Ecclesiastical Connections of Medieval Мatarcha: New Finds of Byzantine Lead Seals

Introduction. Matarcha was the cathedral city of the Diocese of Zichia of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. It was a major religious and missionary center in the Northwestern Pre-Caucasus. The priests of this autocephalous archdiocese took an active part in the church life of the Byzantine Empire. In this context, among the most important sources on the history of the Byzantine Matarcha, a special place is occupied by the monuments of Byzantine sphragistics. Methods. The paper examines three Byzantine church seals of the 11th–12th centuries, discovered during the research of the Taman settlement (medieval Matarcha was the center of the diocese of Zichia of the Patriarchate of Constantinople). The owners of the seals were: deacon Michael, monk Ignatius and nun Euphemia. Analysis. The article provides information about the previously known 19 seals belonging to the church hierarchs of Zichia and other representatives of the clergy. Similar finds of seals in the Crimean urban centers (Cherson and Sughdea) are indicated. Results. The few details that relate to the ecclesiastical history of the diocese of Zichia emphasize the exceptional value of each new find of seals, and the evidence of direct contacts and established correspondence between the Orthodox clergy once again shows that, in addition to the cleric – deacon, the monastic brotherhood also played a significant role in the development of relations between the church and society. To a certain extent, this could also be facilitated by the trips of the city’s residents to pilgrimage sites, as evidenced by the brought relics, the finds of which are known.

Women Worldwide: Interplay between Church and Society and the Gender Paradox

This article analyzes the findings of women and gender issues presented in the recently published World Christian Encyclopedia, 3rd edition (2019). In addition to a brief illustration and discussion, I address two complex issues regarding women inspired by WCE-3, namely, the interplay between church and society and the gender paradox in World Christianity.

Stephan J. Joubert (South African academic and visionary): His response to questions related to his academic views

This article reflects a conversation between Jan G. van der Watt and Stephan Joubert. The article serves as the introduction to the Special Collection: ‘From timely exegesis to contemporary ecclesiology: Relevant hermeneutics and provocative embodiment of faith in a Corona-defined world – Festschrift for Stephan Joubert, sub-edited by Willem Oliver (University of South Africa)’. Following a brief bio-statement as introduction, the following issues are discussed: the collection for the Jerusalem church; relevance of theology for society; social-scientific exegesis; the ancient concept of grace; Bible translation in South Africa; public theology on the electronic platform; biblical examples of leadership and electronic media in religious activities and education.Contribution: This Festschrift represents current trends in biblical scholarship and ecclesial leadership. It contributes to the public discourse in church and society, especially the role of the electronic media in current Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Women and Church Ministry in Africa: Removing the Impasse Towards a Fruitful Theological Conversation.

Women in Africa, both in the traditional setup and in modern society form the cornerstone of the Church and society. They have spearheaded change in traditional and modern society and heralded the Gospel message on the African soil. Based on the formidable roles women played and the influential areas of authority they occupied in the social, economic, political, and religious dimensions of African traditional societies, such as priestesses, diviners, medicine women etc., I attempt to understand the role women play and the place they occupy in the Church and in society today taking the Catholic Church as a case study. The aim of this paper is to seek to understand the roles women play in society, as well as discerning how the roles could be promoted and improved for the betterment of the Church and society. For the discussion to achieve its objective, the following areas will be addressed: explore the place and the significance that traditional African society accorded to women; investigate the nature of women’s involvement in the life of the community as well as the precise roles that traditional society assigned to women; discover the place of women in Christianity and some of the roles the Catholic Church assigns to women members as documented; understand some of the challenges women face as members of the Church and the roles they play in enhancing the Gospel; and finally attempt to provide some recommendations in response to some of the challenges identified.

Christian Advocacy Ministry in African Christianity: The Nature, Prospects and Challenges in Ghana

The contributions of the church to the social, economic and political growth of Ghana have been locally and internationally recognized. There is the need therefore, to subject the nature, prospects and challenges of the Christian advocacy of the church in Ghana to intellectual scrutiny to identify the issues that must be addressed for the church to perform its advocacy effectively. The study is an examination of the Christian advocacy ministry of the church in Ghana. It used both primary and secondary materials to generate data. Minutes and reports were examined for some primary information. The analysis of the available information points to the fact that the church must pay attention to niche management, capacity building of church leaders, enhance its public theology, creation of platforms for reflections, address the attacks on voices of wisdom, and direct attention to the role of the non-clergy in the advocacy ministry for its future Christian advocacy ministry. The study has added to knowledge in the disciplines of Church and Society and Public Theology. Keywords: Advocacy Ministry, Public Theology, African Christianity, Capacity Building, Public Witness

