

J o h n 2 0 :1 9 -3 1

This lesson i s usu a l ly ident i fied as th e s to iy of "doubt ing Th oma s ."The p reache r ofthis tex t should b e war y of be ing t oo readi ly guided bysuch quick labe ls , h owever. Thom as i s one of th e cent r a l char ac ters ofth i s le s son , bu t he i s no t t h e p r im a iy focus . J ohn 20 :19 -31 n a r r a t e s t hegood n ews of E as t e r ; the s tory of Thom as , a ll "doubt ing" labe ls to th econt ra ry, is a p iece of th a t good n ews.

The le s son i s st ru ctu r ed a r oun d t wo appea ran ces ofthe r is en J e s u sto the ga t hered d iscip les : w . 19-23 and w . 26-29 . Th e se t t ing of bo thscenes i s ident ica l (th e d iscip les a re wi th in , th e d oors a re s h u t ) . Jesus*appea ran ce an d in i t ia l words a r e na r r a t ed in p recise lythe s a m e m a n n e rin both (w . 19 and 26) . Ea ch of th e two ap peara nces is fol lowed b y apos t scr ip t : t h e i n t e r lude wi th Th oma s a nd t he d is cip le s (w . 24 -25 ) andth e conclud ing com m en ta ry (w . 30 -31 ). We sha l l m ove th rough t helesson scene b y scene .

In v. 19 the d iscip les have h idden th em selves in fear. Thei r beh aviorshou ld no t su rp r i s e u s ; J e sus h imse l f an t i cipa t ed ju s t t h is behav ior byth e d iscip les (e .g ., 16 :20 , 22 , 32) . Th e d iscip les ' wor ld ha s been tu rn edu p s id e d o w n . T h e y h a d d e p en d e d on J e s u s , b u t n o w h e h a s le ft t h e ma lone . They do n ot k now wh ich d i r ect ion to t u r nor w h o t o t r u s t , a n d s o

they seek secur i ty beh ind closed d oors .J e sus en t e r s i n to t he i r h id ing p lace, b r eak ing open th e ir s eques t e r edl ives . H e speaks a word tha t can b r ing th em com for t and r e lea se f romthe i r de spa ir a nd fea r,"Peace be t o you" (v. 19). J esus had prom ised h isd iscip les th e g i ft o f h i s peace (14:25) and now he m akes good on th a tp romise . J e sus i s f a i t h fu l t o h i s word . He has no t abandoned h i sd isc ip les , bu t comes to them in the i r p resent need . The d isc ip les ,however, do no t im m ed ia t e ly r e spond t o J e s u s ' words . On ly a ft e r J e suss h ow s t h e m h i s h a n d s a n d s id e a n d t h e y s ee t h a t i t is J e s u s , d o th e yrejoice.

After th e d isc ip les r ecogn ize J esu s , he repea ts h i s offe r of peace . Th e

second offer of pea ce is th en fol lowed by a comm ission ing a nd th e giftof th e H oly Spir i t . Th e gift of th e S pir i t , like th e gift of pea ce, is aga inth e fu lfi llmen t of an ear l ier pr om ise (cf. 16 :7). Th e disciples ar e t r a n sform ed from a com m u ni ty of sor r ow an d fear t o one of joy (cf. 16 :20).They a re g iven n ew l ife in th e Spi r i tand a comm iss ion t o enac tthat n ewlife. Th e forg iveness of s ins em bodies th e n ewness of l ife th a t i s now areal i ty becau se ofthe re su r r ec t ion .





promise . In v. 29 Jesus g ives o ther fu ture d i sc ip les what they (we)n ee d- t h e poss ib il ity of fa i th wi th out ha v ing been t h ere . Jesus* word sin V . 29 m ake clea r t h a t h i s empower ing p re sence is ava ilab le even t oth ose wh o h ave n ot seen h im. H is word s open the l i fe o f fa i th to a l l.

Th e conc lus ion in w . 30-31 provides a caps t one t o these s tor ies offa i th and need . Rega rd l e s s o f how m any oth e r s igns m ay ha ve t akenplace " in the presence of the disciples ," our fai th does not depend onhav ing been p re sen t a t t he t ime . Th e gospe l t ex t was wr i t t en so t ha tt hose of u s wh o wer e no t t he r e m ay n one the l e s s ha ve acces s t o J e susand h is gra ce . 'You," w . 30-31 say to the rea der, "m ay be lieve w i thoutsee ing and touching . You may be l ieve by read ing th i s gospe l tha t i swr i t ten for you , and by a l lowing i t s wor ld to become yours , " Thisun ending offe r o f J esus* presen ce i s indeed th e good news ofthe E a s t e rproc lamat ion .

J o h n 2 1 :1 -1 9

The re la t ion of John 21 to the res t o f the gospe l i s an impor tan tques t ion in F our t h Gospe l scholarsh ip . Th e scholar ly consensu s i s tha t20:30-31 is the or iginal conclusion to the gospel , and that ch. 21 is anappendbc added bya la te r r edac tor, or editor. A m inor i ty v iew, however,main ta ins tha t chapter 21 i s the gospe l ' s in tended conc lus ion ( seeMinea r ) . I t is n ot ge rm an e t o ou r s t udy t o deba t e t h e ques t i on in de t a ilh ere; a ful l discussion ofthe cr i t ica l i s sue can be foun d in th e s tan dardcom m en ta r i es on J ohn (s ee b ib l iogra ph y ).

The cr i t ical quest ion of conclusion can, however, helpful ly i l lumineour preaching of chapter 21 i f asked f rom a s l igh t ly d i ffe ren t angle .Ins tead of ask ing exclus ive ly r edac t iona l ques t ions a bout cha pter21, w emay want to ask theo logica l ques t ions about the chapter*s shape andfun ct ion . F or exa m ple , wh at i s th e s ign i fican ce of cont inu in g to te ll thegospel s tory af ter t he seem ing conc lus ion of20:30-31? Th e cont inua t ionin t o cha pter 21 sugges ts tha t ther e can be no defin it ive ending to th i ss tory. Th e last verse of th e gospel, 21:25, suggeststhe s a m e t h ing . Jesus*presence i s unen ding . Whe re J esus* d iscip les a re , J esus wi l l be presen t .Wh en the r e i s need , J e su s w ill appea r. If we r ead chap t e r21 fresh ly, we

ma y d iscover th a t t he double ending of th e gospe l t e lls u s m ore a boutt h e r is e n J e s u s t h a n a b ou t t h e J o h a n n i n e r e d a c t or.

J ohn 21:1-18 d ivides in to two par t s : w . 2 -14 , Je su s ' appea ra nce toth e d isc ip les , an d w . 15-19 , J esus* subsequ ent conversa t ion wi th P e te r.Ve r se 1 fun c t ions a s a form al in t roduc t ion to both par t s o f the lesson . I tm akes expl ic it fo r th e rea der wh a tis to fo llow; we k now f rom th e ou ts e tt ha t t h i s is an Ea s t e r s t o ry.



Peter ' s des i re to go f i sh ing se t s the s tory in mot ion . The group ofd iscip les wi th h im decides to a ccom pan y h im (v.Sab) . It w a s a com m onpra ct ice to fish a t n igh t , so th a t t he fi sh would be fresh for th e m orn ingm ar ke t . On t h i s ou t ing , however, th e d i scip les labor a ll n igh t in va in .

Wh y does P e t e r wa n t t o go fi sh ing when they have a ll j u s t s een t h er i sen J esus (20 :19-29)? He and h is compa nions sh ould be en ac t ing th e i rEa s t e r fa it h and m is s ion , no t fi sh ing . Do they n ot un de r s t and wh a t ad i ffe rence th e resu r rec t ion m akes in th e i r lives? The r esur rec t ion doesm ake a d i ffe rence , bu t such newn ess i s ra re ly absorbed a l l a t once . Som an y oth er voices te l l th e d i scip les tha t n o th ing ha s cha nged , and th a ti t is imposs ib le for dea th to be va nqu ished . T he d iscip les a re people likeu s , wh o h ave to ge t go of th e i r o ld wor ld in order t o en te r fu l ly th e newwor ld of Eas t e r, and t ha t r e linqu i sh ing r equ i r e s p ro foun d t ru s t . Evenwi th a r isen Lord , one can s t ill l abor longin th e n igh t w i th l it t l e to show

for it .As the su n r i ses , th e d i scip les see a figure on th e beach . Th e readerkn ows i t is J esu s, but t h e disciples do not r ecognize h im (v. 4 , cf. 20:14,20) . The ear ly morning l igh t and d is tance f rom shore g iven nar ra t ivecredibil ity t o th e lack of recognit ion . Th e figur e addr esses th e disciplestender ly (v. 5 ) . When Jesus learns tha t the d i sc ip les have caughtnoth ing , he comm an ds t hem to cas t th e i r ne t s d i ffe ren t ly. Th e d iscip lesobey th i s s t r an ger ' s word s (v. 6 ) .

Tw o aspects o f th i s excha nge be tw een J esus and h is d iscip les deservem ent ion . F i r s t , Jesu s g ives th e d i scip les an exam ple of how th ey a re toact (cf. 13:15). Th ey a rc in n eed; he offers h elp. J es u s ' act em bodiesfai thful giving and service. Second, the disciples ' response is equal lyim por t a n t . Th ey do not ba lkat t h e s t r a n g e r 's com m a n d , b u t r e s p on d t oh is t en der concern and t he conf ident assu ra nce ofhis offer of h elp. Th ediscip les dem ons t ra te th a t t hey kn ow h ow to rece ive in fa i th , and su chreceiving is a pivotal m ark of disciplesh ip. Discipleship is not only givingto th ose in n eed . I t is a lso t rus t ing ly rece iv ing wh at i s given .

The s t r ange r ' s command mee t s w i th r emarkab l e succes s . The d i sc ip les ca tch an abundance of f i sh , and the i r s i tua t ion i s t ransformedfrom scarc ity to p len ty, from bar ren ness to fu l lness . T he be loved d iscip les n ow recognizes J esu s , and an noun ce to Pe t e r, "I t is th e Lord" (v.7a , cf . 20:18, 25) . Peter 's response to this announcement is c lassical lyPe t r i ne . We have come to expec t exces s ive and somewha t mudd ledenth us iasm from P eter, and th i s scene i s no except ion . Th e exege t ica ldeta ils of v.7 ar e som ewh at confused (e .g ., whydoes P e t e r d r e ss t o ju m pin to th e wa ter ?), bu t th e confus ion of th e n ar r a t ive per fect ly cap turesand conveys P e t e r ' s r e sponse . The s am eman w h o w a n t e d Jesus to washhis wh ole body, n o t s im ply h i s fee t (13 :9), now m akes sure he i s



r e spec t fu l ly d re s sed and th ra shes t h rough the wa te r t oward Je sus !Pe t e r ' s exube rance s eems to kn ow no bound s .

