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Scripture's Role in Discerning Theology in the United Church of Canada

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Scripture's Role in Discerning Theology in the United Church of Canada Scripture’s Role in Discerning Theology in The United Church of Canada by John William David McMaster A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Knox College and the Toronto School of Theology In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Ministry awarded by Knox College and the University of Toronto. © Copyright by John William David McMaster 2016 Scripture’s Role in Discerning Theology in The United Church of Canada John William David McMaster Doctor of Ministry Knox College and the University of Toronto 2016 Abstract Traditionally, the Bible has been at the centre of the Church’s life and thought. It has been viewed as the Word of God, a unique work, revealing God and God’s ways to humankind. Authority and the authority of scripture have been questioned, however, in recent years particularly within mainline Protestant denominations. The following study seeks to clarify the role of scripture in discerning theology within congregational life of the United Church of Canada. It begins by examining the view of scripture held by the Protestant Reformers of the 16th and 18th centuries. It moves to discuss how those views have been affected by the rise of modernist and postmodernist thought, and then looks at the changing role of scripture within the history of the United Church. These contextual studies form the base for a case study of the practices and thought of three United Church Councils in the city of Toronto. There, it was found that more experiential factors were the chief influences on United Church lay leaders today as they make theological ii decisions. Scripture’s influence and engagement of it are limited. Since even the newer model of theological discernment supported by the United Church still requires a knowledge of scripture at a foundational level, this study calls on the Church to clarify its position on scripture and to re-educate the Christian community as to its unique character and value. iii Acknowledgements I would like to thank the faculty and staff of Knox College for their help and encouragement during this time of study. Specifically, I thank my thesis director, Stuart Macdonald for his gracious spirit and thoughtfulness. He has kindly offered considerable time discussing ideas, reading through various chapters, and offering helpful advice. Additionally, Dorcas Gordon, the Principal of Knox and my “College Advisor,” has witnessed this programme of study grow from its infancy and has kindly offered support and words of critique along the way. To the ministers, staff and congregation I serve, Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, I extend heartfelt thanks for your support and generosity in helping me through this degree programme. Your on-going encouragement and the help of some individuals within the congregation has been truly amazing. Finally, to my 20-something children, Heather, Andrew and occasionally Thomas, who have watched their Dad sit at a table night after night for over four years and have dealt with a certain level of detachment, I can only ask your forgiveness and thank you for your quietness and patience. iv Table of Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iv Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ v List of Tables .................................................................................................................... vii Charts ................................................................................................................................. ix Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................... x Chapter 1 Introduction.................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Theology in the practice of ministry .................................................................................. 1 1.2 Direction of the study ......................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Relevance of the study ....................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2 Scripture in Early Reform & Wesleyan Thought ..................................... 9 2.1 The place of scripture at the beginning of the Reformation ............................................... 9 2.2 John Calvin and the basis of scriptural authority ............................................................. 11 2.3 John Knox and biblical precedent .................................................................................... 15 2.4 Thomas Cranmer: scripture above all .............................................................................. 20 2.5 John Wesley: a passion for scripture and “the quadrilateral”........................................... 23 2.6 Summary: ......................................................................................................................... 29 Chapter 3 Authority and Scripture in Modern and Postmodern Worlds .............. 31 3.1 From Enlightenment to modernism .................................................................................. 31 3.2 Modernity, authority, and the Bible ................................................................................. 35 3.3 The rise of postmodernism ............................................................................................... 38 3.4 Postmodernity, authority, and the Bible ........................................................................... 44 3.5 A brief critique ................................................................................................................. 51 Chapter 4 The Evolving Role of Scripture in the United Church ........................... 55 4.1 The early years: union and statements of faith ................................................................. 56 4.2 Scripture in the early years (1925 - 1945) ........................................................................ 63 4.3 Scripture in the middle years (1945-1965) ....................................................................... 65 4.4 A changing role for scripture: beyond the mid-1960s ...................................................... 72 4.5 Summary: ......................................................................................................................... 85 Chapter 5 The Case Study .......................................................................................... 89 5.1 Method and process .......................................................................................................... 89 5.2 The three Councils: a brief description ............................................................................ 91 Chapter 6 The Questionnaire – Report and Commentary ...................................... 93 6.1 Introduction to the questionnaire ...................................................................................... 93 6.2 Report & Commentary ..................................................................................................... 94 6.3 Further analysis .............................................................................................................. 111 6.4 What have we learned? .................................................................................................. 120 v Chapter 7 The Interviews .......................................................................................... 124 7.1 The participants: selection and description .................................................................... 124 7.2 Data analysis and reporting ............................................................................................ 125 7.3 Intentional processes when making theological decisions ............................................. 126 7.4 What influences lay leaders’ theological decisions? ...................................................... 130 7.5 The role of scripture in discerning theology .................................................................. 136 7.6 Perceptions of how one knows God and God’s will ...................................................... 149 7.7 Toward an understanding of a central Toronto United Church perspective .................. 151 Chapter 8 Focus Group ............................................................................................. 155 8.1 Purpose & description of participants ............................................................................ 155 8.2 The Report ...................................................................................................................... 156 8.2.1 Council process around theological issues.............................................................. 156 8.2.2 Where is knowledge of God found? ....................................................................... 157 8.2.3 (416) versus (905)/(705) ......................................................................................... 160 8.2.4 Culture above scripture, or scripture above culture? .............................................. 161 8.2.5 Quick comments ..................................................................................................... 164 8.2.6 Governance model .................................................................................................. 165 8.2.7 Improving
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