Christian Advocacy Ministry on Pandemics: The Ghanaian Example on HIV/AIDS

The study is an examination of the various Christian advocacy approaches that the church in Ghana has adopted in its role in the fight against the AIDS pandemic. The study seeks to make the Ghanaian experience available for Christian advocacy ministry for other pandemics. The study as a qualitative one focused on library research. Available primary and secondary materials on the church’s participation in the AIDS pandemic were examined and analyzed. Much attention was paid to reports, addresses, study materials and policy documents on the pandemic by the World Council of Churches, Christian Council of Ghana and the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. The study has observed that provision of leadership, capacity building of church leaders, education and awareness creation, the relevance of the Christian message of hope in a moment of despair and Christian advocacy ministry have made significant contributions to the Christian advocacy on the HIV/AIDS in Ghana. The study further provides insights for studies in church and society and the construction of public theology on pandemics in African Christianity. Keywords: Advocacy Ministry, Pandemics, Capacity Building, Church Leadership

Women and Church Ministry in Africa: Removing the Impasse Towards a Fruitful Theological Conversation

Women in Africa, both in the traditional setup and in modern society form the cornerstone of the Church and society. They have spearheaded change in traditional and modern society and heralded the Gospel message on the African soil. Based on the formidable roles women played and the influential areas of authority they occupied in the social, economic, political, and religious dimensions of African traditional societies, such as priestesses, diviners, medicine women etc., I attempt to understand the role women play and the place they occupy in the Church and in society today taking the Catholic Church as a case study. The aim of this paper is to seek to understand the roles women play in society, as well as discerning how the roles could be promoted and improved for the betterment of the Church and society. For the discussion to achieve its objective, the following areas will be addressed: explore the place and the significance that traditional African society accorded to women; investigate the nature of women’s involvement in the life of the community as well as the precise roles that traditional society assigned to women; discover the place of women in Christianity and some of the roles the Catholic Church assigns to women members as documented; understand some of the challenges women face as members of the Church and the roles they play in enhancing the Gospel; and finally attempt to provide some recommendations in response to some of the challenges identified.

Hunter Beattie (1876–1951): A Conscientious Objector at the Margins

Glasgow was the Scottish city in which the Open Brethren movement grew most profusely. During the First World War, significant sections of the leadership of their assemblies supported the British war effort. One individual who stood apart from this was the evangelist and homeopath, Hunter Beattie. He was the leading individual in an assembly in the east end who launched an occasional periodical in which he expounded his pacifist views. His publication was criticized in a Sunday newspaper, and his subsequent military hearing and criminal trial was covered by the newspaper. Other leading Glasgow Brethren publicly disassociated themselves from his position, which, in turn, led to criticism of them by some Brethren non-combatants. As well as giving an example of the treatment of conscientious objectors during the First World War, the paper examines the positions adopted towards war by both Beattie and his antagonists, illuminating aspects of the Brethren, their social class and relationships to society. It examines how some Brethren rejected a completely marginal status in church and society, but others saw the attraction of the margins.

Mewariskan Memori Kolektif Sebagai Pendekatan Pendampingan Dan Konseling Untuk Meningkatkan Pembangunan Jemaat Adang

Each region certainly has its own past stories in the early church. In this case, the individual or group begins to remember something that happened in themselves and he can do memory activities while talking, listening and many other ways of remembering. Congregations in the current era, in understanding the meaning of togetherness in allied life, have begun to erode and fade. The purpose of this study is to describe the collective memory heritage of the congregation and to develop a counselling approach to promote congregational development. This study uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive-analytical pattern. From the results of the research, the authors see that the church today is in dire need of counselling assistance in church development. The integrity of a congregation is highly expected for every individual and group through fellowship that is carried out within the scope of the church and society in increasing harmonious and peaceful life. AbstrakSetiap daerah tentu memiliki cerita-cerita masa lalu tersendiri pada jemaat mula-mula. Dalam hal ini, individu atau kelompok mulai mengingat-ingat sesuatu yang terjadi dalam diri pribadinya dan ia dapat melakukan aktivitas mengingat-ingat ketika sedang berbicara, mendengarkan dan masih banyak lagi cara mengingat-ingat lainnya. Jemaat di era saat ini, dalam memahami arti kebersamaan dalam hidup bersekutu sudah mulai terkikis dan memudar. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mendeskripsikan warisan memori kolektif jemaat Adang dan mengembangkan pendekatan konseling untuk meningkatkan pembangunan jemaat Adang. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode pendekatan kualitatif dengan pola deskriptif-analitis. Dari hasil penelitian penulis melihat bahwa jemaat Adang saat ini sangat membutuhkan pendampingan konseling dalam pembangunan jemaat. Keutuhan suatu jemaat sangat di harapkan bagi setiap individu maupun kelompok melalui persekutuan yang dilakukan dalam lingkup gereja maupun masyarakat dalam meningkatkan hidup rukun dan damai.

Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard

Chapter 4 narrates the life and public reform of Frances Willard. A female public speaker and writer, Willard took on the cult of domesticity and the strict gender roles enforced in the American Industrial Age. Facing gender inequality, Willard fought for women’s rights and social reform, serving as the president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. In addition to describing Willard’s life, this chapter examines the use of her public platform and the authority of her public rhetoric to influence the lives of women seeking equal opportunities. Analyzing her narrative of cultural reform in her two books, How to Win: A Book for Girls and Woman in the Pulpit, this chapter explores the rhetorical tactics Willard used to effectively argue for equality and egalitarianism for women in church and society.