The m ore seda te reac t ion of the o th er d iscip les in v. 8 adds a note ofrea l ism t o coun terba lance Pe t er ' s buffoonish en th us iasm . Th e ca tch off i sh , the resu l t o f the i r obedient labor, cannot be abandoned or d isca rded , and so t h e o the r s row the sh or t d i s t ance t o sho re . When thedisciples rea ch t h e sh ore, th ey discoverthat J e sus h as a lr eady p repa reda b reak fa s t o f fi sh an d b read for t h em . J e sus a sks t hem to con t r ibu t esome of th e i r own f i sh t o th e food he h as a l ready suppl ied (w . 9-10) .Th e d iscip les a re to g ive as wel l as r ece ive . Pe t er re tu rn s to th e boa t tohau l t he fishn e t a sho re (v. 11 ). H i s exube ran t p lunge in t o t he s ea h asno t spa red h im from th e dem an ds o f da ily liv ing .

The de t a i led coun t of fi sh i n t h e n e t (one hu ndred and fi ft y - th r ee )has in t r i gued in t e rp r e t e r s for cen tu r i e s . The nu m beris often m ined for

po ten t i a l symbo l i sm, bu t we ough t no t t o p re s s t oo ha rd . We migh tsuppose t ha t t he supe ra bun dan ce o ffi sh isa gift beyond reckoning, bu tt h e n u m b er o n e h u n d r e d a n d fifty-three n f or m s u s t h a t it s a b u n d a n cenotwi ths ta nding , th i s gift can be r eckoned. J esu s ' gift s a r e n ot kn ownin vague genera l i t i es l ike "many" or "a lo t , " bu t come to us wi th theconc re t enes s of one hu ndr ed and f ift y - th r ee denum erab le fi sh .

A compa r ison be tween th e m eal of w . 12-13 and th e feeding of th efive t h ousa nd in 6:1-14 is un avoida ble. Th e sam e food i s d i s t r ibu ted inth e sam e m an ner (bread fo llowed by fi sh , v. 13 , cf, 6 :11). At both m ealsJ e sus i s t he hos t and a l so t h e sou r ce o f t h e abun dan ce o f food tha t isava i lable. Like th at ear l ier m eal (cf. a lso Lu ke 24:30-31), th is is a meal

of p re sence , and to t ha t ex t en t it c an be l ink ed with t he s acram en t o fth e Eu cha r i s t . J esu s ' ac t ion in the m eal offe rs t he d iscip lesa visible signof his gra ce. Th e d iscip les ' tongu e-t ied response t oJesus (v . 12) indicatestha t t hey sense t ha t som e th ing m ore t han food i s on the t ab l e. Theykn ow th e hos t o fthe mea l i s J e sus , so t h ey can no t a sk . Wh o a re you? ,ye t conversa t iona l convent ions escape th em . The pr esence of th e r i senLord ren ders th e i r form er un ders ta nd ing of hospita l ity obsole te . Theyhave n ever been a t a m eal like th i s before or se rved by such a grac ioushos t .

At th e con clus ion ofthe m eal , J esu s pu l ls P e ter a s ide . Verses 15-17ar e r ight ly recognizedas P eter 's "reh abil ita t ion."J e s u s ' th ree-fo ld qu est ioning su rely is designed t o recal l an d offset t h e th ree-fold qu est ioningt h a t led to P e ter 's denia l (18 :15-18 ,25-27) .J e s u s ' pers i s ten t qu es t ion ingand exhor t a t ion in t he se ve r se s s eek to r emind Pe t e r of t h e i n t r i n s icr e l a t i onsh ip be tween h i s words and h i s ac t i ons , some th ing he wasun ab le t o com preh end a t t h e t im e o f J e su s ' dea th . Aft e r E as t e r, however, a l l th ings a re n ow poss ib le .



Although fr equen t a t t em pt s a r e m ade to a t t ach s ign ifican ce t o t hevar ia t ion in Greek wor ds for "love"in th ese ver se s ( agapao , w . 15a , 16a ;phi leo , w . 15b, 16b , 17), such a t t emp ts a r e va in . The var ia t ion in verbuse is a m at t e r of s ty le(as a re th e differen t Greek wor ds for "feed," "tend,"and "sheep" in th ese ver ses) , no t a th eologica l d i s t inc t ion . To ba se aserm on on th e d i ffe ren t verbs for love i s ha zardous , becau se i t ignoresthe Four t h Gospe l's p r opens i ty fo r synonym s a nd verba l r epe t i t ion .

The l e s son concludes v^ t h J e su s ' p r ed ict i on of Pe t e r ' s m ar ty rdom( w . 18-19). Th ese verses br ing to com ple t ion th e s tory of Pe t er in th eFour th Gospe l . Pe t e r ' s den i a l and dese r t i on in chap te r s 18 and 19showed him to be one en s lavedto th e fea r o f dea th .His ar den t con fessionof love fo r J e sus an d h is voca t ion , even t o ma r ty rdom, sh ow h im to beone now t ransformed to new l i fe . He i s f ree to love because he i s nolonger capt ive to h is fear s .

The E as t e r s to r ie s o f cha p te r 21 , t h en , con t inu e th e t h em es o f t heresu r rec t ion s t or ies in cha pter20. The r i s en J e sus com es to min i s t e r t ohu m an need and to t r an s form li ves from so r row to j oy. In 21 :2 -14 J e susrecognizes the d isc ip les ' need and t ransforms the i r s i tua t ion f romscarc ity to abu n da n ce . In 21:15-19 P e ter 's needis for m ercy and forgivenes s , and th a t need i s me t w ith J e su s ' r ea s su r ing word of com m iss ioning . Th ese s t or ies em body J esu s ' s p r omise of peace , h i s offe r of grace ,a n d h i s s u m m on s t o m i s s ion .

The l e s sons fo r t he r ema inde r o f t he Eas t e r s ea son d i f f e r i n twos igni fican t wa ys from th e lessons we ha ve s tudied th us fa r . F i r s t , th esel es sons a r e from th e n a r r a t ive of J e su s ' life and m in i s t ry in J ohn , no t

f rom the resur rec t ion nar ra t ive . As such they are not se l f -ev ident lyEas t e r t ex t s . When r ead wi th in t he l i t u rg i ca l con tex t o f t he Eas t e rseason , however, t hey p r ov ide power fu l com m en ta ry on t he r e su r r ect ion an d our l ives a s fo llower s ofthe r is en J e s u s .

Second , th ese lessons a re u ni t s of d iscour se , no t s t or ies . Discur s ivet ex t s a r e by an d l a rge m ore d i fficu l t t o p reach tha n na r r a t i ve t ex t s , andth e sheer quan t i ty of d iscour se in th e gospe l lessons for th e las t fourweeks of Eas te r could rap id ly d iscourage any preacher. One need notg ive in t o t ha t d i s cou r agem en t , however, bu t ma y in s t ead a t t end to t heposs ib i l i t i es in preaching d iscurs ive mater ia l . These tex ts inv i te thep reache r to resay th e words of th e d iscour se ina fr e sh con tex t and th usma ke poss ib le an i n t e r sect ion be tween t he wor ld ofthe gospe l and th ewor ld of th e congr ega t ion . Th ese lessons inv i te the p rea cher to recrea tein th e se rmon the na r r a t i ve and theo log ica l wor lds in w h ich th e d i s cou rse s were spoken , so t ha t t h e congrega t ion is enab led t o hea r J e sus*words for t h emse lves .



J o h n 1 0 :2 2 -3 0

This lesson explici t ly a ddresses t h e ques t ion of J esu s ' ident ity. Thisques t ion is a s imp or t a n t for t he pos t -Ea s t e r com m un i ty a s i t was for

those wh o encoun te red J e sus du r ing h is m in i s t ry.Th e phys ica l a nd tem pora l se t t ing of th e lesson i s s ign i fican t for i t si n t e rp re t a t i on : J e su s is in t he t em ple in J e rusa lem ona J ewish h ol iday.Th is lesson br in gs t o a c lose a ser ies of conversa t ions and cont rovers iesbe tween J e sus a nd h i s opponen t s t h a t began in chap te r 7 , a ll of wh ichhave t aken p lace in J e rusa lem . J e su s ' pe r son , words , and ac t ions havebeen a cha l l enge to t he way the r e l i g ious e s t abhshmen t cons t ruespower, au tho r i t y, and t ru th . The t ens ion be tween Je sus and e s t abl ish m ent re l ig ion cont inu es in th i s lesson .

Jesus ' opponents in i t ia te the conversa t ion here . They enc i rc le h imin the t em ple and a sk h im d ir ect ly abou t h i s iden t i t y. J e su s ' iden t it y hasbeen a t h e m e t h r ou g h o u t t h e G o sp e l of J oh n , b u t n o o n ehas y et p u t t h eques t ion to J esu s . Th e t ime for th a t d i rectn ess h as fina lly a r r ived .

The demand to know i f J e sus i s t he Chr i s t i s r emin i scen t o f t heques t ions asked of J esu s a t h is t r ia l in th e synopt ic gospe ls (Ma t th ew26:63, Mar k 14:61, L u k e 22:57), and th us su gges t s t e s t ingand t r ia l . Th eexaminers ' reques t i s no t s imple cur ios i ty or an au thent ic ques t forkn owledge . Th ey need to kn ow once an d forall j u s t wh o th is m an is inorder t o accur a te ly assess h is th r ea t . I f he does indeed cla im to be theMess iah , God ' s an oin t ed one , th en ser ious ac t ion w i ll be requi red .

The r ema inde r o f t he l e s son i s J e sus ' r e sponse t o h i s examine r s 'inqu i ry. J e sus m akes t h r ee r he to r ica l m oves in h i s r e sponse . In t he fir s tm ove (w . 25 -26 ) J e sus t u rn s t he exam ine r s ' ques t ion back on t hem se lves . H e con t r a s t s wh a t he h as a l r eady r evea l ed abou t h imse lf w i th h i sexam ine r s ' r e sponse t o t ha t r eve la t i on . Th e ve rbs in t he se ve r ses a r ein s t ruc t ive . J e sus has spoken and done work s , bu t tw ice we hea r t h a tth e exam iners "do not be lieve ." J esus ha s a l ready sa id an d done th ingsth a t bea r wi tn ess t o h is ident i ty (cf.5:30-47) bu t h i s exam ine r s h ave no taccepted tha t wi tness . This sec t ion concludes wi th a s t ra ight forward ,descr ip t ive phrase , 'You are not of my sheep ." His examiners do nots t and wi th J e s u s . By tu rn ing the i r ques t i on back ont h e m , J esus r evea lsh is exam iners ' ident i ty as n on-be l ievers .

