The Andrew F. Walls Centre for the Study of African and Asian Christianity Newsletter

October 2018 www.hope.ac.uk/andrewfwallscentre

Introduction to the Centre International Partnerships

The Centre maintains a partnership agreement with the Madras Named after the distinguished Professor Andrew F. Walls, Christian College in Chennai/India, Professor of History of Missions at Liverpool Hope University, the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of the Centre aims to foster cross-cultural learning and research in Theology, Mission and Culture in mission studies, and explore the place of and within Akropong/Ghana, and the Nigerian World Christianity. Baptist Convention in Ibadan/ Nigeria. Professor Walls’ missionary experiences in Sierra Leone and Nigeria, his teaching experiences at the universities in Euro-American, Since the partnership inception, the African and Asian institutions of higher learning, and his lectures in Centre and the Madras Christian mission conferences in numerous countries shape his perception and College (MCC) have conducted five interpretation of Christianity. He has contributed immensely to the study Liverpool Hope-MCC Seminars in of World Christianity. Tambaram, Chennai (2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018). The Centre is formed by a community of scholars and students These concentrated on Christian from different parts of the world, who research African and Asian leaders who are members of local engagements with the life and teachings of Lord Jesus Christ, various Churches, but work outside of the Euro-American missionaries, and indigenous church communities. mainline churches as initiators of mission movements, scientists, It serves as an active forum for emerging and established scholars to business people, academics, and the meet over an annual International Conference – held each year in either like. The next Liverpool Hope-MCC June or early July - and a Postgraduate Summer School. It welcomes Seminar will be held in January 2020. Visiting Professors, Honorary Research Fellows, Senior Fellows, and Visiting Fellows to spend their sabbaticals or research time among a We are also currently exploring vibrant community of scholars. partnership agreements with other institutions in East Asia and East As well as ongoing academic and research partnerships with select Africa. Scholars and students from institutions of higher education in Africa and Asia, the Centre’s teaching these institutions visit the Centre and research activity benefits from a specialist library housed within during the annual conference and the Sheppard-Worlock Library at Liverpool Hope University. It is a summer school. self-contained resource, housing specialist materials on Christian history, thought and life in Africa, Asia and the Pacific region, and in the For information on partnership overseas Diasporas from those continents. Thus far, it has worked on possibilities and activities, please Pietist and Methodist mission legacies that connect the West with the contact Prof. Daniel Jeyaraj, East, the North with the South. ([email protected]).

1/4 Forthcoming events Diaspora Consultation Saturday 8th December 2018 Christian oikumene has always been multicultural and polycentric. The presence and works of African, Asian, Latin American Christians in contemporary Europe and North America has highlighted the multiculturality and polycentricity of World Christianity. All European and North American Christians including the Catholics, the Protestants and the Pentecostals face challenges of living, working and worshipping with the Christians from the Global South and materialising the church as the Body of Christ. Especially, children and young adults of the diaspora communities struggle to uphold the Christian faith and practices of their parents and grandparents. Wives and husbands, daughters and sons, women and men of Christian diaspora communities are concerned about role reversals, health of marriages, aging in a ‘strange environment’ and the like. This consultation is open to all, who are interested in the welfare of diaspora communities in general and Christian diaspora communities in particular.

The consultation will take place in the EDEN Building at Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park, Taggart Avenue, L16 9JD, on Saturday 8th December 2018, 10 - 3pm. The theme for this year is ‘The Christian Faith among Diaspora College Students in Britain’.

For further details, please contact Dr Harvey Kwiyani: [email protected]

Postgraduate Summer School Sunday 2nd – Wednesday 5th June 2019 The Postgraduate Summer School takes places for the benefit of our doctoral students, who live either here on campus or in distant places. They come here for an intense time of academic engagement with scholars and fellow researchers. They have training sessions that deal with the nature and challenges of doctoral work, field research, research ethics, oral examination, etc. They present their research findings and receive constructive feedback. They also complete their internal requirements such as Annual Monitoring Review and Confirmation of Registration Event, and participate in the Centre’s annual international conference.

This summer school is open for postgraduate students from other institutions of higher education. There is a small nominal fee. If they register earlier and wish to stay on campus, we can arrange for their accommodation.

