We are delighted to present recently completed PhD theses that showcase not only the breadth of academic inquiry but also the depth of research across various disciplines. These theses, ranging from theological studies in Nigeria, educational dynamics in South Sudan, local theology in Italy, to interfaith relations in Kenya, and more, reflect a mosaic of cultural, religious, and social perspectives. Each thesis is a testament to the rigorous scholarship and dedication of the researchers who have delved into complex and often under-explored topics, offering fresh insights and contributing significantly to their respective fields. This collection is a celebration of academic diversity and a tribute to the relentless pursuit of knowledge here at OCMS.
Regina R. Foard
‘Identifying the Intercultural Leadership Capacity of Host Agent Church-Planters Interacting with Immigrants in the USA’
Regina investigates the pre-engagement mentation processes of the Stadia Church-Planter Leaders that lead to their engagement with immigrants and shows that the pre-decisional and post-decisional mentation activity, along with evidence of their current engagement, contributes new information that expands their leadership capacity and formation. The pre-engagement mentation criteria are their cultural intelligence; constructive attitudinal and affective behaviour; their biblical beliefs, and accompanying sources of motivation regarding their thoughts about engagement with immigrant communities in the U.S. Results indicate that: Firstly, the Stadia Church-Planter Leaders (SCPL) have a moderately above-average cultural intelligence capability that could be strengthened, particularly in the cognitive sub-dimension. Secondly, the SCPLs report low levels of xenophobic attitudes, but some areas could be improved upon to reduce these negative sentiments further. Lastly, the SCPLs’ biblical beliefs and theological positions reportedly direct their engagement and are strong sources of motivation for their engagement. The recommendation is that these beliefs could be strengthened by deepening the focus on migrant-related theological beliefs and diaspora missiology.
Karen Ellis
‘A Theology of Persecution and Christian Endurance: Cain, Abel, and a “Black Book of Acts” Among the St. Thomas Moravians’
Her thesis examines the theology, priorities, and practices of the eighteenth-century St. Thomas Island Moravians, one of the first African-led, multicultural churches in the Americas. Enslaved African Christians have been overlooked among the historical narratives of those who endure faithfully under anti-Christian persecution, as scholarly focus on their ethnic suffering has often overshadowed the abuses committed against their faith. Her work brings forth a fresh articulation of Christian endurance under hostility, with the community’s Christian identity at the forefront rather than their ethnic identity. In writing this, Karen interpreted the community’s historical records and context through a theological approach to ethnohistory, which introduced a story-based Framework to help parse the ongoing historical persecution of Christians and their ability to endure It. She focussed especially on the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper as key elements in the community’s ability to endure marginalisation, discrimination, and violence for their Christian faith, and in doing so innovate toward a Theology of Persecution and Christian Endurance Studies.
Philip A. Eubanks
‘Live the Vision Church Culture (LTVCC): An Ethnographic Case Study and Theological Inquiry’
Philip A. Eubanks was awarded PhD for his work on ‘Live the Vision Church Culture (LTVCC): An Ethnographic Case Study and Theological Inquiry’. The thesis describes what LTVCC can look like in a congregation through an exploration of its leadership, discourse, and practices. Insights from this exploration also contribute to a more exact definition of LTVCC and demonstrate the potential for LTVCC to positively influence church-wide giving. Biblical theology is employed, which validates LTVCC as scripturally sound, to provide insights that affirm and amplify sociological findings. Several factors that help explain LTVCC’s influence are identified, including its engagement with the whole person (i.e., mind, body, and emotion), leading to a theory of sacred connection.
James Allan Phillips
‘The Portrayal of Jesus in Islam Amongst Contemporary Muslims Writing to the American Public: In What Ways do Their Writings Represent Continuity and Change in Relation to Formative-Classical Muslim Understandings?’
James Allan Phillips was awarded PhD for his thesis on ‘The Portrayal of Jesus in Islam Amongst Contemporary Muslims Writing to the American Public: In What Ways do Their Writings Represent Continuity and Change in Relation to Formative-Classical Muslim Understandings?’ James analyzes the writings of six contemporary Muslim scholars writing to the American public to determine the ways in which their understandings of the Jesus of Islam have evolved from formative-classical Muslim understandings. He identifies nine themes demonstrating their movements in understanding the Jesus of Islam. His engagement with these themes shows that Jesus of Islam is evolving within a contemporary American context in comparison with the formative-classical understandings.
The Literature Review identifies a gap in the current body of knowledge regarding the Jesus of Islam, arguing that there is no comprehensive account of Muslim observations on Christ that also takes present day views into account. This research addresses this gap.
Christopher M. Jensen
‘Fostering Virtue among Auto Rickshaw Drivers in Sri Lanka: A Case Study of an Urban Sharing Institution’
Christopher M. Jensen was awarded PhD for his thesis on ‘Fostering Virtue among Auto Rickshaw Drivers in Sri Lanka: A Case Study of an Urban Sharing Institution’. He uses MacIntyrean Virtue Ethics, Institutional Theory and Algorithmic Management to explore the case of Auto Rickshaw drivers from Sri lanka. The research also builds on the empirical studies conducted by Moore (2012), Fernando and Moore (2015), and Chu and Moore (2020) with the application of Virtue Ethics based on a conceptual framework drawn from MacIntyre’s work. Christopher’s research uncovers novel Institutional Work strategies (notably, frequent performance reflection and ethics training being the most effective) and virtues (acquiescence, moderation and self-care being discovered) as well as confirming the ethical dilemmas inherent in subordinating managerial functions to the application’s algorithm.
