Chinese Canadian, Young Adult Evangelicals and the Negotiation of Ethno- Religious Identity in the Greater Toronto Area
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Multi-sited Faith: Chinese Canadian, Young Adult Evangelicals and the Negotiation of Ethno- Religious Identity in the Greater Toronto Area by Scott Wall A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfilment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2020 © Scott Wall 2020 Examining Committee Membership The following served on the Examining Committee for this thesis. The decision of the Examining Committee is by majority vote. External Examiner NAME Alison Marshall Title Professor Supervisor(s) NAME David Seljak Title Professor Internal Member NAME Douglas Cowan Title Professor Internal-external Member NAME Vinh Nguyen Title Assistant Professor Other Member(s) NAME Paul Freston Title Professor ii Author’s Declaration I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. iii Abstract In 2016, Census Canada found that more than 1.5 million of Toronto, Ontario’s roughly 5.4 million total population were second-generation immigrants. As part of this significant cohort, Chinese Canadian young adults are coming of age in a diverse, multicultural landscape. This project investigates the experience of my 18-35 year-old Chinese Canadian participants as they negotiate their connection to both their Chinese heritage and their sense of being evangelical Christians. Drawing on 51 formal interviews, 18 months of participant observation using multi- site ethnographic methods, and analysis of material culture, I argue that Chinese Canadian, young adult evangelicals form a variety of identity combinations in order to build and maintain attachment to ethno-religious communities. I found that while some explore and use multi-ethnic congregations and ministries to form these combinations, a far larger contingent of Chinese Canadian young adult evangelicals are drawing from a network of institutions and organizations rooted in the Chinese evangelical community. This network constitutes one of the chief findings of the study and illustrates how the unique second-generation religious forms that it fosters and allows for may help sustain and strengthen continued involvement in immigrant congregations for years to come. iv Acknowledgements These kinds of projects are always a collective effort. This is especially the case in my experience where the research, writing, and completion spanned years, illness, and a cross-country move. Many thanks are in order. To the faculty, staff, alumni and students of the Joint PhD program in Waterloo – thank you for modelling curiousity, hard work, and generous friendship. And especially: Denis Bekkering, Peter Schurmann, Samiksa Munro and Rachel Brown – thank you for your comradery and support that lightened many moments. Jeff Wilson and Janet McLellan – your incisive questions and helpful suggestions stretched my imagination for this project. Doris Jakobsh, Mavis Fenn, and Peter Frick – your kindness was invaluable to me as a grad student and TA. Doug Cowan and Paul Freston – I am deeply thankful for your acumen as members of my committee. I read more broadly and extensively because of you. Alison Marshall and Vinh Nguyen – your careful reading and critiques of this project improved the final product. Thank you for lending your external expertise so graciously. And to my advisor, David Seljak – thank you for your tireless support, keen editing eye, and quick humour that brought this work to its completion. To the participants and community leaders I met in my fieldwork – there are more than I could name here. Your stories and reflections are the heart of this thesis. I specifically want to thank Steve Chu, Daniel Wong, Freddy Lam, and Ted Tham for their welcome and support as I began gathering data. I’m also grateful for the AFC staff (current and alumni) who offered their time, conversation, and friendship – David Ooi, Mike Wong, Jon Fung, and Letty Wong. To my fellow researchers, whose parallel interests both confirmed and challenged my initial questions. Thank you for your generosity and kindness along the way – Enoch Wong, and especially the late Helen Mo. To friends who stayed close all the way through – offering childcare, well-timed checkins, and steady affection. J and Trace, Tim and Mel, Jeff and Rebecca. To two of many ‘prodders’ along the way. First, Chris Barrigar - who shouted at me down the concourse of the Louisville airport as we parted, “Finish the dissertation, Scott!” And to Justin du Plessix, who (since our move to Calgary) has regularly asked “How’s the thesis?” To my colleagues and friends at Commons Church in Calgary, who (whether they know it or not) supported my efforts to finish even as we tried to grow, expand, and develop as a community. Especially to Jeremy and Bobbi – your keen minds and profound creativity inspire me. v And to my family. My parents – Ray and Carol, thank you for the love, integrity, and spiritual life that shaped me. For supporting my learning and research. You’ve heard many an unprompted (and likely unwanted) lecture on these and other themes – thank you for your open-heartedness and grace. My other parents – Henry and Pauline, who came to live with us when illness struck: an incalculable sacrifice that spared our family trauma and stress, and also allowed me to be productive in such a difficult season. Cory and Brenda – who hosted me during my fieldwork in Toronto, providing reprieve and support in those long months. My brothers – Trent and Nathan – who periodically offered diversionary conversation and celebratory beverages. I am so thankful for you both. My children – Hayley, Brandon, and Norah – your laughter is my favourite sound in the world, and I’m thrilled to be watching you become your own selves. And Darlene – to whom this work is dedicated – your courage, tenacity, and grace define our life together. Thanks for your steady support and encouragement that I finish this project. vi Dedication To Darlene “For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks, the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation.” Rainer Maria Rilke vii Table of Contents Front Matter Title page .................................................................................................................................... i Examining committee membership ........................................................................................... ii Author’s Declaration ................................................................................................................ iii Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... v Dedication ................................................................................................................................ vii Table of Contents .................................................................................................................... viii Attributions ................................................................................................................................. x List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ xi List of Acronyms ...................................................................................................................... xii 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 First encounter ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Summary of relevant research ................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Conceptualizing my participants ............................................................................................ 9 1.4 Outline of chapters ............................................................................................................... 24 2. A History of the Evangelical Chinese Canadian Community in Toronto .............................. 28 2.1 Coming to Canada ................................................................................................................ 29 2.2 The Shift to Toronto ............................................................................................................. 37 2.3 Chinese evangelicals in Toronto .......................................................................................... 43 a. Foundations ........................................................................................................................ 43 b. Expansion ........................................................................................................................... 47 c. Interconnection and second-generation experience ............................................................ 50 2.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 53 3. Theory and Methodology .........................................................................................................