Toward Understanding Gift-Giving in Relationships

1990 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-60
Author(s):  
David P. Mann

As the subject of stewardship is taught in a church where Western missionaries work in close collaboration with African church leaders, intercultural friction is inevitable. One culture stresses interconnectedness and sharing; the other emphasizes independence and self-sufficiency. But both see wealth as a primary means of expressing those values. This article reviews aspects of economic anthropology which relate to gift-giving, analyzes parts of the Dowayo culture, and draws missiological conclusions. Understanding the economic assumptions of a culture can inform biblical teaching on Christian stewardship and aid its integration into the life of the church.

Author(s):  
Christopher Grout*

Abstract The extent to which members of the clergy are considered ‘employees’ for the purposes of secular employment and equality legislation has been the subject of much discussion, but essentially remains a fact sensitive question. The Equality Act 2010 (‘the 2010 Act’) seeks to prevent discrimination on the basis of nine ‘protected characteristics’. While recognizing that the application of the 2010 Act to the variety of clergy offices is ‘not straightforward’, the Church of England (‘the Church’) has opined that an equitable approach to clergy appointments is to proceed as if they were subject to the provisions of the 2010 Act. What follows is in`tended to be a thorough review of the eligibility criteria for clergy appointment in the Church to assess their compatibility with the requirements of the 2010 Act. In addition, particular consideration will be given to Schedule 9(2) to the 2010 Act which makes specific provision relating to religious requirements concerning the protected characteristics of sex, sexual orientation, and marriage and civil partnership. In short, where the employment is for the purposes of an organized religion, such as the Church, requirements which relate to these protected characteristics will not constitute discrimination where they engage the ‘compliance or non-conflict principle’. What these principles mean and how they might operate in practice is discussed below, taking into account the likely canonical and theological justifications for discriminating against certain individuals. Whether the law strikes the right balance between, on the one hand protecting clergy and, on the other, providing the Church with the autonomy to act in accordance with its established doctrine, will be explored in the final analysis.


Antiquity ◽  
1927 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 447-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Page

Little has been done towards solving the problem of the Saxon settlement of England by studying the types of villages and their distribution. Professor Maitland saw the importance of the subject and pointed out how valuable in this respect was the ordnance map ‘that marvellous palimpsest which under Dr Meitzen's guidance we are beginning to decipher’. Helpful, however, as the ordnance maps are, they cannot be read alone, a knowledge of the archaeology, history and topography of the district under review is a necessary equipment for such an investigation. The remarks here made are tentative and are offered in the hope they may be an incentive to others with local knowledge to examine the evidence of their districts.Professor Maitland, following Dr. Meitzen and others, has adopted two main types of settlements, namely, the scattered or dispersed, and the nucleated or clustered. These two types probably comprehend all forms of settlements, but certainly the nucleated type and possibly the scattered type, show many variants which it may be well to indicate before a methodical study of the subject can be made. I have elsewhere suggested the following classification of English towns and villages which will no doubt require modification and amplification but may meet a want for a preliminary inquiry; (I) scattered or dispersed settlements, (2) nucleated or clustered settlements off lines of communication, (3) nucleated settlements on lines of communication, (4) ring-fence settlements, (5) towns with bridge heads and double towns, (6) towns of gridiron plan, (7) towns of spider's web plan, (8) Bastide towns. Except for the first of these classes all of them are nucleated or clustered, and to this wider division I propose to devote my attention. It may perhaps be pointed out, however, that the scattered or dispersed settlements occur chiefly in Wales and in the west and north of England. They are found throughout Cornwall, in Devon, Somerset and the open parts of the Welsh border counties, in Yorkshire and Derbyshire, and probably they are the origin of the great parishes with their numerous townships of the other northern counties. They were adapted for a pastoral people and are generally to be found in moorland or mountainous country which has become divided into large parishes. They consist of hamlets and single houses or small groups of houses scattered somewhat promiscuously throughout a district. The principal hamlet from which the settlement or parish takes its name-which was probably the meeting place of the district and where the church was eventually placed-was generally on high land or a main road and frequently at cross roads, bridges, or such like places of nodality.