J e sus develops t h e sh eep im age ry in t he s econd m ove o fhis response( w . 27-28). Th ese verses dr aw on images f rom 10:1-18 and th us t ie a l lof chap te r 10 toge th e r. The ve rbs a r e aga in in s t r uc t ive . Whereas t heverbs in w . 25-26 poin ted t o an ab or t ive , un fru it fu l re la t ionsh ip between J e sus an d h i s exam ine r s , t h e ve rbs in w . 27 -28 ind ica t e ap roduct ive and fru i t fu l r e la t i onsh ip be tween J e sus and h i s sheep . Theverbs of w . 27-28 a re fu l ly in te r ac t ive and re la t iona l : th ey h ear m e, I



k n o w t h e m , th ey follow m e,I give t h e m , I hold t h e m . To be one ofJesus*sheep i s to kn ow wh o J esus is and to l ive safe ly an d cared for in th a tknowledge . Jesus* ident i ty shapes the ident i ty of h i s be l ievers andfollowers.

God enters the d iscourse in Jesus ' th i rd move (w. 29-30) . God hasg iven J e sus t h e sh eep , and God (in God 's g r ea tn es s ) is t he gua ra n to r o fth e sh eep 's sa fety an d secur i ty. These verses a r e often read as a k ind ofexc lus iona ry p redes t ina t ion . Tha t i s , God has o rda ined Je sus ' opponen t s no t t o be sheep and the re fore t h ey can no t know wh o heis . T h a tknowledge i s c losed to them. Such a reading , however, d i s tor t s theJohannine perspec t ive . God i s indeed the pr imary in i t ia tor of a l lr e la t i onsh ips w i th God . J e sus com es from God and t hose who com e toJ esus come to h im th rough God 's gra ce . The offer of e terna l li fe beginsand res t s wi th God. No one is excluded from God 's g ift o f gra ce , bu t onecan exclude onese l f by th enatu re of one ' s r esponse t o God 's g ift . J esu s 'examine r s a r e no t o fhis sheep becau se t hey a r e n ot open to h ea r ing thesheph e rd 's vo ice . In s t ead they dem and exp lan a t ions and answer s onthe i r own t e rm s . Theywill not yield, b u t w a n t to cont ro l the re la t ionsh ipwi th Jesus and God. The four th Gospel moves in a de l ica te ba lancebetween God 's sovere ign , in i t ia t ing g i ' ace and human wi l l ingness tores pond . Both a re cru cial to th e ful l li fe of fai th .

Ver se 28 says t ha t n o one wi ll sna t ch th e sheep from J esu s ' hand .Verse 29 says prec ise ly th e sam e th ing about God.Th e juxtaposi t ion ofthese two ve r se s shows tha t t he Fa the r and the Son work a s one intending the f lock. Jesus cares for the f lock with the ful lness of God's

love. Ver se 30 m oves away from the figu ra t i ve l anguage a bou t sheph e rding and s t a t e s t h i s un i ty exp licit l y: J e sus and the F a th e r a r e one . J e su s 'examine r s began the conve r sa t ion by demand ing tha t J e sus speakpla in ly (v. 24), and in v. 30 he speaks m ore p la in ly tha n they ever couldha ve an t icipa ted . To ask ifJesus is th e M ess iah only pr ovides a l im i tedvis ion of J esu s ' ident i ty. The "p la in" an swer i s tha t J esus work s as onewi th God .

The u se of 10 :22 -30 a s an E as t e r le s son r eminds u s t ha t t he r e su rrect ion does not pr ovidea fac ile a nsw er t o the ques t ion , "Wh o is J esus?"Ra th er, the resu r rec t ion reopens a l l ques t ions of J esu s ' ident i ty withnew urgency and poignancy. The Eas te r l i fe of the church res t s in

hea r ing the sh eph erd 's voice and in recognizing t he u nified work of Goda n d J e s u s .

The three remain ing Eas te r lessons come f rom the sec t ion of theFour th Gospel known a s t he F a rewe ll D i scou r se . Th is s ect ion (13 :31 -17:26) consis ts of J esu s ' wor ds to h is disciples on t h e eve ofhis Pass ion .J esu s ' words cent er a roun d t wo genera l th em es: th e s igni fican ce of h i simpend ing dea th and the communi ty ' s l i f e i n J e sus ' absence . The



Fa rewell Discour seis an a s ton ish ingm omen t of theo logica l and pa s tora lcrea t iv ity in wh ich J esus an t icipa tes an d a ddresses h i s d i scip les ' needsin t h e t im e s t o com e w i t h ou t h i m . J e s u s ' w or d s t h e r e for e h a v e p a rt i cu l a r m ean ing for con t em pora ry Chr i s t ian s wh o mu s talso t r u s t J e s u s '

p r e sence even in h i s absence .

J o h n 1 3 :3 1 -3 5

This lesson i s the opening sec t ion of the Farewel l Discourse . I tp r e sen t s in m in i a tu r e t he cen t r a l t h em es o f t h e d i s cou r se a s a who le ,and t hu s fun c t ions l ike an ove r tu r e t o t he la rge r work t ha t i s t o fol low.

Th e lesson begins wi th w ords a bout J esu s ' glor i fica t ion (w . 31-32)."Glorificat ion" is th e Fou rt h Gosp el 's wa y of spea king of J es u s ' passion(e.g., 7:39, 12:16) . Th e en t i re gospel n ar ra t ive ha s been bu i lding to th is

m om en t of glor ificat ion (cf 13:1-2) . To speak of J es u s ' death as hisg lor i fica t ion m ean s tha t in h i s dea th th e fu l lness ofhis sovere ign ty an dpres ence is revealed (cf1:14). Like a l l of J esu s ' act s du r ing h is m in is t ry,however, even h is dea th po in t s toward God an d i s a rec iproca l a c t ionwi th God .In J e s u s ' deat h God is a lso glor ified. Wh a tis revea led of J esusa l so r evels G od 's sovere ign ty an d p r e sence . J e su s ' dea th is a m om en tful ly r evelat oiy of both J esu sand God . J e su s ' dea this a m omen t of g lory,becau se we s ee t ha t w ha t t he wor ld coun t s a s de fea t i s r e a l ly v ictorywi th God .

The verb ten ses in w . 31-32 mu s t be carefu lly n oted . The fir s t th reereferences t o th e glor ificat ion ofJesus and God a r e in t h e pa s t t en se , a sif J e s u s ' dea th ha s a l r eady occu r r ed . Th e f inal wo re fe r ences a r e in t hefu tu re ten se , however, as i f J esu s ' dea th is s t ill to com e. The f lu id i tywi th wh ich t h e J oha nn ine J e sus m oves from p re sen t ( not e t he open ing"now") to pas t t o fu t ur e ten se i s a h a l lm ar k of th e F ar ewel l Discour se .By sh ift ing tem pora l ca t egor ies , th e Four th E vangel is tis ab l e t o u se t hed iscou r se t o add re s s t he needs of J e su s ' im m ed ia t e a ud i ence a nd t h eaudience of d i sc ip les a f te r Jesus ' t ime , even inc luding our own t imesand c r ises . It is s imu l t aneous lya pre- resur rec t ion an d pos t -resu r rec t iondiscourse.

In V . 33 Jes u s pr epar es h i s d iscip les for the confus ion and sense of

aban donm en t t hey w i ll fe e l wh en he l eaves t hem . He a dd re s se s t hemw it h a t e r m of e n d e a r m e n t("little chi ldr en ," cf 1 J ohn 2:1, 12, 18; 3:7,18; 4 :4 ; 5 :21), h i s very word s com m un ica t ing h is loving care for t he m .The message t ha t f o l l ows t h i s endea r ing add re s s i s s t e rn , howeve r.Th ose closes t to J esu s wi ll shar e with h i s opponen ts an ina b ili ty to f in dJ e sus a ft e r he has le ft o r t o go wh e re he h a sgone . T h e s e m u s t have beenexceedingly painful word s for t h e disciples to hea r. The irlove for J e sus ,



so i t p robably seem ed t o th em , should ha ve m ade i t poss ib le for themto go w i th h im and t hu s be spa red t he pa in of s epa ra t i on . J e sus i s clea r,however, t ha t h i s depa r tu r e cann ot be sha red by t h em .

In w . 34-35 J esu s pr esen t s t o the d i scip les a v i s ion of th e i r li fe tha tcan coun terba lance th e i r sen se of loss , confus ion , a nd despa i r. Even i ft he i r love for J e sus can no t keep t hem wi th h im o r keep h im from goingawa y, h i s l ove fo r t h em can keep t h em a ll t oge the r . In t h a t wa y, J e suswil l a lways be p res en t . Th e vis ion of th eir l ife is conta ined in t h e "newcom m an dm en t " t ha t t hey love one a no the r. The n ewness o f t h e comm a n d m e n t is not in i t s sub ject , fo r the comm an d to love oth ers i s a t th ehea r t of t he H ebrew covenan t . Th e newn ess of t h e com m an dm en t is it ssource in J esus* love for th em and it s fun ct ion asa wa y of m ak ing J e suspresen t (Kysar, 217) .

The Four th GospePs love commandment ( see a l so 15 :12) i s o f tencriticized as be ing "soft e r " than t he com m an dm en tto love one ' s enem ies ,

and thus someh ow less cha llengingand eth ica l ly va luable to th e chu rch .Th i s commandmen t i s no t an ea sy commandmen t , howeve r, s imp lybecause the focus s tays wi th in the communi ty of d i sc ip les . Even them ost cur sory g lan ce a roun d an y g iven loca l congrega t ionor t he b roade recum enica l p ictu re revea ls the se r ious cha l lenge of th i s comm an dm ent .Un t il th e chu rch is a b le to loveitself, each of i ts par t s lovin g every otherpa r t , we will n ot be the com m un i ty J e sus env is ions w i th t h i s com m an dm ent . We can not tak e s teps to love the wor ld i f we do not even k nowhow to love one a noth er. If each m em ber of th e Chr i s t ian com m un i tyloved every o the r m em ber w i th Chr i s t 's l ove , t h e chu rch w ou ld havelimi t less s t rength an d energy for i t s miss ion . This com m an dm ent is anessen t ia l beg inning poin t o f the chu rch ' s l ife .

J o h n 1 4 :2 3 -2 9

The ear ly comm un i ty of d i scip les ha d t o learn to live in th e a ssura nceof J e su s ' p r e sence even a ft e r h e was a bsen t from them . They had t olea rn t o t r u s t that e ve n t h o u g h J e s u s w a s n otvnth. t h em , he had n ot l eftt hem a lone . Con tem pora ry Chr i s t ians live in t h e s am e t ens ion be tweenpresence and absence . This Eas te r l esson i s an e ffor t to he lp thecom m un ity live and indeed t h r ive in J e su s ' ab sence .

