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Becoming an Intercultural Church As a Postcolonial Mission Practice in the Canadian Context of Integrative Multiculturalism

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Becoming an Intercultural Church As a Postcolonial Mission Practice in the Canadian Context of Integrative Multiculturalism Sharing Concern for Justice: Becoming an Intercultural Church as a Postcolonial Mission Practice in the Canadian Context of Integrative Multiculturalism by Hyuk Cho A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Emmanuel College and the Theological Department of the Toronto School of Theology In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Theology awarded by Emmanuel College and the University of Toronto © Copyright by Hyuk Cho 2017 Sharing Concern for Justice: Becoming an Intercultural Church as a Postcolonial Mission Practice in the Canadian Context of Integrative Multiculturalism Hyuk Cho Doctor of Theology Emmanuel College and the University of Toronto 2017 Abstract Who is the Other? In a society so culturally and religiously diverse as Canada, how does the United Church of Canada (UCC) build just relations with the Other without breaching the Other’s identity? In the context of Canada’s current multicultural policy and the Church’s vision to become an intercultural church, this study develops a missiology for the Church. This thesis claims that Canada’s Integrative Multiculturalism promotes religious conflicts through the assimilation and the integration of difference into the dominant culture by discarding unwelcomed differences in the public sphere: difference, rather, is a gift for building just community. In order to develop the philosophical foundation for an intercultural theology, the thesis employs key concepts from the work of three scholars – Emmanuel Levinas, Jacques Derrida and Homi Bhabha. Rather than relying on common beliefs to carry out God’s mission (missio Dei), the Church’s report World Mission (1966) provides an historical and theological resource for developing a mutuality model of missiology and mission practice in which the church works justly with Others, sharing a common concern. To develop the model, several components are offered: the Aboriginal philosophy “all my relations,” the Six Nations’ Two Row Wampum belt and Nam-dong Suh’s minjung theology. This thesis proposes “all my relations” as a metaphor for the model of becoming an intercultural church and ii its mission practice with Others whether they are the people of religious faith or not. While sustaining their own identities, participants create a safe, welcoming in-between third space where dialogical dialogue takes place in the solidarity of Others sharing their concern for justice. iii Acknowledgments During this journey of preparing this dissertation, I have been blessed with the help and encouragement of a great number of people. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my advisor Prof. Thomas E. Reynolds for his unfailing support, depth of scholarship and encouragement throughout the years of research and writing of this thesis. I am deeply grateful to my committee members: Prof. Michael Bourgeois, Prof. John Dadosky and Prof. Charles Fensham for their insightful comments, helpful guidance and challenging questions. I thank Prof. Phyllis D. Airhart, Prof. Mary Jo Leddy, Prof. Marilyn J. Legge and Prof. Ovey N. Mohammed, S.J. for shaping my research from their various perspectives. I thank Dr. Marion Pope, who, as a wise mentor, thoughtful editor and faithful companion, was always willing to offer me difficult questions. Without her precious support, it would have not been possible to finish this research. My thanks also go to the Rev. Dr. Susan Howard who provided valuable advice. I appreciate my friendship with the Rev. Dr. Glen Wright for his interest in this project. I thank the members of Trinity United Church, Acton, ON. for their generous support and patience during these years of research. I will be ever grateful to my family. My loving life companion, JungHee Park, did not live to see this thesis finished but over the years, her love, wise advice and learnings from her own research sustained me throughout the journey. This project is her story as well as mine as we sought to do God’s mission together. Our children, Saepom and Luke, have been a nurturing source of energy and motivation to promote this study. They have brightened my journey with their smiles and love. Thank You! iv Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... iv Illustrations ................................................................................................................................ viii Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................. ix Introduction ....................................................................................................................................1 1. Locating the Issue ..........................................................................................................1 2. The Argument of the Thesis .........................................................................................6 3. Mapping the Thesis .....................................................................................................11 4. Thesis Statement .........................................................................................................14 Chapter 1 From Multiculturalism to Integrative Multiculturalism: The Historical Development of Canada’s Policies on Governing Diversity ..........................................................15 1.1. The Evolution of Canada’s Policy of Multiculturalism ..............................................17 1.2. Interculturalism in Québec .........................................................................................24 1.3. Religious Identity and Religious Participation. ..........................................................28 1.4. A Critique of Integrative Multiculturalism .................................................................38 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................49 Chapter 2 The Gift of Difference: A Philosophical Journey Toward Building a Just Community .........................................51 2.1. The Face of the Other: A Plea for an Ethical Relationship (Emmanuel Levinas) ............................................................................................................................. 55 2.1.1. The Holocaust ...................................................................................................56 2.1.2. Two Directions of Western Philosophy ...........................................................57 2.1.3. Entering into a Relationship with the Other ....................................................61 2.1.4. Relation without Relation 1: The Face to Face Interaction ............................ 65 2.2. In the Beginning was Différance: The Relation to the Other (Jacques Derrida) ........67 2.2.1. Relation without Relation 2: Interruption and Negotiation .............................68 2.2.2. The Play of Différance .................................................................................... 72 v 2.2.3. The (Im)Possiblity of Différance .....................................................................79 2.3. Dwelling in the In-between Space: From Cultural Diversity to Cultural Difference (Homi K. Bhabha) ............................................................................................81 2.3.1. I Am (Not) A Supplement .............................................................................. 84 2.3.2. Cultural Diversity and Cultural Difference .....................................................85 2.3.3. The In-between, Hybrid Space ........................................................................ 94 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................99 Chapter 3 The United Church of Canada’s Journey toward Becoming an Intercultural Church in the Context of Pluralism ............................................................104 3.1. Grounding Mission - World Mission (1966) ............................................................107 3.1.1. The Contexts ..................................................................................................109 3.1.1.1. The institutional context ..................................................................109 3.1.1.2. The ecumenical context ...................................................................112 3.1.1.3. The theological context ....................................................................115 3.1.2. The Perspectives ........................................................................................... 118 3.1.3. The Implications ............................................................................................121 3.2. A Critical Review of the United Church’s Interfaith Dialogue ...............................125 3.2.1. Toward World-centred Ecumenism ..............................................................126 3.2.2. Coming down from the Mountain ..................................................................134 3.3. Becoming an Intercultural Church: the Historical Journey ..................................... 148 3.3.1. Issues Raised by Ethnic Ministries ................................................................ 151 3.3.2. Towards Becoming
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