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Ashland Theological Seminary ASHLAND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY SPIRITUAL FORMATION REVEALED AROUND THE TABLE: AN IMPACT STUDY OF FOOD AND FAITH A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF ASHLAND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ASHLAND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY JAMIE SZITTAI WHITE ASHLAND, OHIO OCTOBER 21, 2020 Copyright @ 2020, by Jamie Szittai White All rights reserved To all who come to the table I have found that it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love. J. R. R. Tolkien APPROVAL PAGE Accepted by the faculty and the final demonstration examining committee of Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Ministry degree. ______________________________ _______________ Academic Advisor Date ______________________________ _______________ Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program Date ABSTRACT The purpose of this project was to impact the participants’ spiritual formation through shared meals in the Summit neighborhood of Canton, Ohio through the participation of weekly neighborhood meals for five weeks. The design of the project included the administration of pre-test and post-test questionnaires, along with qualitative questions. The results of these shared meals revealed that participants became more aware of who their neighbors were, alongside an understanding of how God could meet them at the table. The connection of these participants has since benefited the neighborhood by breaking barriers and exemplifying God’s diverse Kingdom to others in the area. CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................. viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................. ix Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT OVERVIEW .................. 1 2. BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL, AND HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS .................................................................. 21 3. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ........................................ 60 4. DESIGN, PROCEDURE, AND ASSESSMENT .................. 93 5. REPORTING THE RESULTS ............................................. 103 6. SUMMARY AND REFLECTIONS ....................................... 116 Appendix 1. PROPOSAL ........................................................................ 138 2. ASSESSMENT TOOLS ...................................................... 158 REFERENCES .................................................................................. 167 vii TABLES Table Page Table 1. Goal #5: Presence.......................................................... 105 Table 2. Goal #2: Entering into Stories ........................................ 106 Table 3. Goal #3: Celebration ...................................................... 108 Table 4. Goal #4: Community ....................................................... 110 Table 5. Goal #1: Hospitality ........................................................ 111 Table 6. Qualitative Results ......................................................... 113 viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To Dr. Matt Bevere, who advised and encouraged me throughout this process. Thank you for your mentorship and guidance in faith and academia. To Rev. Tom Snyder, whose deep wisdom has always inspired me to go deeper in my faith. Thank you for the gifts of poetry, art, and my love of Merton. To the faculty at Ashland Theological Seminary for many years of teaching, advice, and friendship. To the staff at the Brethren Church National Office, for the resources and community they continually share with me. To Jenna Kocher and Aleesa Schlup, whose editing skills deserve an award. Aleesa, your translation assistance has additionally been invaluable. To my neighbors in the Summit neighborhood, alongside Radial Church, of whom this project would not exist without. To my parents, who have always shown what it means to learn and grow in their faith. For your life-long love and support, thank you. To my husband, Dustin, for his constant encouragement and love throughout this whole process. To the Lord God Almighty. May we practice Kingdom living on earth as it is in heaven, knowing there is always room for one more at the table. ix CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT OVERVIEW "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35 The world in which we find ourselves is wrought with inhospitality. From political views to religious debates, society’s individualistic choices create barriers between neighbors. It seems as though we would rather build walls than offer shelter. We would rather find a church a town away that offers music to suit our taste than participate at the church in our neighborhood. We would rather sit in backyards with privacy fences than the front porch where we can say hello to others walking past. In all these ways, alongside many more, divisions are erected. Yet it is clear when studying Scripture alongside the practices of church fathers and mothers, that this is not what the community of believers are to do. Instead, we are to break down these barriers. We are called to feed the hungry (Rom. 12:20), shelter the needy (Is. 25:4), defend the orphans and widows (Ps. 82:3-4), and show the overwhelming love of God to those around us. This biblical hospitality is at odds with the ways in which society perpetuates individualism. However, some of the negative constructs of this world can be dismantled through something as simple as sharing a meal. By coming together at the table with God’s diverse creation, we can listen, understand, and celebrate one another while being spiritually formed into the likeness of Christ. The everyday act of eating a meal can have spiritual significance if we learn to be present and aware to what God is doing within our communities. 1 Purpose Statement and Research Question It was the purpose of this project to impact the participants’ spiritual formation through shared meals in the Summit neighborhood of Canton, Ohio. The research question was: How can shared meals impact the spiritual formation of participants in the Summit neighborhood of Canton, Ohio? Overview The purpose of this project was to measure the impact sharing a meal with one’s neighbors can have on spiritual formation. A select group of diverse people in the Summit neighborhood of Canton, Ohio were selected for the purpose of this project. The group of men and women, ranging in age, ethnicity, life experiences, and socio-economics gathered together at my home for five weeks of prepared meals. The participants were assessed on the impact of this project through a survey designed to measure progress on their spiritual formation and their sense of community. This project was designed to assess elements that can intentionally be added into church communities and neighborhoods to deepen one’s connection to God and to one another. Throughout the project I found an increased communal awareness and a recognition that food could be a primary bridge for this connection. Realizing that this can be adapted to fit any community in any part of the world, a primary goal of this project is to share my findings with other ministries as they extend their own spiritual formation practices through the use of everyday items. 2 Foundations I nervously walked down the street, husband by my side, to meet my neighbors. Not knowing the best way to do this, I gave a little wave and hello to people we passed on their porches and front yards. It would have been easier if there was a dog or child with us, I was sure; they always knew how to break the tension. We had a few brief conversations to introduce ourselves in this new neighborhood and finally turned around to head back to our small home. Realizing we had yet to meet the family who lived directly next door, we stopped and knocked for what we assumed would be another quick introduction, then we would be on our way. However, when the door opened and we said “Hello! We just moved in next door and wanted to introduce ourselves,” we found ourselves ushered into the home instantly. An older woman who did not speak English motioned for us to sit on the couch. A young girl came out of their small kitchen with a tray full of cookies and said the tea would be done soon. How, I wondered, were they prepared for guests? “We don’t have long, just wanted to pop by,” I attempted to explain. This response was not appropriate; instead, we sat for over an hour as they brought out fruit and tea and any snack they could find in their home to share with us. More children wandered in the living room to sit by us. Nejat, the mother, had the children translate for us as she explained they had also just moved into the neighborhood only days before us. As we received their warm hospitality, it was evident that God had brought this Muslim family into our lives to teach us how to be neighbors. After that initial afternoon, we found ourselves in 3 their home sharing meals on the floor, helping where we could with homework problems, and realizing that an open door in our neighborhood always meant the cupboards would be raided for time together. As I watch my fellow Christians struggle in their attempt to connect to their communities at large, I cannot help but think of how we often make it harder than it needs to be. There are simpler ways to break boundaries and foster relationships. Whether due to age differences, language barriers, sexual preferences,
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