1950 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-56
Author(s):  
Ernest A. Payne

The last number of the Scottish Journal of Theology contained an article of great interest and importance by Professor T. W. Manson under the title “Baptism in the Church”. It was a weighty and illuminating contribution to the discussion of the ordinance of baptism which is now proceeding vigorously in almost every Christian communion. One brought up in the Baptist tradition and adhering to it by conviction read with appreciation Professor Manson's admission of the strength of the case against infant baptism so far as it rests on the New Testament evidence. On the other hand, the general treatment of the subject and the conclusions reached include some rather surprising statements and raise a number of questions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-234
Author(s):  
Richard G. Fellows ◽  
Alistair C. Stewart

Abstract In Phil 4:2–3 Paul urges Euodia and Syntyche to unite with each other. He also addresses ‘true yokefellow’, and asks him to assist the two women. This paper disputes the almost universally held assumption that Paul was asking him to mediate a conflict between the two women. Rather, Paul is here calling the church leaders, Euodia and Syntyche, to have the mind of Christ and to foster unity among the Philippian churches, and the other church members to support them. The term ‘true yokefellow’ is a piece of ‘idealized praise’ and is Paul’s way of diplomatically correcting one or more church members.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Okelloh Ogera

Purpose: This article looks at the role played by agents: the people responsible for articulating and implementing inculturation in Africa. The article asks the simple question of are these agents useful or a hindrance in the process of inculturation? The article begins by identifying these agents then discusses the challenges they face in the process of inculturation. The article concludes by giving a way forward and that is an integrated approach in inculturation.Methodology: This study will review the available literature on the subject with a view to examining what previous research says concerning the role of the agents, that is human beings, in the process of inculturation. This was done with the main objective of examining the challenges that he agents of inculturation face, and concluding by exploring an integrated approach to inculturation, where all the agents are brought on board. Findings: This study found out that if inculturation is to truly take root in African Christianity, it must bring on board all actors, not just Church leaders, and trained theologians, but also the laity. All these actors also need to overcome some of the challenges that have hindered the prospects of inculturation which include but not limited to fear of syncretism, lack of enthusiasm by some Church leaders, answering the question of culture in a post-modern and globalized world.Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This paper will offer unique contributions to policies and practices governing the attempts to make the Church in Africa truly African by proposing a re-evaluation of the way inculturation has been carried out in the past. This has tended to be spearheaded by professional theologians and some church leaders, neglecting the biggest constituency in the entire process, and that is the consumer of inculturational processes; the laity.


Archaeologia ◽  
1827 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 113-116
Author(s):  
John Bruce

The derivation of the word “Mass” having lately been the subject of our conversation, I am induced to offer you the following Remarks upon it, from which I think it will appear that the word, as used to signify the service of the Roman Catholic Church, is wholly distinct, both in derivation and sense, from “mas” the adjunct to Christ, &c. in the words, “Christmas,” “Candlemas,” “Lammas,” &c. In the former sense it seems to come from the Latin “Missa,” and in the latter from the Anglo-Saxon “mærre;” the one having been used in the early ages of the Church as a word of dismission to the congregation, or a part of it, and the other signifying a feast or solemn festival.


2021 ◽  
pp. 191-205
Author(s):  
Tomasz Nawracała

The long pontificate of John Paul II was a time for the Church to continue reflecting on the fundamental themes that constitute the identity of the community of Christ’s disciples. Among many subjects, the priesthood appears to be a special topic: on the one hand, through the pope himself and his pastoral activity, and on the other - through a series of documents devoted to the priesthood. This article will present the person of Christ as a priest since it is the starting point for reflection on the priesthood as such. In the mind of the Polish Pope, Christ is the only priest who connects His priesthood with the sacrifice on the cross. This sacrifice includes the perfection of mediation between God and people, and simultaneously, the completion of what Christ possesses eternally as the Son. Sonship, mediation and the priesthood are topics that should be considered together as they not only interpenetrate but also complement each other. Such a broad approach to the subject, however, is limited to the analysis of the Letters to priests for Maundy Thursday.