Verses 23-24 s t ress th e imp or ta nce of heedingJ e s u s ' w o r d s as a w a yof l ife . As in 13:31-35, love an d obedien ce a re H nked togeth er th rou gha t t end ing t o t he com m an dm en t . T o keep J e su s ' word i s an act o f l ove ,and tha t ac t o f love evokes increas ing ac t s o f love by Jesus and God.Th ose wh o ac t obedien t ly in love wi ll n ever be a lone , becau se God an dJ e s u s w i l l c o m e a n d m a k e t h e i r h o m e w i t h t h e m . T h e i m a g e o f



h o m e m a k i n g recalls th e pro logue of th e Gospe l , "The W ord becam e flesha n ddw e l t a m ongu s" (1 :14 ). F r omthe beginning to the end ofthe F o u r t hGospe l , God ' s love i s mani fes ted in the end of homelessness and thecreation of a new hom e (cf. a l so 14 :2-3). Th e com m un i ty does no t needto fea r a ban donm en t becau se when they ac t i n love , t hey dwe ll s ecu rein th e fa i th fu l p resen ce of God and J esu s .

J e sus m in i s t e r s t o t h e comm un i ty 's fea r of aba ndonm en t i n an othe rway in w . 25 -26 . H e p rom ise s t h em the g ift of t he Com for t e r (t heParaclete) (see also 14:15-17, 16:7-11, 16:12-15) . The Paraclete (usedsynonymous ly wi th H oly Spi r i t inv. 25) will com e from God to con t inu eJ e s u s ' t e ach ing . Th e H oly Sp ir i t is t he everp re sen t gua ra n to r o fJ e s u s 'p resence a f ter J esu s ' depar tu re . The g ift of th e Spi r itthat fol lows J esu s 'depa r tu r e is a s ign th a t God i s now ava i lab le to th e com m un i ty ina n ewway.

These verses descr ibe two func t ions of the Parac le te . F i r s t , the

Pa rac le t e is t o t e ach t h e comm un i ty. Th e t h ings t ha t need t o be t au gh tafter Jesus leaves wi ll be a dm inis te red bythe Sp irit (cf. 16:12-13). J es u s't each ing wi ll cont inu e a s a l iv ing word tha t can m eet fresh s itua t ionsbecau se of th e presen ce ofthe P ar aclete . The second fu nct ion is c loselyre la ted t o the f ir s t . The P ar ac le te wi ll "br ing to you r rem em bra nce a l lt h a t I sa id to you" (v. 26) . Rem em bra nce i s the ac t wher eby th e pas t i sb rough t forwar d t o t he p r e sen t and opened t o t he fu tu r e . The Sp i r itopens t he eyes and ea r s o f t he com m un i ty. Wi th open eyes andears , t h eSp ir it b le s sed com m un ity is t hen ab l e t o r em em ber an d r ecogn ize t hepower of God in J esu s s t i ll a t work in i t s mids t .

At the conc lus ion of the lesson (w , 27-29), J esus g ives th e com m un i tya gift of his own to assua ge th e i r fears a nd a nxie t ies . H e g ives them h ispeace . Pea ce (sh a lom)is the end of cha os an d d isorderand th e possibili tyof ful lness of l i fe . This gif t is unl ike any others the community haskn own , becau se i t com es from J e sus . As J e su s ' r e su r r ect ion appea ra nces ind ica te (20 :19 ,26) , th e fu l lness of J esu s ' peace com es only a fte r h i sdea th a nd resu r rec t ion , hen ce it s incom par abi li ty as a g ift .

Jesus ' words tha t fo l low the offe r o f h i s peace a re themselves anenac tmen t ofpeace . H e speaks words of good chee r a nd encou ra gemen trem iniscen t of th e "Fea r not" wor ds spoken to exi les by II Isaiah (v. 27;cf. Isa iah 41 :8-13 , 43 :1-5). J esus kn ows tha t t he event s th a t a re soon tocome w in cha nge h is d i scip les ' wor ld forever, an d h e wan ts to prepa rethem as much a s pos s ib l e fo r t ha t impend ing change (v. 29 ) . J e suskn ows th a t h i s d i scip les d o not ye t u nders t an d (e .g. , th ey m isperceivejoy as sor row, v. 28) , so he provides t hem wi th words anda vision of th ewor ld t o wh ich t hey can t u rn wh en the cr i sis com es . On th e eve of h isown P ass ion , J esus car es about h i s d i scip les ' fears an d pa in an d a t ten dst o t h e m .



Th ese verses sh ow for th J esu s ' love for h i s fo llower s . J esus offers h i speace and h is ongoing presence ( through the Spi r i t ) to sus ta in h isfo llowers in t he fr igh ten ing p laces of l ife th a t a r e su re t o com e. The keyto preachingthis lesson is to enable th e congrega t ion to hear J esu s ' o ffe rof peace an d wor ds of love a s spoken foru s , n ot s imp ly for th e disciplesin t he s to iy. We a l l ha ve t roubled hear t s (v. 27) , bu t th i s lesson ca l ls ust o r e m e m b e r t h a t n o n e ofus is a lone . As a m em ber ofthis communi ty,each one ofus lives in J e su s ' peace, su r roun ded by God , J e su s , and t heSp ir i t . To r em em ber t h e words o fthis text (cf. v. 25) and to bring t h emto r emem bran ce th r ough ou r p r each ing is t o r em ember t h a t ou r l ivesare he ld secure in d iv ine embrace . This i s good news for the Eas te rseason .

J o h n 1 7 :2 0 -2 6

Th e Fa rewell Discourse concludes in J ohn17, w h e n J e s u s t u r n s fr omconversa t ion wi th h is d iscip les a nd speaks to God in pra yer. Th e pra yerhas th ree pa r t s : J esus pra ys for h imsel f (w . 1-5), h i s present d i scip les(w . 6-19) , and fu t ur e d iscip les (w .20-26) .Th e lesson for the last S u n d a yin Ea s t e r is th e conclud ing sec t ion of th e pra yer. Th ese a re J esu s ' wordsspoken ab out disciples wh o ar e yet to com e, disciples wh o wil l believein h im th rough th e word of oth ers (v. 25) . We a re th ose ve iy d isc ip les ,and th i s le s son , t hen , is J e su s ' p r ayer for u s .

J e su s ' words i n t h i s p r aye r c lu s t e r a round severa l m ot i fs .1. Th e pr edomina nt image of th i s lessonis tha t of onen ess ( w . 21-23) .

J e s u s ' prayer t ha t a l l th ose wh o be lieve in h im should be one is n o t awish th a t we sh ould , wi lly n i lly, be one wi th an other. Th at i s , onenessor uni ty i s no t someth ing we choose for ourse lves and impose on onean othe r a s ifat our own vol it ion . Ra th er, J esus prays fora on e n e s s t h a tis possible only becau se of th e pr ior onen ess of Godan d J esus (w . 21 -23 ).As God and Jesus have ac ted and loved toge ther, so i s the fu turecomm un i ty to act and love toge th er. Th e oneness of th ose wh o be lievein J e sus de r ives from th e i n it ia t i ng cha rac t er o f God and J e sus . Theuni ty of be l ievers , then , i s no t s imply another agenda for the church ,bu t is inh e ren t in t he chu rch ' s r e l a t ionsh ip t o God and Chr i s t .

2. The oneness env is ioned in t he p raye r, m oreove r, is no t an inwa rd -facing act . The oneness is an ac t of wi tness t o th e wor ld (w . 22-23) . Theun ity o f be lieve r s sh ows th e wor ld t h a t God sen t J e sus an d th a t Godloves the comm un i ty jus t a s God loves J esus . Verses 20-23 are a ser iesof pu rp ose clau ses ( ind icat ed b ythe word s "tha t" or"so tha t" ) . The syn taxof the verses thus ref lects the theological real i ty of which they speak:



t h e o n e n e s s o f t h e c om m u n it y h a s a p u r p o s e. T h a t p u r p o se i s t o m a k ema n i fe s t God and J e sus .

3. Interwoven y n t h t h e m ot i f of onen ess is t he t hem e o flove. Thispra yer speaks of God ' s love for J esus (w . 23 , 24) , and th e sha r ing of

God 's love for Jesus wi th t he com m un i ty (w . 23 ,26 ) . The in t e r r e l a t i onship of God , J e s u s , a n d t h e c om m u n it yis por t rayed in in tense ly in t imat el anguage .Th e langua ge com m un ica t e s t ha t t h e r e la t i onsh ipis not abou tpower or r igh t s . I t is ins tead an em bodim ent of love .

4. Verse 26 concludes th e prayer wi tha reaffirm at ion th a t th i s pra yeris for a n d a b ou t t h e fu t u r e . W h a t J e s u s h a s d o n e , m a k e G o d 's n a m ekn own fo r t he s ake o flove, J e sus w i ll con t inu e to d o . J e su s ' words i nth is prayer in ten t iona l ly and car ingly look to the fu ture . This prayermak es clea r t h a t be l iever s in t h e fu tu re , like t h ose p r e sen t for J e su s 'm inis t ry, wi l l a l so kn ow G od 'sname and be held in t he int im acy of God'slove.

As im por tan t a s th e cont ent of th i s lesson i s , h owever, th e form ofthe lesson i s even m ore imp or tan t for our prea ching . I t is cr i t ica l th a twe h onor t h e fac t t ha t t h is l es son is J e su s ' p r aye r. Our t a sk , t he re fo re ,is n ot s im ply to expos i t o r i llus t ra t e th e tex t , bu t ins tead to provide af r e sh hea r ing fo r t h i s p r aye r among the ve ry peop le abou t whom i tspeaks . Th e good new s of th i s lesson i sthat J esus prayed th is prayer foru s , and ou r p reach ing t a sk i s t o enab le t he congrega t ion to en t e r i n toth is prayer a nd exper ience the r ea l ity ofJ e s u s ' hopes for t hem selves .

J ohn 17 :20 -26 is an app rop r ia t e t ex t w i th wh ich to end the E as t e rseason , becau se it br ings us face to face wi thJesus* deepes t and dea re s t

yearn ing for u s . In t h i s p r aye r, J e su s en t ru s t ed h i s hopes fo r u s t o God .For our sake h e rem inds God of God 's love forus and God 's re la t ionsh ipwi th u s . F or the sake of our fu tu re , h e holds Godto wh o God is and w h a tGod h as pr omised . J esu s p laces our l ives in God 's care . As we l is ten t oth i s p r aye r a new, we r em em ber an d expe r ience t he l ove tha t ma kes itposs ib le for u s to begin new l ives as ch i ldren of th e resu r r ect ion .