Calvin Tiessen
‘Rooms of Light: Bearing Witness to the Azerbaijani Hospitable Being’
Calvin Tiessen has been awarded PhD for his work on ‘Rooms of Light: Bearing Witness to the Azerbaijani Hospitable Being’. In this thesis he shows that Azerbaijani ways of life are shaped by deep paradigms of hospitable being, an ontological hospitality. Qonaqpәrvәrlik, the Azerbaijani concept of ‘hospitality’, is described as a state of co-existence within which hospitable persons entrust one another with preservation of hospitable conditions. These conditions are experienced by Azerbaijanis as a shared commitment to interpersonal attentiveness and availability with the aim of assuring that hospitality roles are possible. The mobility of the Azerbaijani hospitable being is presented, revealing a formation of self as one continually on the way towards others. The process of seeking respite from challenges faced by the hospitable being due to experiences such as war and rapid social change, is explored. In the face of these challenges, the role of hospitable witness is shown to be vital for maintaining cohesion and coherence within Azerbaijani ways of hospitality. Attentive co-presence, life lived in faithful observance of others as well as pursuit of opportunities to engage them hospitably, is the unifying function played by the hospitable witness. This written presentation of Calvin’s research is an act of existential witness, to the persons Azerbaijanis are and become in their ways of hospitality, by the person into whom the writer himself has been transformed through encounters with these ways.
Kwok Kei Kan
‘Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Post-Revolutionary Egypt: The Influence of the Humanist Discourse’
Kwok Kei (Toby), Kan Was awarded the degree of PhD for his thesis on ‘Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Post-Revolutionary Egypt: The Influence of the Humanist Discourse’. Toby’s research brings to light grassroots interfaith meetings between Christians and Muslims in post-revolutionary Egypt using grounded theory methodology. The theoretical framework combines Laclauand Mouffe’s discourse theory from political science with the intergroup theory from social psychology. This framework helps reveal details of the interfaith dynamics. Toby argues that: Firstly, there has been a stronger discursive struggle among people taking top-down and bottom-up approaches in inter- religious dialogue since the 2011 revolution. It has been also against a backdrop of occasionally aggressive religious discourse. Secondly, today’s interfaith activity reflects Egyptian humanism. Egyptians, especially the ‘revolutionary youth’, advocate the social solidarity movement in general and interfaith relations building in particular as an alternative way to continue the ‘unfinished revolution’ in their society. Thirdly although the traditional national discourse remains dominant in Egypt, the humanist discourse has helped shape interfaith relations building since the 2011 revolution and has grown since the chaotic period around 2013 under the Muslim Brotherhood-friendly regime.
Edmond Vanderpuye
‘An Investigation into Organisational Hybridity in Faith-Based Social Enterprises in Ghana: An Organisational Spirituality Perspective’
Edmond Vanderpuye was awarded PhD by the Middlesex University for his thesis on ‘An Investigation into Organisational Hybridity in Faith-Based Social Enterprises in Ghana: An Organisational Spirituality Perspective.’ In this thesis, Edmond investigated the response to organisational hybridity in a school context arising from the social mission, the financial sustainability objective and the spiritual mandate of Faith-Based Social Enterprises (FBSEs). His was a longitudinal study conducted over 36 months using an action research approach resulted in three iterative action cycles seeking to understand, implement and sustain OS in an FBSE context. The findings deepened conceptual clarity of OS with a Ghanaian worldview and demonstrated that a holistic response to organisational hybridity is possible. Building on previous work, this research contributed to knowledge by establishing a process for implementing OS in an FBSE context; demonstrating that organisational hybridity tensions can be resolved; serving as a reference point to enrich SE policy and dialogue in Ghana with respect to the place of FBSEs; and enhancing Africa’s contribution to independent global research.
Selamawit Cherinet Kebede
‘Ethnic Identity Negotiation through Dialogical Self: The Case of Anywaa and Nuer Evangelicals in Gambella, Ethiopia’
Selamawit Cherinet Kebede was approved for PhD award by the Middlesex University for her thesis on ‘Ethnic Identity Negotiation through Dialogical Self: The Case of Anywaa and Nuer Evangelicals in Gambella, Ethiopia.’ Selam explores the ethnic identity negotiation of Anywaa and Nuer Evangelical Christians using the Dialogical Self Theory. The two ethnic groups are living in conflict even after acquiring a new identity in Evangelical Christianity. She demonstrated that their Evangelical Christian identity enables them to redefine some of the cultural elements, especially aspects of relations with the ethnic other. This redefinition of identity results in the discontinuity of some elements and the continuity of others, leading to negotiation strategies to deal with value-dissonance between identity elements that change the nature of their ethnic boundary, making it permeable or impermeable. Some of these strategies promote positive relations, while others promote negative relations among the two groups. Based on this analysis, Selam suggests the need for fostering value-based reflective dialogues between individual and groups such hers, enabling them to see their relations through different lenses.
Stephen Stringer
‘Faith Living Understanding: Towards a Theatrical Model for Oral Theologizing’
Stephen Stringer was awarded PhD for his work on ‘Faith Living Understanding: Towards a Theatrical Model for Oral Theologizing’. In this thesis, Stephen explores Vanhoozer’s model using a tripartite structure of orality – dramatic epistemology, embodied rationality, and communal hermeneutics it explore a framework for an oral theology. He also explores real-life implications for the model using vignettes from his own work and shows how the communal nature of oral theology might enrich Vanhoozer’s model. Beyond illustrating that Vanhoozer’s model is an adequate framework for oral theology, this work suggest that oral theology might be considered the proper domain for Vanhoozer’s theodramatic theology in that it moves beyond the written word to embodied action in the real world. Such a theology is faith living understanding – faithfully, contextually, creatively, and communally.