2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiago Faccini Paro ◽  
André Luiz Massaro

Resumo: Essa pesquisa tem como objetivo, apresentar a resposta que Medellín deu aocontinente americano sob a luz do Vaticano II, em relação aos graves problemas que caracterizama vida de seu povo. Por um lado, a miséria, opressão, dependência econômica,política e cultural, e, de outro, um desejo e clamor de misericórdia e libertação, de umpovo impaciente por mudanças e transformações. O homem e a mulher são sujeitos datransformação do continente, como a Igreja pode ajudá-los; qual é a sua missão ? A metodologiadessa pesquisa faz referência bibliográfica aos principais títulos sobre o assunto.O caminho a ser percorrido será: análise da história e da realidade, reflexão de conceitose desdobramentos práticos e pastorais. A Igreja não poderá nunca se esquecer que: “Asalegrias e as esperanças, as tristezas e as angústias dos homens de hoje, sobretudodos pobres e dos que sofrem, são também as alegrias e as esperanças, as tristezas e asangústias dos discípulos de Cristo; e não há realidade alguma verdadeiramente humanaque não encontre eco no seu coração.”(GS 01)Palavras-chave: Medellín. Igreja. Vaticano II. Pobre. Missão.Abstract: This research aims to present the answer Medellin gave the American continentin the light of Vatican II, in relation to the serious problems that characterize the lives ofhis people. On the one hand, misery, oppression, economic dependence, political andcultural, and the other, a desire and cry for mercy and release of an impatient peoplefor change and transformation. The man and woman are subjects of the transformationof the continent, as the Church can help them; what is your mission? The methodologyof this research is bibliographical reference to the main titles on the subject. The way togo is: analysis of the history and reality, reflection concepts and practical and pastoraldevelopments. The Church can never forget that: “The joys and the hopes, the griefs andthe anxieties of people today, especially the poor and those who suffer, are also the joysand hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of disciples of Christ; and there is no reality trulyhuman fails to raise an echo in their hearts.” (GS 01)Keywords: Medellin. Church. Vatican II. Poor. Mission.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-200
Author(s):  
Philip Igbo

The concept of tithe and tithing is a biblical concept. Tithing was a hieratic tax instituted as a means to support the Levites who ministered at God’s sanctuary. The Levites were to receive the tithes offered by Israel to Yahweh, because of the service they rendered at God’s sanctuary, and because they had no landed inheritance. The tithe system was enacted as a hieratic tax meant to provide support for the priests and Levites “for the service that they perform at God’s sanctuary (Num 18:21f). The tithes are voluntary; tithable things were products from the land or the herd. The tithe was basically for the support of the Levites who served at God’s Sanctuary. However, it has been observed and sadly so, that some contemporary Church leaders, especially in Nigeria, seem to be laying undue emphasis on tithing to their own financial advantage. This study was, therefore, conceived as a re-evaluation of the concept of tithing and the context under which it developed. The goal is to use the findings of this reevaluation to mirror the over emphasis on tithing by contemporary Church leaders in Nigeria. Findings reveal that there is a deviation from the context under which tithing was developed to somewhat exploitation of unsuspecting members of the Church to the advantage of prosperity preachers in Nigeria. This raises the question as to whether  Christians of the contemporary era should still tithe since the context in which the tradition developed has changed.


1994 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-510
Author(s):  
Robert White

Few aspects of Paul's teaching have proved more controversial in recent times than his injunction that women should neither speak (lalein) nor teach (didaskein) in church assemblies (1 Cor. 14.34–35; 1 Tim. 2.11–12). To those seeking to promote the ministry of women in the church, the apostle's words appear as a personal expression of opinion founded on patriarchal prejudice, on rabbinic conservatism or on purely local considerations of strategy, motives which are of little more than documentary interest in the current debate. To proponents of the principle of male leadership, on the other hand, Paul's instruction forms part of a normative, enduring evangelical tradition which is often assumed to bear not only on the order of the church but on the order of creation itself. In these circumstances it is instructive to examine Calvin's treatment of the subject as found not only in his major dogmatic work, The Institute of the Christian Religion, but at various places in his sermons and commentaries. Our purpose here is not to make Calvin the arbiter of what, in his own day, was a highly marginal question – outside of court and literary circles, equality of the sexes was not a serious Renaissance concern – but rather to understand how he interpreted Paul's teaching in the context of a creation which God was already renewing and of a church where all were already made one in Christ.


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