S e l e c t e d B i b l io g r a p h y

Th e s tanda rd cr i t ica l com m ent ar ies on th e Gospel of J ohn inc lu de :R a y m o n d E . B r o w n , T h e G o s p el of J o h n , 2 vols . (Garden City, NY:Doubleday, 1966-1970); C. K. Barret t ,T he Gospe l A cco rd ing t o J ohn(Ph i lade lphia : West m inis te r, 1978) ; an d Ru dolph B ul tm an n,T h eGosp el of John (Ph i lade lphia : Westm inis te r Pr ess , 1971). Two recentcom m enta r ies a re wr i t ten m ore wi th t he specific needs of th e chu rchand p rea che r in m ind : Robe r t Kysa r,John (Augsbu rg , 1986) and G era ldSloyan, J o h n , In te rpre ta t ion : A Bib le Commentary for Teaching and



Preach ing (A t lan t a : J ohn Kn ox,1988). P a u l M i n e a r,J o h n : Th e Martyr'sGospe l (N ew York : Pi lgr im P res s . 1984) offers a fresh th eological int erpre ta t ion of th e Four th Gospel ; and Gai lR. O'Day, T he Word Disc losed:J o h n ' s S t or y a n d N a r r a t iv e P r ea c h i n g (S t . Louis : GBP Press , 1987)

s tud i es t he Four th Gospe l w ith pa r t i cu l a r a t t en t ion to p reach ing .



B o o k R e v i e w s

P a u l R a m s e y w it h a n E p i log u e b y S ta n le y H a u e m a s .S peak up forJ u s t W a r or P a ci fi s m : A Critique of the Un ited Methodist B i s h o p sPas tora l Le t ter "In Defen se of Crea t ion ."Un ivers ity P ark , Pa .: Pennsylvania S ta te Un ivers ity P ress , 1988. 256 pp .

I t is un usua l t o fi nd th a ta books ep i logue is i t s bes t pa r t , bu t such isth e case wi th S p e a k Up f or J u s t W a r or P a c if is m . Stanley Hauei-wassu ccinct ly pleads for Ch ris t ian pacifism in a violent and un chr is t ianwor ld . He sk ewers th e Un ited Met hodis t Bishops for w an t ing to be "ali t t le b it p a c i fi s f ' -a cha rge wh ich m ight be leve led a ga ins t ma ny of u s ."But ," he ar gues , "it is n o easier to be a l it t le bi t pacifis t th an i t is to be

a l i t t le bi t pregn an t" (p. 156). Th e Bishops* desire to be h alfway pacifis t ,he specula tes , comes f rom th e ir a m biva lence toward l ibera t ion m ovem e n t s , wh ich th ey wish t o put on a d i ffe ren t m ora l p lane from s tandingarm ies used for na t iona l is t ic expan s ion . H au erwas quick ly poin ts ou t ,however, tha t such movements , "of ten look ve iy much l ike s tandingar m ies" (p. 158). H au erw as also offersa powertu l th eological cr i t ique ofthe no t ion tha t t he dange r of nuc lea r wa r can be t he bas i s for a j u s tpeace.

T h e la t e P a u l R a m s e y m e a n t t o u s e j u s t -w a r p r i n c ip l e s t odem onst ra te th e inadequ acy of the Bishops* pas tora l le t te r. Ther e a r esome pen et ra t ing c r it ici sms her e , bu t th i s is ha rd ly h is f in es t work .

Ram sey d id read In Defen se of Creation m ore c lose ly th an m ost ofusdid . He poin t s ou t t ha t th e Bishops a re wr ong in asser t ing th a t pacifismand jus t -wa r th eoiy sh are a re ject ion of v iolence :

P acifism 's pr esu m ption is in favor of peace (or else peace andjus t ice a re be l ieved never to be in conf l ic t ) . Jus t war ' spresu m pt ion favors th e defense ofan ordered jus t ice (whichsom etim es m ay n ot consis t of pea ce) (p. 54) .

Ram sey likewise n ot iced m isin te rpre ta t ion of th e Bib le in th e pastoral le t ter, which claims, for example, that Revelat ion speaks of "al l

nat ions and peoples" coming together peaceably. Ramsey looked i t up,f in d in g ins tea d , "a grea t m ul t i tude wh ich no ma n could nu m ber, fromeveiy na t ion , from a l l t r ibes and peoples an d tongu es , stan ding beforethe th rone . . ."

The ana lys is h e re , t hough ,is ser ious ly m ar red . Both th e in t roduct ionand h is fina l comm ent s wa nd er fa r a fie ld , fu lm ina t ing aga ins t abor t ionand hom osexua l ity wi th l it t l e re ference t o the top ic a t ha nd . And wh i le



R a m s e y m a y have been able to descr ibe the pr incip les of u s t -wa r t heorywi th grea t c la r i ty, h i s knowledge of the a rms race i s qu i te imprec ise .This book , for exa m ple , cond em ns our s t ra t eg ic p lan ners for a iming ournu clear w eap ons pr ima r i ly a t popula t ion cen t e rs (p . 59) ; th ey ha ve notdone so for m an y year s . He d iscusses th e m ora l ity of de te r r ence as ifour s t ra tegy wa s one of nu c lear re t a l ia t ion-whe n , in fac t , our m ilit a ryhas a lways cont em pla ted our fi r s t u se of nu clear wea pons . A few pa gesla te r one f inds h i s defense of th i s "fir s t -use op t ion "- in wh ich Ram seyfai ls to ackn owledge h ow th is opt ion req uire s th e capa ci ty fora p r e e m pt ive fi r s t -s t r ike . Ram sey s im ply d ism isses fi r s t -s t r ike capac ity a s soclear ly cont ra iy to jus t -wa rnorms t hat "no c o m m e n t is needed on t hem "(pp. 59-60) . Instead, he advocates "countoiforce" target ing of mil i ta iyforces (r a th e r t ha n a iming ou r nuc lea r wea pons a t popu la t ion cen t e r s )as be ing cons is ten t w i th th e pr inc ip le of p ropor t iona l response to aggress ion , ignor ing the fac t s tha t (a ) we a l ready have a counter force

s t ra tegy, (b) th i s s t ra tegy presum es first-use, n ot reta l ia t ion fora Sovietnuc lea r a t t a ck , and (c ) no m a t t e r wh e re we a im nu clea r weapons ,m ilHons of civilian s w ould die.

In th i s respec t .Speak O u t sha re s t he fundam en ta l fl aw o f t he Un i t edMethodis t and the Roma n Ca tho lic pa s tor a l le t t e r s and m os t denominat iona l resolu t ions on th e a rm s ra ce : theydebate th e m ora l ity of Mu tu al lyAssu red Des t ruc t ion whenthis has n ever t r u ly been our goa l ; th ey a rguewhether or no t nuc lear re ta l ia t ion could be mora l wi thout seeming tonot ice tha t we possess no t a re ta l ia t o iy force bu t one poised for a fi r s ts t r ike ; they a rgue over whet her or no t th e S t r a teg ic Defense In it ia t ive("Star Wa rs") m ight defend us from a Sovie t a t ta ck wi th out r ea l iz ingtha t i t s on ly purpose could be to prevent a Sovie t response to ourpreem pt ive s t r ike .

N o one has a sked wh y the US h as fe lt com pel led t o bu i ld w eaponssuch as the M-X, which would be u sed only in a first-strike, or w h y t h eSoviets have fel t compelled to establ ish huge convent ional forces inCent ra l Europe . And the po l ic ies of the superpowers a re bo th lessir r a t i ona l and m ore imm ora l t han an yone h as ye t a cknowledged . Ra msey s eem s to have g ra sped m om en ta r i ly t ha t we r e ly on t h e t h r ea t ofafi r s t st r ike wi th nu clear wea pons to defend E ur ope from convent iona la t tack but t hen he a l lows th is ins igh t t o s lip th rough h is f in gers . The

use of jus t -war pr inc ip les suggests to both Ram sey and th e Roma nCathol ic b i shops , fo r example , tha t i t i s mora l to a im our nuc learweapons a t a rmed fo rce s bu t no t a t c i t i e s w i thou t r ea l i z ing howdan gerous th e wor ld is i f th e Sovie t s fear tha t ina cr i s is we a re pr eparedto launch a preempt ive s t r ike which would des t roy the i r ab i l i ty toretal ia te .



Ra m sey 's fifth cha pter ("Speaking on Pa r t icu la rs" ) sugges ts avenu esfor s t ren gthen ing our conven t iona l defensesand moving away from firs tu se o f nu clea r wea pons , bu t he (like t h e Roma n Ca th olic and Un i t edMet hodis t b ish ops) n ever advoca ted th e log ica l response to Am er ica 'sf i r s t - s t r ike capabi l i ty and the Sovie t ' s convent iona l super ior i ty inE ur ope : an a rm s con t r ol ag reemen t wh ich wou ld t r ade away ou r fi r s t -s t r i ke wea pons fo r r educ t i ons in t h e U SSR ' s conven t iona l f or ce s .Desp it e t h e i r fl aws , t he pa s tor a l l e t t e r s con t r ibu t ed t o deba t e i n t hechu rch abou t t he nuc l ea r a rms r ace . Th i s book mos t ly con fuse s t hei ssues .

T h o m a s G o od h u eI sland P a rk U n i t ed Me thod is t Ch ur chI sland Pa rk , New York

Dona ld Jue l . M ess ian ic E xeges i s : Ch r i s to log ica l In te rpre ta t ion oftheOld T estament in E arly C h r i s t i a n i t y. Ph i lad e lphia : F or t r ess Pres s , 1988.xi i + 193 pp.

Th i s is a r a t he r sho r t book wi th a s imp le t h e s i s , and ye t i t s im p l icat ions a re enorm ous an d th e theo logica l p roblems i t addresses com plex.J ue l 's da un t ing bu t fa sc ina t ing t a skis to recons t ru c tthe deve lopmenta llog ic wi th in th e ea r l ies t Ch r i s t ian re flect ion on J esu s . To put i t in m oretheologica l t e rms , Jue l t ack les the perennia l puzz le of the or ig ins ofChr i s tology. Wh a t provided th e po in t o f depar tu re for Ch r i s t ian t ra d i

t ion abou t J e sus? And how and wh y d id in i t ia l r u m ina t ions on J e susdeve lop in to more complex unders tandings of h im wi th in a few shor tdecades of his d e a t h ?