For details, kindly contact Professor Daniel Jeyaraj: [email protected]

International conference - Christians from the Global South in Europe and Diaspora Missions Wednesday 5th - Saturday 8th June 2019 This 11th annual conference of the Centre takes place in cooperation with The Lausanne Movement and Global Diaspora Network. This conference will explore the impact of Christians from the Global South on Christianity in Europe over the last 100 years. It provides an opportunity for African, Asian, Latin American leaders of Christian communities in Europe to gather together for mutual learning and enrichment.

The call for papers will soon go out and for further details, please contact either Prof. Daniel Jeyaraj (jeyarad@ hope.ac.uk) or Dr Harvey Kwiyani ([email protected]) or Dr Sam George ([email protected])

Residential Session for the MA in African Christianity Monday 10th - Friday 14th June 2019 This residential session for MA in African Christianity will cover a 30-credit core module entitled ‘Key Themes in African Christian Thought and History’. The first half will explore outstanding historical events in the history of African Christianity, with a particular focus on Christianity in Egypt and the Maghreb during the first six centuries. The second half will examine the formation and social impact of African Christian thoughts and theologies on history and modern times.

For further information, please contact Dr Harvey Kwiyani via email [email protected]

2/4 Standing academic Fellows of the Centre Following nominations from programmes scholars, who have made significant contributions to the study of World Christianity, the Centre recommends Doctoral Degree programme Visiting Professors, Visiting Fellows In the changed Christian demography, in which more Christians are now and Honorary Research Fellows for living in the Global South, new descriptors of Christianity are emerging. three-year appointments. The older categories, centred on Europe and North America, are still there, These scholars advise the Director but their values continue to decline. Christian events and developments of the Centre in matters pertaining in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific provide fresh intellectual, to its development, as well as annual theological and cultural influences. Our doctoral researchers examine conferences and seminars. They also select aspects of these and other happenings within the life situations of actively participate in the conferences Christians, come up with new findings and enrich the polycentric and multi- and summer schools. cultural aspects of contemporary World Christianity. At present, Professor Klaus Koschorke, The past cohort of doctoral researchers have explored how West African former Professor of Transcontinental and Asian Christians in West Africa, Britain and the United States Christianity at the Faculty of Protestant theologically and intellectually dealt with necessity of inculturating rites Theology, University of Munich, serves of passage, gender roles, the place of ancestors in church activities, as our Visiting Professor. Dr Ingrid Christian-Muslim relationships and diaspora challenges. The current cohort Reneau Walls is the Honorary Research of students hailing from Hong Kong, , Tanzania, and Fellow. The Right Reverend Professor the United States explore the impact of select Christian leaders, political Dr Dennis Ng, the President of the theology, Hindu-Christian dialogue, and inculturation. China Victory Theological Seminary in Hong Kong, is our Senior Fellow. The Centre offers supervision for admitted students, who are either full- Professor Frederick Hale of North- time or part-time, who may choose to live in Liverpool or in the places West University in and of of their current work. The students under distance supervision must Wolfson College at the University of personally participate in the Summer School and successfully complete all Cambridge and The Reverend Dr Peter requirements regarding skills and competencies. Olanrewaju Awojobi, the Provost of the UMCA Theological College in Illorin/ For initial enquiries on doctoral degrees and admission procedures, contact Nigeria are our Visiting Fellows. Prof. Daniel Jeyaraj via email [email protected]. The Centre is grateful for the advice For doctoral application, see www.hope.ac.uk/postgraduateresearch/ and support of Visiting Fellows, howtoapply including Professor Robert Eric Frykenberg, Professor Emeritus of History & South Asian Studies, Master’s Degree in African Christianity University of Wisconsin–Madison; Professor Richard Fox Young, Professor The Centre is delighted to offer an MA in African Christianity from January of History of Religions, Princeton 2019. The students engage with the growth of Christianity in sub-Saharan Theological Seminary, New Jersey; Africa and the establishment of African Christian diasporic communities in Professor Johannes Hoffie Hofmeyer, Europe, North America and other countries outside Africa. Professor Emeritus of History of Christianity, South Africa; Dr William Particularly, they investigate the historical, cultural and theological R. Burrows, Managing Editor Emeritus, dimensions of thoughts and experiences that African peoples, Christians Orbis Books, Maryknoll and Research and non-Christians alike, both within Africa itself and in the diaspora have Professor of Missiology in the Center made and are still making. for World Christianity at New York Theological Seminary, New York; Simultaneously, students will gain necessary higher-level skills to The Reverend Dr Samson Olasupo intelligently and responsibly analyse the multifaceted realities of Christian A Ayokunle, PhD President & CEO, life in contemporary Africa and diasporic settings. On successful Nigerian Baptist Convention, Nigeria; completion, they will have the possibility to begin a PhD study in this field. and The Reverend Professor Deji The resource materials at the Centre can support students of African Isaac Ayegboyin, President, The Christianity at Masters and Doctoral levels. Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho, Nigeria. For initial inquires and admission procedures, contact Dr. Harvey Kwiyani on [email protected]. For information on the nomination of Senior Fellows, Visiting Fellows, For further details on this degree, see www.hope.ac.uk/postgraduate/ Honorary Research Fellows, please postgraduatecourses/africanchristianityma/ contact Professor Daniel Jeyaraj, ([email protected]).

