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Joint and Mutual Covenantal Priesthood: a Narrative Of Joint and Mutual Covenantal Priesthood: A Narrative of Community for Australian Baptist Churches Anne Elizabeth Klose B.A. (Hons Psych), M.Th. A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2013 School of History, Philosophy, Religion & Classics Abstract Practical theology seeks to integrate what have, at times, been perceived to be the separate disciplines of pastoral theology, scriptural studies and systematic theology. This thesis, specifically as a project in practical theology, seeks to bring the resources of these three disciplines to bear upon the nature of community as it is and could be practised within Australian Baptist churches. This work begins with a descriptive account in cultural and psychosocial terms of the current status of such communities by exploring the Australian cultural context and issues associated with the concept of the Psychological Sense of Community. This exploration indicates that individualism has had a significant and pervasive influence on Australian Baptist churches. This is exemplified by a reliance on a demotic discourse of destructured relationality, ambivalence regarding community boundaries, the decline of influence within such communities, and the loss of shared narratives, particularly concerning the ecclesial nature and practices of those churches. In response to the issues raised by this descriptive theology, both Scripture and Baptist ecclesiology are engaged as the basis for a historical theology concerning church community. Scripture, as the primary source for Baptist theology, is firstly explored in seeking out the nature of community amongst God’s people. An adaptation of the work of Paul Hanson is used to demonstrate that such community occurs within the context of covenant, and is characterised by worship of God, by the nature of the lives lived together in such communities, and by a commitment to sharing God’s blessing with God’s world. This three dimensional description of community, it is argued, points to a canonical narrative of community as a joint and mutual covenantal priesthood. This narrative is then explored within the context of early Baptist ecclesiology. The wider scriptural concept of covenant was understood by early Baptists to have a particular application within Baptist churches, whereby members made a two-fold commitment to God and to one another. Within this context, the priesthood of believers was practised in both joint and mutual terms. However, from the eighteenth century on, a range of pressures associated with the Enlightenment began to impinge upon such understandings and practices. Under these pressures (primarily of individualism, but also including rationalism, experientialism, pragmatism and evangelicalism), Baptist churches came to understand themselves solely as voluntary associations, within which each believer possessed soul competency, enabling them to stand alone before God. On this basis, worship became an individual act, individual rights of autonomous persons were favoured over the interdependence of community, and evangelism came to be understood in terms of saving souls for their own individual relationship with Christ. The rise of individualism and the decline of community represented by these developments are shown to provide the context for the issues raised in the descriptive theology of this thesis. The resources of both Scripture and early Baptist ecclesiology are then brought to bear in response to these issues in a systematic practical theology. Covenant with God as the context for church community is reprioritised alongside voluntary association, and priesthood is reinterpreted as a joint and mutual set of practices within this context. On this basis, the worshipping community finds itself primarily grounded in Godself, alongside its practice of human forms of sociality, and from this foundation offers its joint worship to God. The community’s priesthood also comes to expression in the quality of the mutual relationships between those within it; exercising justice, praying for one another and bearing one another’s burdens. Together the church community also seeks to share God’s blessing with God’s world; jointly, both representing God to the world, and the world to God. This priestly work culminates in the sacramental practices and narration of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. In addressing the three dimensions of church community as joint and mutual covenantal priesthood, in worship, life together and sharing God’s blessing, individualism in general, and as specifically exemplified in the descriptive theology, is addressed and practical responses developed. In this manner, this thesis provides a coherent and comprehensive narrative of community for Australian Baptist churches. In doing so, it makes a particular contribution to Baptist scholarship by bringing three sources of data into conversation (a psychosocial analysis of the current situation amongst Australian Baptist churches, a canonical narrative of community from Scripture, and the resources of Baptist church history). The narrative of joint and mutual covenantal priesthood also integrates three central dimensions of church community life (worship, life together, and mission) which have often been set in tension against one another, and provides a theocentric basis within the context of priestly community for Baptist sacramentalism. Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the General Award Rules of The University of Queensland, immediately made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis. Publications during candidature Klose, Anne. "Covenantal Priesthood as a Narrative of Community for Australian Baptist Churches." Colloquium 45, no. 1 (2013): 61-79. Publications included in this thesis No publications included. Contributions by others to the thesis No contributions by others. Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree None. Acknowledgements This thesis was birthed in the midst of the rich ecumenism of the Brisbane College of Theology which granted me the privilege of both appreciating and challenging the Baptist tradition within which I practise my Christian faith. It has been nurtured in the midst of the dynamic community of Gateway Baptist Church. My especial thanks to my primary supervisor, Professor Geoff Thompson, who has read, re-read, and always found the right questions to ask and the appropriate encouragement to offer. My further thanks to Dr. Neil Pembroke whose leadership of the Practical Theology program at the University of Queensland has provided a rigorous scholarly environment in which to hone my work. Many others have offered vital encouragement, including Rev. Dr. D Morcom, Rev. Dr. David Parker, Rev. Dr. Les Ball, Rev. Dr. Ross Langmead (who is sadly missed) and Pastor Helen Bates. Finally, this work would not have been begun, let alone finished, without the support of my family. My sons have advised and provoked me, and my husband has provided innumerable hours of attentive listening and technical assistance. With thanks to all these, and only by the grace of God... Note Biblical quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version. I have generally used gender-neutral language but do not draw attention to instances where this is not the case in quotations. Spelling is in Australian English. Grammar, notes and bibliography follow the style set out in Kate Turabian, Joseph M. Williams, Gregory G. Colomb, and Wayne C. Booth, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers, Kindle ed. (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2010). Keywords Baptist, ecclesiology, church, community, individualism, priesthood, worship, mission, Scripture, narrative Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications (ANZSRC) ANZSRC code: 220401 Christian Studies, 90% ANZSRC code: 220405 Religion and Society, 10% Fields of Research (FoR) Classification FoR code: 2204 Religion and Religious Studies, 100% Contents Part A: Introduction and Methodology .................................................................. 1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................
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