The a nswer s J ue l p r ov ides t o t he se cruc ia l ques t ions a t f ir s t s eemm un dan e , even t r i t e : Th e foca l po in t o f ear ly Chr i s t ian re flect ion wa sJ e s u s as cruc ified and r i s en M ess iah ; t h e m ode a nd im pe tus of t h i s andsubsequent re f lec t ions was in te rpre ta t ion of I s rae l ' s Scr ip tures . ButJ ue l 's a rgum en t becom es i nc rea s ing ly engag ing and com pe ll ing a s h ede fine s h i s t e rm s a nd con t r a s t s h is a pp roachv d t h o the r s . F i r s t , on t hebas i s o f overwhelming ev idence f rom Jewish sources of the t ime , hecorr ect ly ins is ts tha tthe te r m Mess iah be n ar rowly defined as re fe r r ingto a k ing , the expec ted he i r o f the l ine of David . The Mess iah couldindeed p lay a var ie ty of ro les , bu t a l l o f these were appropr ia te tok ingship . Most modern recons t ruc t ions tend to b lur the d i s t inc t ionbe tween M ess iah and o the r t ypes o f r edeemer f igu r e s such a s Son o fMan or eschatological-prophet- l ike Moses.



Second , th e ascr ip t ion to J esus ofthe t itle Mess iah i sa h istorica l fa ct,not s imply a product of the "his tory of ideas" or of reconstruct ions ofJ e s u s ' "se l f-cons c iousn ess . " Bu ild ing on th e work of Ni ls Da hl , Ju e lloca tes th e ea r l ies t iden t i fica t ion of J esus as Mess iah no t in h i s exa ltat ion or Second Coming or psyche , bu t ra th er in th e h i s tor ica l bedrockof the pa ssion, in his cru cifixion as K ing ofthe J ew s. The confession ofJ e sus a s Mess i ah -King is ba sed on an a ctua l even t and s t ands a t t hevery beg inn ing of Chr is t ian t h ough t r a the r t ha n , a s m os t wou ld have i t ,a t a l a te r s tage of deve lopmen t .

Thi rd , J ue l s t r ingent ly adh eres to the pr incip le tha t th e exege t ica lre flect ion of th e ea r ly Chr i s t ian s wa s bo th cons t r a ined an d en abled bycontem porary J ewish in te i-pre t ive t ra d i t ions . Th etask fac ing th ose wh obelieved in J esu s ' m ess iah sh ip , of course , was to forge a l ink be tweenth e comm on concept ion of mess iahsh ip a nd th e fac t tha t J esus suffe redand d ied in a s can da lous m an ne r. J ue l cor r ect l y r e ject s a rgum en t s t o

the e ffec t tha t Chr i s t ians s imply adopted an a l ready ex is t ing Jewishtra di t ion of a suffe r ing M ess iah . Rath er, they began wi th t he be l ie f tha tth e Mess iah had suffe red and th en they u t i li zed convent iona l J ewishin t e rp re t i ve s t r a t eg i e s t o r ea l i z e and unde rg i rd t h i s nove l unde rs t and ing of t he Mess iah w i th in t he Scr ip tu r e s . Although th e t a sk wascreat ive and ul t imately led to a var iety of new meanings, i t fol loweddefini te interpret ive guidel ines already in place. "Chris t ians did nots ea rch t he w ho le of t he Scr ip tu r e s for pa s sages t ha t s t r uck t h em a sparal le ls to J e s u s ' car eer or as possible foresha dowings. Ther ewas m o r elogic and order in t he i r m ovem ent th rough t he B ib le !" Mu ch of J ue l ' sbook is devoted to r econst i -uct ing t he t ra di t iona l exeget ical s t r at egies of

p re -Chr i s t ian J uda ism and demons t r a t ing h ow they gu ided t he ea r lyChr ist ians ' a pproach to Scr ip tur es . His d i scuss ions of var ious J ewishin te rpre t ive techn iques , especia l ly th ose of midra sh , a re h igh ly ins igh tfu l an d r e levant .

H aving chosen h is s ta r t ing po in tand careful ly developed h is met hod,J ue l se t s a bout pu t t ing toge ther th e overa l l pu zz le . We can only ske tchhis recons t ru ct ion her e . Tw o m ess ian ic tex ts p rovided t he keys to theScr ip tu res for the ear ly Ch r i s t ian s . 2 Sam uel7:10-14, Na tha n ' s or ac leconcern ing the ever las t ing covenant be tween God and David , wasespecia l ly fru i t fu l in tha t i t appl ied t he te r m s "s on " and "see d" to thecom ing h e ir. In typ ica l m idrash icstyle , these words m ake possible linkst o o t h e r (t r a d i t ion a l ly n o n - m e s s i a n i c) p a s s a g e s li k e G e n e s i s 2 2(Abrah am 's n ear sacr ifice of I saac) an d var ious P sa lms in wh ich th esam e words appea red bu t wh ich a l so b roached t h e t hem es of dea th ,suffering and reject ion. P salm 89, th e second sem inal pa ssage ident i fiedby Ju e l , a l so concern s t he un condi t iona l Da vid covenan t , and conta inst e r m s s u ch a s" s e i Ta n t "and "see d , " a s we l las the con cepts of suffering,



re ject ion , a nd v indica t ion tha t l ed t o o ther tex ts l ike Psa lms 22 , 31 , 69an d the se rva nt songs of I sa iah . Cont r a r y to severa l recent s tu d ies , J ue lasser t s tha t Dan ie l 7 and the S on of Man te rm inology represen t asecondarystage of developm en t ba sed on pr ior ref lect ion on th e im ageryof Psa lm 110 . Once these foundat iona l l inks were es tab l i shed , theybecam e pa r t of th e t ra d i t ion a nd provided ba ses for fur ther re flect ionan d scr ip tura l conn ec t ions .

J ue l p r e sen t sa clear ly wr i t ten and car eful ly ar gued case for his thesisthat the cru ci fied Mess iah s tan ds a t th e beginn ing of Chr i s t ian th oughtand f a it h . Pe rhaps t he g r ea t e s t weakn es se s in h i s a rgum en t have t o dowi th t h e fac ts t ha t t h e r e a r e f ew t r a ce s o f2 S a m u e l 7:10-14 in t h e N T,and t ha t in t he pa s s ion na r r a t ive Psa lm 89 does n ot appea r in e it he rdirect qu otat ion or a l lu sion. Th is does not disqual ify th esepassages frombeing cons idered the semina l Chr i s t ian tex ts , bu t i t does leave someroom for doubt .

Although M ess i an i c E x ege si swould be profi table r eading for an yoneinvolved in the field of Christian theology or ministry, i ts significancewi ll be m os t appr ecia ted by those wh o are fami lia r wi th recent work inCh ris tology. It is ha rd t o ima gine cour ses on Ch ris tology being ta ugh twi thout re fe rence toit , for i t p rovides a dis t inct ive a nd highly at t ra ct ivea l te rna t iveto works tha t locate t he "cr it i ca l m om en t" inJ e s u s ' t each ingor heal ing minis try, self-consciousness , resurrect ion, or Second Coming. If Juel is r igh t , and i f we a re to h onor th e t ra d i t ion , the m omen t ofd isclosure m us t be t he c ross , and our r e flect ions on J esus m us t m oveforward and backward f rom tha t po in t . For the ear l ies t be l ievers , fo rPa ul , and for m odern Chr i s t ian s , th e gospe l of Chr i st beg ins wi th t he

scandal of the cross , a his tor ical event through which, paradoxical ly,God ' s g race is m ade m an ifes t .

J oh n A D a r rBoston CollegeChes tnu t H il l, Ma ssachuse t t s

Rober ta C. Bond i .T o L o v e A sGod L oves : Conv ersa t ionswith the EarlyC h u r c h , Ph i lade lphia : For t ress P ress , 1987. 112 pp .

This most intr iguing book by Roberta Bondi , associate professor ofChu rch H is to iy a t th e Ca ndler School of Theology, is a cont r ibu t iontoward our apprec ia t ion of a f requent ly misunders tood aspec t o f theear ly chu rch : monas t ici sm and t he asce t ic m ovemen t . Us inga thema t i capproach, Bondi paints a colorful , detai led, and at t imes compell ingpic ture of the ear ly bro thers and s i s te rs who, in Thomas Mor ton ' s





r ew a rde d bythe sub t l e t y an d i n g enu it y of t he i r t h ink ing and expos it i on ,even shocked by the provoca t ive , unexpec ted observa t ions they makeon h um an l ife . Per h ap s a l l r e ligious t ra d i t ions ha ve a fo rm of d i scourseinvolving th e record ing ofthe say ings of th e grea t - sou led , bu t in th esew r i t i n g s we haveth e Mumon-kan of Ch r i s t i an i ty, th a t is , t h e p i t h y Zenkoan i n C h r i s t ian ga r b , a l t h o u g h t h e c on t en t o f som e o f t h e con v e r sat i ons b e t w een m as t e r s an d p u p i ls is i nd is t ingu i s h ab l e fr o m t h e i r B u dd h i st cou n t e rpa r t s .

One o f t he m os t p rovoca t i ve images i n t he books c o mes f romDoroth eos of Gaza , a sbcth cen tu ry m onk. Doro th eos spoke f requen t lyof the p rob l em of u d gm en t a l i smand se l f - r igh teousness ,as Bondi po in t sou t , an d c lear ly em ph as ized th a t " it i s imp oss ib le to love God an d ha vecon t em p t f or t he s i n a nd weak ne s s o f o the r p eop l e a t t he s a m e t im e ."Then B on d i q u o t e s t h i s r e mar k a b l e p a s sage :

S u p p o se w e w e r e t o t a k e a com p a s s a n d in s e r t t h e p o in t a n d

d ra w the o u t l i n e o f a c i r c l e . The cen t e r po in t i s t he s amedis tance from an y po in tin th e ci rcum feren ce Let u s supposetha t t h e ci r cl e is t he wor l d a n d t h a t G od h im se l fis t h e cen t e r :t h e s t r a i gh t l ine s d r aw n f rom th e c ir cum fe rence t o t he cen t e ra r e t h e l iv e s o f hu m a n b ei n g s L e t u s a s sum e for t h e s a k e ofthe a n a log y t h a t t o m o v e t o wa rdGod , t hen ,h u m a n b e i n g s m o vefrom t h e c ir c u m fe re n ce a lon g t h e v a r i ou s r a d ii t o t h e ce n t e r.B u t at t h e s a m e t i m e , th e c loser they a r e to G od, th e c loser th eyb ecom e to one an o the r ; and t he c lose r t h ey a r e t o one a no the r ,t h e c lose r t h e y be come to G o d .

T h i s is an a b sol u t e ly r ema r k a b le m e t a p h or, s u r e lythe m ost comp el li ng im a g e t h e m ona s t ic m o vem en t p roposed f or s e r v in g God and ne i ghb o r. It i s a l so an im a g e t ha t shou ld he lp o v e r com e th e skew ed v ie w t h a tthese represen ta t ives o f Chr i s t i an i ty f l ed the wor ld for p r iva te andp a t h o l o g i c a l r e a s o n s . T h e c o m p l e x i t y o f t h e i m a g e c a p t u r e s t h edyna m ism of th e growth in sp i r itu a l ity th ese people exper ienced , ye t i ta l so be t rays the poss ib i l i ty tha t the s ing le ind iv idua l , in a so l i t a rypu r su i t o f t he c e n t e r o f t he c i r c l e , m igh t l e a v e o the r s beh ind o n t hec i rcumference .

