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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Boston University Institutional Repository (OpenBU) Boston University OpenBU http://open.bu.edu Theses & Dissertations Boston University Theses & Dissertations 2019 The Wesleyan Quadrilateral in conversation with The African Triple Heritage Thesis: developing a new theological resource to aid in coherent moral discourse between Ugandan and North American United Methodists https://hdl.handle.net/2144/37045 Boston University BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY Thesis Project THE WESLEYAN QUADRILATERAL IN CONVERSATION WITH THE AFRICAN TRIPLE HERITAGE THESIS: DEVELOPING A THEOLOGICAL RESOURCE TO AID IN COHERENT MORAL DISCOURSE BETWEEN UGANDAN AND NORTH AMERICAN UNITED METHODISTS by KARMA DENISE WALTON B.S., Columbus State University, 1991 M.Div., Candler School of Theology, 2003 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Ministry 2019 © 2019 by Karma Denise Walton All Rights Reserved. Approved by First Reader _____________________________________________________ Dr. Nimi Wariboko, PhD Walter G. Muelder Professor of Social Ethics Second Reader _____________________________________________________ Dr. Eileen Daily, JD, PhD Director, Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS After an intense period of four years, today is the day: writing this note of thanks is the finishing touch of my dissertation. These past four years have been transformative as I learned to embrace failure in developing this research proposal. It was the immense struggle of developing the initial project thesis that gave me hope to persevere. Through this struggle, I wrestled with the strengths and limitations of this research while discovering the way forward. I have grown academically and personally in this process. I would like to reflect on the people who offered support and help along this journey. First, I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Nimi Wariboko, Walter G. Muelder Professor of Social Ethics, Boston University School of Theology. Dr. Wariboko challenged me to bring a representation of all the relevant voices to the research project. Furthermore, he challenged my limitations in the subject matter. As a result, I chose to expand my understanding of cultural nuances within the research and I am a better researcher because of that academic rigor. Second, I would like to thank Dr. Eileen Daily, Director, Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership Program, Boston University School of Theology. The initial sparks of the research focus began with my colleagues in Cohort 3 under the leadership of Dr. Daily. As a young research student, Dr. Daily held me accountable while creating space in the program to explore concepts. I am grateful to her for the continued support to address the many facets of dissertation research from the initial concept to the final work. iv There were days when I rejoiced and times when I was ready to give up. It was my family and friends who continued to encourage me along the way. My sons, Terry Marquis Walton (Master in Social Work, Savannah State University) and Christopher Dwayne Walton (Master in Psychology, Alabama State University) were a constant source of support and love. They often reminded me of the words I have shared with them all their lives, “There is more than one way to get where you are trying to go – don’t give up!” I love you both and continue to grow and learn from each of you. I fell in love during this research process and will soon marry, Mr. Anthony Kagoro, native of Uganda, PhD Student, Biological Sciences (Area of Research: Climate Change), Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda. Anthony has walked this journey with me every step of the way. His love and encouragement allowed me to explore cultural perspectives from both an African and North American perspective. As we bring our families together, we are all more aware of the nuances of culture, conflict, and the hope for global relationships across many contexts. Thank you love for all your care and pushing me to explore new insights, new voices in the research and new ways to move forward in the project. Finally, I am always thinking of my grandchildren. N’Khayla Amerie Walton is my seven-year- old granddaughter and one day she will read this research as she explores her own educational goals. Kayla, never stop trying to make a difference in this world. For those grandchildren and the generation yet unborn, know that in all my striving I pray for you and think of your highest good. As the ancestors loved and prayed for me, so I pray for you. Always remember how much I love you. (Jaja – Ugandan for grandmother). v A special thank you to friends who read the research and offered grammatical and structural suggestions: Mrs. Beverly Ellis, Mrs. Patricia Martin, and Mrs. Cindy Stillwaggon all of Wilderness Community Church, Spotsylvania, Virginia. Finally a special thanks to my research assistant, Ms. Aleysia Goodley. vi THE WESLEYAN QUADRILATERAL IN CONVERSATION WITH THE AFRICAN TRIPLE HERITAGE THESIS: DEVELOPING A THEOLOGICAL RESOURCE TO AID IN COHERENT MORAL DISCOURSE BETWEEN UGANDAN AND NORTH AMERICAN UNITED METHODISTS KARMA DENISE WALTON Boston University School of Theology, 2019 Major Professor: Nimi Wariboko, Walter G. Muelder Professor of Social Ethics ABSTRACT There is an ongoing crisis between Ugandan and North American United Methodists related to global missional partnerships and the financial ethics of international donor funds. For nearly a decade, these two parties worked together around the themes of global partnerships in mission and ministry. Today, these relationships are broken and communication has been severely impacted due to allegations of mismanaged funds on the episcopal level in East Africa. After reviewing existing literature focused on communication, moral decision-making, conflict resolution, and cultural and intercultural competency from both western and African perspectives, I invited two theological resources into conversation. As parties involved in conflict address problems of communication and moral decision-making, the deeper issues of cultural and intercultural awareness can be examined. This research intentionally took a small step toward the larger goal of conflict forming a new theological resource for shared coherent moral discourse. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... xiii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................... xiv INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 Two Cultures in Conflict .............................................................................................. 1 The Overarching Research Vision ................................................................................ 1 The African Triple Heritage Thesis and The Wesleyan Quadrilateral ......................... 2 CHAPTER 1: CORRUPTION, CONFLICT, AND CULTURE ........................................ 6 Corruption and the Developing World ......................................................................... 6 Corruption in Uganda ................................................................................................... 7 Corruption in the United States of America ................................................................. 8 Corruption and Cultural Awareness .............................................................................. 9 The Problem: A Global Financial Conflict ................................................................... 9 Problem of Communication and Conflict Resolution ................................................. 11 Moral Decision-Making and Conflict ......................................................................... 13 Cultural and Intercultural Competency ....................................................................... 15 Two Theological Resources toward Conflict Resolution ........................................... 16 Definition of Terms ..................................................................................................... 20 Research Limitations .................................................................................................. 20 Opportunity for Transformation ................................................................................. 21 CHAPTER 2: THE LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................ 23 The Role of Language in Conflict and Conflict Resolution ....................................... 24 viii Conflict Resolution and Language in Africa .............................................................. 25 The Role of Cultural and Intercultural Competency in Conflict Resolution .............. 25 Transformational Learning Theories .......................................................................... 28 Mezirow’s Theory of Transformational Learning from an African Perspective .. 31 The ATHT in conversation with the WQ ............................................................. 33 The African Triple Heritage Thesis as Theological Resource .................................... 34 Cultural Crisis in the Nineteenth Century Africa ....................................................... 37 Africa in Decay ....................................................................................................
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