Finding faithfulness: how might telling stories of faithfulness generate practices of faithfulness?

Abstract

This thesis is a response to recognition of implicit ethnic values in my multiethnic context, and the challenges they make for flourishing communal relations, especially across our ethnic divides. I develop and test a facilitation model to encourage communication that honours the other/Other in their difference in a church congregation. Finding faithfulness describes this journey towards relational community. It is a practical theology research project in an urban multiethnic congregation in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. It connects scripturally themed questions, an appreciative stance and world café’s hospitality-based facilitative form to create WisdomCafé. Its contribution to the field of practical theology is a methodological framework where substantial engagement with scripture is woven through qualitative empirical research in a unique way. WisdomCafé facilitates discipleship and spiritual growth in multiethnic communities through storytelling and reflection. This search for faithfulness engaged with the judgment parables (Mt. 24:36-25:46),1 stories where all are called to give account to Christ on his return as Judge, found faithful or unfaithful, and invited into or excluded from more responsibility and relationship. From my hermeneutic of relational faithfulness, I identify themes of relational and ethical accountability, which I develop into the questions, stories and reflections for WisdomCafé conversations. These in turn connect with the quest for relational flourishing within and beyond the borders of congregations in multiethnic communities. Results from this small yet rich database saw laypeople taking surprising initiatives to engage in their communities from the ground up. In its mix of scripture, structure, story and reflection, WisdomCafé offers a practical response to questions of relationality, power, creativity, identity and voice. Through its indirect communication style, it bypasses defences to share power and validate voice, renewing personal, communal and cultural dynamics as it encourages recognition of the sacred in one another and in daily practices of life. The original communication model that this thesis describes is of interest to those working to strengthen relationships across boundaries, particularly ethnic and generational, in conversation with experience and scripture. Its framework is applicable to other passages of scripture and methods of interpretation. It offers insight from the margins of cultures into the challenge of welcoming minority voices to speak and provoking the majority/colonial culture to listen.