Oth er sec t ions of th e book i llus t ra te ap proaches to ques t ions a boutt h e ea r ly c h u r ch ' s v ie ws o n t h e p a s s ions , p r ay e r, a n d t h e na tu r e of God .

Th ese conversa t ion s e lucida tesome of th e psychologica l un ders ta nd ingsa t wor k i n t h e ea r ly chu rc h , a n d d em on s t r a t e t h e e a r ly C h r i st i an ' sd i ff icu l ty in p ray ing meaningfu l ly and wel l . To the ex ten t tha t thesei ss u e s r em a i n cu r r en t , and t h ey clea r l yd o, Bond i 's r em a r k s a r e he lp fu lan d sugges t ive.

I t is Bond i 's d i scuss ion of hu m i li ty tha t m os t ca r e fu l ly cap tu res th e



es sence o f t he m essage t h e se b rothe r s and s is t e r s have fo r ou r t ime .Bondi is concern ed t o reject some of our false n ot ions of hum ili ty, suchas fa l se h um bleness a nd gui lt . Tru e hu m i li tydoes not conn ote a ccept inga l l ci rcum stan ces of li fe wi th ab ject res igna t ion , n or does i t dem an d th a thuman be ings heap upon themselves d i sab l ing gui l t . These v iews ofhumi l i ty too frequen t ly sur face in our m oderncivic and social s t ru cturesto suppr ess , no t to bu i ld u p .

A sta nce of hu m ili tyis , finally, a way of be ing in th e wor ldthat keepsone open to God, to the possibi li ty for growth in love for God an d God'sc rea tures . Bondi i s ca re fu l to po in t ou t tha t humi l i ty for these ind iv idua ls a l so guarded aga ins t severa l t endenc ies to exaggera te theimpor tan ce of th e i r own wa y of life a nd fa i th . I t i s a t em pta t ion to v iewth e "Chris t ian l ife only in h eroic proport ions ," to viewthe t r ue Chr i s t ianl ife of h u m blelove t obe filled w i th d r ama t icacts of love and self-sacrifice.Severa l o f these th inkers advoca te tak ing only ve iy smal l s teps insp i r i tua l g rowth . True humi l i ty a l so he lps overcome the v iew tha tpra ct it ioner s of th e Chr is t ian l ife sh ould be m oral ly perfect a nd abovereproach . The genuine acknowledgement of the s infu l inc l ina t ion ofeveryone p revents t h i s type of sel f-r igh teousness . As Abba P oemen putit , "if you have even a l it t l e sha re of the old Ada m , then you a re subjectto s in in the sam e way." Agains t t hese v iews , Bondi pos it s a v iew ofhu m ili ty wh ich is , by i ts "ren un ciat ion ofall deep a t t a chm en t s t o wha tth e wor ld h o lds dear ," a source of indom i tab le power an d s t r ength :"hu m ili ty kn ows a lready th at force is not effect ive against violen ce, an dif i t is n ot effective, th e force is n ot r ea listic eith er" (p. 55 ).

This book is provocat ive an d insightful . Thisstyle of hist orical in qu irycan be m os t h e lpfu l in pos ing cur ren t qu es t ions t o th e pas t an d by thewi ll ingness to lis ten a t ten t ive ly t o the an swers th e pas t gave to i t s owns im ila r ques t ions . Th e s tu dy doesno t , h owever, pay sufficient a t ten t ionto the larger h is tor ical set t ingin which the m o n k s a n d nuns played theirpa r t . Recen t s cho la r s have he lped m ode rn Chr i st ians unde r s t an d t h erad ica l d ivers ity pr esen t in ear ly Chr i st ian i ty, an d th e var ie ty of in te rp re t a t i ons , d ivergen t and nu an ced , cu r r en t in t h e ea r ly Chu rch comm un it ies an d th inkers . On e of th e key i ssues finally r a i sed by th i s s tudy

ha s to do with th e abi li ty of hum an beings t o exercise freely th eir choiceto grow in t h e kn owledge a nd love of God. This cr it ical th eological issueengaged the labors of the Church ' s g rea tes t th inkers , and i s , in somewa y s , direct ly p layed out in th e d i scuss ions an d deba tes of th e m ona s t icm ovemen t . A fu l le r p resen ta t ion of these la rger concern s would h ave



been he lpfu l . Cer ta in ly the book makes a v i ta l cont r ibu t ion to ourun de r s t and ing ofa vivid facet ofthe ear ly Chr i s t ian exper ience .

Geoffrey LeeNa shvi lle, Tenn essee

Marcus Borg . J es u s : A N ew Vi s i on . S p i r it , C u l t u r e, a n d t h e L i f e ofD i sc ip l e s h i p . San F r an c is co: H a r pe r & Row, 1987 . 216 pp .

Over th e las t cen tu ry, th e field of b ib lica l scholar sh ip ha s y ie lded anaverage of th ree books p er year on th e s tu dy of th e h is tor ica l J esus . Inlight of t h i s , our au th or, w h o pr oc la im s th a t he offe rs "a n ew v ision" ofJ e sus , p r e sen t s an au dac ious cla im indeed . Ye t Borg does s t and in t h eforeg roun d o f r e sea rche r s wh o con t inu e t o pu r sue t h e ques t for t h eh is tor ica l J esu s . His book d iscusses s ome of th e m os t recent scholar lyinves t iga t ion in to th i s top ic, and presen ts t h e rea der wi th an access ib leglimp se into workin gs of his tor ical cr i t ical sch ola rsh ip, and th e potent ialcont r ibu t ion it m ay m ak e for the li fe o f th e Chu rch a s well as for t heknowledge ofthe academy.

Borg*s project is divided int o a p re lude , and t wo m ^ or d iv is ions . Thebr ie f p re lude ca l l s in to ques t ion two images of Jesus which havepredomina ted d iscuss ion of th i s f igure for the pas t cen tury, popularcul ture 's "semi-dei ty," and bibl ical scholarship 's wild-eyed apocalyp-t ici s t . Wh i le t he fi r s t im age , tha t ofa J esu s wh o wa s fu l ly cognizan t o fh i s own d iv ine na tu re and p r ocla imed the s am e du r ing h i s h i st or ica lm in is t ry, ha s r oo ts deep in t he Chr i s t ian t ra d i t ion (e .g ., the G ospe l ofJ o h n ) , the ev idence of the ear l ies t s t ra ta of the synopt ic t rad i t ionsuggests that "[J esus] d id no t p rocla im h im se l f(p . 5 ). Th us , Borg poin tsout tha t his tor ical-cr i t ical scholarsh ip h as alm ost un iform ly discount edas genu ine ly h is tor ica l th e figur e of a J esus w h o kn ew w i thout doubttha t he was God inca rna t e , and open ly p rocla imed tha t m essage abou thim self before his execut ion .

Wh i le scholar sh ip has provided tha t cor rec t ive , it "has n o t genera teda persua s ive a l te rna t ive v is ion ofthe his tor ical J esu s" (p. 8 ) . Borg seesAlber t S chwei tzer ' sT he Qu e st f or the H istorical J e s u s , with it s por t ra i t

o f J esus as an apoca lypt ic prea cher w h o expected th e cosm ic st rugglebetw een th e forces of good a nd evil to be resolved in his li fe t im e, as th evolum e which provided th e en du r ing b ias in scholar ly ci rcles regard ingJ esu s ' se l f-un ders ta nding . A recentpoll a m o n g a select group of scholar ssugges t s t ha t t h i s image no longe r p r eva i ls i n g r adua t e depa r tm en t s ofrel igion or d ivini ty sch ool facul t ies (p. 20, n . 25) . Borg seek s t o f il l th e



vacuu m crea t ed bythe obsolescence of th ese tw oviews with t h e p r e s e nta t ion wh ich compr ises the two m ain sect ions ofhis book.

Borg ' s fi r s t m ajor sect ion , "J esus a nd th e Spi r i t ," a t t emp ts t o recla imth rough h is tor ica l inves t iga t ion th e supern a tu ra l or myst ica l d imen s ion

of th e re l ig ion by wh ich th e h is tor ica l J esus wou ld ha ve been nu r tu redand shaped in h is l i fe se t t ing . Borg impor tan t ly poin ts ou t tha t theworld -view ofJesus* t im e is r adical ly d ifferen tin its per cept ion of reali tyt h a n is th a t of th e m odern h is tor ian or scien t i s t . Borg ' s approach seem sdiametr ica l ly opposed t o Rudol f Bu l tm an n ' s p rogram of dem yth ologiz-ing . Wh ere Bu l tma nn cons idered d iscuss ion ofJesus* vision s, m iraclesand oth e r supe rna tu ra l a spect s of h is m in i s t ry a s m y th ic d imens ionsimposed by the ear ly church upon the in te rpre ta t ion of the h is tor ica lf igure , Borg takes them ser ious ly as exper iences both in tegra l andnorm at ive to th e ex is ten ce of ind iv idua ls and com m un i t ies with in tha tancient l i fe set t ing. Borg does admit to symbolic aspects of miraclenar ra t ives , for example ( see be low) , bu t he holds out for a leve l oft ranscendence wi th in human affa i r s tha t c lear ly exceeds Bul tmann*sl imi t s . I f th e goa l of th e h is tor ica l cr i t i c is to tak e th e a nc ien t t ex t andin t e rp re t i t a s f a r a s p os s ib leo n i t s ow n t e rm s ,Borg*s book imp els th eques t ion whe the r he , o r Bu l tmann , o r some med ian pos i t i on ex t an twi th in m odern scholar sh ip does th a t m ost e ffect ive ly.

Th e core of th e a r gum ent of th i s fi r s t sec t ion m ay be foun d in Borg ' sbe lief th a t J esus k new him self to be a Sp ir i t -fi ll ed m edia tor wh o possessed a d ee p a ffin it y w i t h t r a n s c en d e n t R e a l i t y : . . J e s u s s t ood [in t h et ra d i t ion of] . . . th e exper ience of Spi r it en dowed people wh o becam e

radica l ly open t o the o th er [t ra ns cenden t ] wor ld a nd wh ose g ift s wereext raord ina ry" (p . 32) . Borg a rgues th a t b ib lica l scholar sh ip has nevercome to gr ips wi th a means of tak ing the rea l i ty of th i s o ther wor ldser ious ly, an d so consequen t ly i t s ca tegor ies h ave been m ost ly absentfrom historical a na lysis of th e figu r e ofJ e s u s . Borg 's po in t i s t ha t t h ischar i smat ic d imens ion of human exper ience compr ised perhaps them ost vi ta l aspect of th e l ife -se t t ing and th e r e ligious t ra d i t ion inher i tedby the h is tor ica l J esu s . His f ir s t sect ion in in ten ded , then , to s tan d as acha l lenge to th e m ethodologica l presu ppos it ions of h i s peers , an d a lsoto "ou r cultur e*s wa y of seeing r eality" (p. 34 ).