3/4 Resources for research and study

This Centre houses large collections of books, journals, Christianity. M.E. Cecilia Irvine has bequeathed to the popular literature, microfilms and microfiches and some Centre all her collections on African Initiated Churches (eg. artefacts on Christian themes from Africa, Asia and the the Kimbanguist Church), the Anglican Church, the World Pacific regions. An important aspect of the resources is Council of Churches, the Ecumenical Movement and the the popular literature, which normally does not feature in history of Protestant Missions in the Democratic Republic academic collections. of Congo. Rev Dr John Pritchard has donated several books on Methodism, and John Lenton of the Wesley Historical These include church bulletins, children’s magazines, school Society has also donated. The Wycliffe Bible Translators primers, hymns, chorus sheets, testimonies of deliverance have donated nearly 200 Bible versions in diverse languages. from evil spirits and the like. These popular and scholarly resources embody intellectual, theological and practical The WEC International Research Collection, which Jason insights of the peoples in the Global South, who have Mandryk has donated to the Centre, includes 40 years of responded to and engaged with the contents of the Bible, collected articles and ephemera that formed the backbone of and the teachings and practices of Christian missionaries the Operation World information. There are several thousand who had served among them. spiral bound volumes covering 45 metres of shelf space with articles pasted into pages, organised in different categories This ensures African and Asian Christianities are contextual, within each country, with four editions per country dating and the resources include works on African and Asian from the 1970s into the early 21st century. religions, histories, families, schools, politics, and economics and international relations. They represent evidence of cross- The categories include a general information survey, political- cultural diffusion of Christianity from Europe, North America economic news and analysis, religion and Christian surveys and Australia into multitudes of centuries-old languages and and information, church and Christian ministry, particularly cultures of Africa, Asia and Pacific region. They also record mission activity, and finally ethnolinguistic people group the process of transmission and indigenous reception of information. The majority, is from Global North sources Christianity. These missionary movements provide a lasting including newspapers, magazines and journals, in-house link between Western Christianity and the Christianity of publications, and missionary prayer letters. Africa, Asia and the Pacific region. Dr James M Ault Jr. of the James Ault Productions in Some aspects of the resources include Rev Dr John F Northampton, Massachusetts/USA, has donated to Butler’s collections on non-Western Christian art (eg. the Centre original video footage of his interviews with books, artworks). Professor Johannes Hoffie Hofmeyer of Professors Kwame Bediako (1998 and 2006), Gillian Bediako the University of Pretoria has donated over 400 books on (2006), Andrew Walls (2001, 2009). The Centre also houses the history of Christianity in South Africa. Rev Dr Daniel about 500 items of Rev Harold Keeling Moulton, a Methodist O’Connor, who had earlier worked in St Stephen’s College missionary, who worked in South India (1927–1957). in New Delhi, has donated nearly 1,000 books on the history of Christianity in India. Rev Dr George Hood’s donation To access the materials, please contact Special Collections includes a considerable number of books on Chinese Librarian Ms Karen Backhouse (Tel. +44 151 291 2027, Email: [email protected])

Seeking your help The Centre actively collects religious literature – scholarly and popular, mainstream and marginal, official and informal, periodicals and pamphlets – pertaining to African and Asian Christianity. If you wish to donate, please inform either Professor Daniel Jeyaraj (jeyarad@ Rev Professor Dr Harvey Kwiyani Professor Andrew hope.ac.uk) or Dr Harvey Kwiyani Daniel Jeyaraj F. Walls Lecturer in African ([email protected]). Professor of World Christianity and Professor of History Christianity, Director of Theology of Missions www.hope.ac.uk andrewfwallscentre the Andrew Walls Centre

Contact us Andrew F. Walls Centre for the Study of African and Asian Christianity Liverpool Hope University Hope Park, Liverpool, L16 9JD