Borg ' s second m ajor sec t ion , "J esus and Cu l ture ," a t t emp ts to un ders tand Jesus through a var ie ty of soc io- re l ig ious lenses recons t ruc tedfrom th e sweep of inf luen ces a l ive with in th e an cient l ife set t ing. J esus*proverbs , para l le ls a nd "lessons f rom na tur e", impel Borg to see J esusas a sage , wh o cha l lengedthe con vent iona l wisdom of hist i m e . Secondly,th e cr i t ique of th e r e ligious es tab l ishm ent on h is say ings su gges t tha the was a r e lig ious r e form er, r a the r t h an one in t en t on foun d ing a n ewre l ig ion . J esus ident i fied w i th t he pr ophets , so he m ust be seen as one ,



fo r he p re sen ted "an a l t e rna t ive consc iousnes s t o soc i e ty ' s mos tcher i shed be l iefs" (p . 155) . And fina l ly, J esu s ' dea th m us t be seen as ahistorical consequence of the chal lenge he leveled against the socio-re l ig ious power-s t ru ctu res ofhis t i m e . Th ese four a spects ofhis l i f e - a s

Borg r econs t ruc t s i t - r evo lve upon the p rog rammat i c p re suppos i t i onre i te ra ted f rom his f i r s t sec t ion : Borg holds tha t the h is tor ica l Jesus"saw rea l i ty ve iy d i ffe ren t ly f rom both us and most of h i s contemporar ies" (p. 100 ).

We m ay now su m m ar i ze t he a t t r ibu t e s wh ich fo rm the co re of Borg 's"al terna t ive vis ion ofJ e s u s . " Th e h is tor ica l figur e i s one wh o m ust beseen a s a p r oduc t o fthe m yriad of socio-cul tu ra l inf luen ces ofhis t i m e ,and a s one wh o rose above th em , w i th a u n ique and cha r isma t i c v is ionof Real ity. H e d id n ot bel ieve h imsel f to be d iv ine a ny m ore than th esages and p rophe t s wh o were h is fore -pa ren t s in t he J ewish t r ad i t iondid be l ieve of th em selves . Yet h e m ust be seen as on e specia l ly en dowedwi th a rar e emp ath y to t ra nscenden t rea l i ty, wh ich th is h i s tor ica l f igu reused a s o ther s had before h im : to speak on beha l f of God, to ca l l God ' speople to a mora l account ing , and to re form the r i tua ls and laws bywhich they un de r s tood them se lves t o be r e lig ious .

At th i s po in t we should s tep out s ide of Borg ' s an a lysis to assess itwi th a m ore c r it ica l eye . In ord er t o bui ld h iscase , Borg seems to m ost lyignore the f indings of recent redact ion-cri t ical and rhetorical-cr i t icals cho la r sh ip . H e r a th e r u n i form ly a t t r i bu t e s t o J e su s cer t a in s ay ingstha t many wou ld th ink a r e more cha rac t e r i s t i c and the re fo re t hepr oduct of a cer ta in evan gelis t , e .g., Lu ke 4:18 (p. 45); 10:18 (p. 43 ); e tc .

H e does recognize, h owever,that sym bolic e lem ents h ave in t ru ded u ponthe na r r a t i ve , and tha t "the na r r a t i ves a s a wh o le (and no t j u s t t hede t a ils w i th in t h em ) a r e t o be un de r s tood p r imar i ly o r on ly in t e rm s o fhow they po in t beyond them se lves r a th e r t h an h i s tor i ca l lyat all" (p . 67) .Ye t Borg m akes t h is l a s t po in t in r e la t i on to t he m irac le na r r a t i ves -i tis not clea r t ha t he sees th e wh ole scope of th e n ar r a t ive ofany par t icu largospe l in t h is s en se . Wou ld he accep t , fo r exam ple, John Donah ue ' sth es is tha t th e cha ra cter of J esus cons t i tu t es th e "para ble of God" in th egospel of Mark? ( In te rpre ta t ion 33 /3 : 369-386) The m ost exci t ing a ndgroundbreak ing work in New Tes t amen t S tud ie s i s cu r r en t ly be ingdone in an in te r-d isc ip l inary se t t ing , where scholars a re reexamining

the f i gu re o f J e sus t h rough the va r ious l enses o f r eade r- r e sponsecri t ic ism, s tructural is t methodologies , sociological models and rhetorica l c r i t i c i sm - to n am e jus t four . For a l l i t s exce l lence , Borg ' s book m ayrep re sen t a last gasp of th e old gua rd of b ib l ica l scholarsh ip , ra ther th anthe express ion of the emergent main s t ream of the in te rd isc ip l inarym a t r ix of mode rn scho la r sh ip .

F ina l ly, we m us t a s se s s t he m a in cla im ofthe book : t ha t it p r e sen t s



a "n ew, al tern at ive vis ion" of th e h is tor ical figur e. As B org h ims elf ha sci ted in h is copious an d inform at ive footnotes , h e ha s synth es ized th efindin gs of m an y of his colleagu es a longw ithhis own ins ight s . Any g ivenreade r wh o i s fam il ia r w i th "J e sus l it e r a tu re" wou ld p robab ly no t fi ndany isola ted segm ent ofthis book as possess ing grea t n ovelty. Yet , wh ereI th ink th e book somew ha t jus t i fies i t s a ud ac ious c la im i s precisely inth e com bina t ion and syn thes is of t he va r i ety o f por t r a i t s wh ich Borgcombines and app l i e s t o t he h i s to r i ca l J e sus w i th a r a the r un fo rcedcont inu i ty. Borg 's book i s , in th e las t an a lys is , wor th y of i t s goa l , for i tsuccessfu l ly inv i tes a l l types of reader s to recons ider th e i r own pr esu ppos it i ons r ega rd ing t he fi gu re of J e su s ; and in so doing to lea rn and todebate about th ose forces wh ich influenced h im,as wel l as those wh ichcont inu e to influence our in t e rpr e ta t ion of h im.

Fol lowing i s a l is t o f seven books w h ich i s in tend ed to repr esent afa i r ly wide var ie ty of approaches to the cons t ruc t ion of a por t ra i t o fJesus . I be l ieve these books to be comparable in scope and in tendedau d ience wi th t h e one jus t r ev iewed . Th is l is t i n n o way i s p r e sum ed t obe exha us t ive . The order of ci ta t ion is pu re ly a lpha bet ica l by au th or.

E l i zabe th Schuss l e r F io renza , I n M e m o ry o f H er : A F em i n i s tR econs t ru c t ion o f Christian O r i g i n s (New York: Crossr oad, 1 987), 357p p . A ve ry impor t an t book fo rits methodologicalperspect ive. H e r f ou r t hcha pter especia lly focus es u pon J esus a nd "the J esu s m ovemen t ."

R o b er t M . G r a n t , G o d s a n d O n e G od (Ph i lade lph ia : Wes tm ins t e r,1986), 205 p p . A li te ra t e , th orough and h ighly inform at ive d iscuss ion of

the i n f luences upon and innova t ion o f t he ea r ly Chr i s t i ans a s t heyin t e rp r e t ed J e sus an d th e God wh om they be lieved he r evea led .

Leande r M. Keck ,A Fu tu re for t he H i s tor i ca l J e su s (Phi lade lphia ;F o r t r e s s ,1980), 283 pp . This book pr ovidesa w ell -ba lan ced presen ta t ionof th e cont r ibut ions an d l imi ta t ions of h i s tor ica l cr i t i ci sm f rom a h ighlyacclaimed historical critic.

Werne r M. Ke lbe r, M a r k ' s S t or y o f Jesus (Phi lade lphia : For t ress ,1979), 96 pp . This book represen ts t he sor t o f exci t ing a nd cha l lengingc on t r i b u t i o n s t h a t l it e r a r y cr i t i ci s m a n d ot h e r n o n -t r a d i t io n a lm e thodolog ie s a r e cu r r en t ly m ak ing to New Tes t am en t s tu d i es .

J a c k D e a n K i n g s b u r y, J es u s C h r is t in M a t th ew, M a r k a n d L u k e(Ph i lade lphia : For t ress , 1981) , 134 pp . In a m ost impr ess ive ach ievem en t in th e field of reda ct ion cr i t icism , Kingsbu ry gives ful l exposi t ionof th e grea t d ivergence of th e respec t ive por t r a i t s of J esus wi th in t h esynopt ic t rad i t ion .

J a ros lav M. P e likan ,J e sus t h rough th e Cen tu r i es : H i s P l ace i n t heH i s tory o f Culture (N ew H aven : Yale Un ivers i ty Pr ess , 1985), 270 pp .An idea l "sequel" for someone who reads Grant ' s vo lume, Pe l ikan



exam ines no le s s t ha n 18 d iffe r en t m ot i fs wh ich have been sup e r imposed u pon t he f igur e ofJesus fr o m h is t im e t h r o u g h t h e p r e s e n t .

Geza Verm es , J es u s t h e J ew (N ew York: M acmil lan , 1973), 286 pp .As Borg h imsel f no tes (p . 35), th i s book providesa th orough d iscuss ionof t h e cha r i sma t i c t r ad i t ion wi th in t he t ime an d r ehg ion of J e sus .Verm es ' two-fo ld d ivis ion of Th e Se t t ing of J esus and Th e Ti t les of J esu sm ay ha ve sugges ted i t se l fas a m odel for B org to follow.

Pau l F. AspanSt . J oseph ' s Un iver s i t yPh i lade lphia , Penn sylvan ia



C o m i n g i n Q R

S U M M E R 1 9 8 9

T h e o l og ic a l R e f le c t io n in t h e U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h

C o n c i lia r T h e o l o g y : G e n e r a l C o n fe r e n c e D i a l o gu eo n O u r T h e o lo g ic a l Ta s k

T h o m a s A L a n g f o r dA G lo r i o u s , B u m p y R i d e : U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t s D o in g T h e o lo g y

M a r y E l i z a b et h M o or e

T h e Afr i ca n C o n t e x t fo r T h e o lo g y

T em b a J . M a f ico

P L U S

Wo m e n i n M in i s t r y : E s t r a n g e m e n t fr o m O u r s e lv e s

S u s a n N el son D u n f ee

D i a lo g u e i n D e p t h : a M o n a s t i c P e r s p e c t iv e

J a m es E . R o ys t er

B o ok R e v ie w s a n d Q R S c r ip t u r e S t u d y fo r P r e a c h i n g



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Spring 1989 Quarterly Review - Theological Resources for Ministry