Mission in a Welsh Context: Patterns of Nonconformist Mission in Wales and the Challenge of Contextualisation in the Twenty First Century Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements of the University of Chester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by David R. J. Ollerton July 2015 0 Mission in a Welsh Context: Patterns of Nonconformist Mission in Wales and the Challenge of Contextualisation in the Twenty First Century David R. J. Ollerton Abstract This thesis considers aspects of contextualisation in the mission of local churches in twenty-first century Wales. Welsh Nonconformity rose rapidly to a dominant position in Welsh society and culture in the nineteenth century, but has subsequently declined equally rapidly. By the beginning of the twenty-first century its total demise is predicted. The research examines the contextual factors in this decline, and their relevance for possible recovery. Contextualisation is an essential part of missiology, in calibrating appropriate mission to the distinctives of a particular nation or locality. Wales is shown to be a distinctive context for mission, both nationally and regionally, in relation to specific aspects: religious, geographic, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, social and political. Contextual studies have been done for other mission contexts, but not for Wales. This research seeks to address this lack. The thesis first outlines the development of the main approaches in global mission, their underlying assumptions, and their outworking in the mission of local churches in the West. The approaches have been identified as Evangelistic, Lausanne, Missio Dei, Liberal and Emergent. Drawing on hundreds of questionnaire responses and extensive interviews with Nonconformist leaders, the research examines how the different approaches to mission have been expressed in Wales, and how each approach adjusted to each aspect of context. The growth trends of the different approaches, patterns of church and mission, and adjustments to Welsh contexts in the first decade of the twenty- first century, or not, are then examined. The resulting analysis enables good practice to be identified, and approaches for effective mission suggested for the coming decades. 1 Grateful thanks to my Supervisor Dr Keith Warrington of Regents Theological College for his relentless encouragement, suggestions and corrections. Diolch yn fawr iawn i Dr Dewi Arwel Hughes, o’r Bala, Bonty a’r Byd am ei eglurder, ei drylwyredd a’i gadarnhad. Many thanks to Waleswide / Cymrugyfan, and especially to David Dry, for their encouragement, facilitation and statistical support. Appreciation must also be recorded for the willingness and patience of hundreds of leaders in Wales, in completing the questionnaire and giving time for the interviews. Without them there would be no research. Thanks, as ever, to Liz for her patience and support. 2 Table of Contents Abstract 1 Acknowledgements 2 Chapter One: Introduction and Methodology 1.1 The Significance and Uniqueness of the Thesis 7 1.2 The Ethical Implications of the Waleswide / Cymrugyfan Connection 7 1.3 The Scope and Delimitations of the Research 8 1.4 The Researcher’s Background 9 1.5 Methodology 10 Chapter Two: Patterns in Contextual Missiology 2.1 The Rise of World Missions 16 2.2 Approaches to Contextualisation 18 2.3 The Evangelistic Approach to Contextualisation 22 2.4 The Liberal Approach to Contextualisation 26 2.5 The Missio Dei Approach to Contextualisation 29 2.6. The Effect of Missionary Theory on Local Church Mission in the West 34 2.6.1 The Wider influences of the Evangelistic Missiology 34 2.6.2 The Wider influence of the Liberal Missiology 39 2.6.3 The Wider influence of the Missio Dei Missiology 40 2.6.4 Further Approaches that Result from the Merging of Categories 42 2.6.4.1 The Lausanne Movement 42 2.6.4.2 The Emerging Church Movement 45 2.6.4.3 The Missional Church Emphasis 49 2.7 Reflections on Chapter Two 51 Chapter Three: Aspects of Welsh Identity and Context 3.1 The Markers and Categories of Contexts 52 3.2 The Religious Context of Wales 58 3.2.1 The Origins of Christian Wales 58 3.2.2 The Origins of Welsh Nonconformity 60 3.2.3 The Growth of Nonconformist Wales 62 3.2.4 The Decline of Nonconformity in Wales 65 3.2.5 Nonconformist Renewal 68 3.2.6 The Reasons for the Decline of Welsh Nonconformity 70 3.2.7 The Changing Religious Context 74 3.2.8 The Implications for Mission of the Religious Contexts 78 3.3 The Geographic Context of Wales 81 3.3.1 The Land and Welsh Identity 81 3.3.2 The Patchwork of Regions 83 3.3.3 Balsom’s Classification 85 3.3.4 Rural and Industrial Wales 87 3.3.5 Gwladgarwch and Brogarwch 89 3.3.6 The Implications for Mission of the Geographical Contexts 90 3.4 The Ethnic Context of Wales 92 3.4.1 Aspects of Ethnicity 92 3.4.2 Wales’ Celtic Past 93 3.4.3 The Effects of Immigration and Emigration 96 3.4.4 Welsh Identity and Ethnicity 99 3.4.5 The Implications for Mission of the Ethnic Contexts 101 3.5 The Linguistic and Cultural Context of Wales 103 3.5.1 The Strength of the Language 103 3 3.5.2 The Decline of the Language 105 3.5.3 The Welsh Cultural Tradition and the Language 106 3.5.4 The Language as a Marker or Cause of Division 110 3.5.5 The Implications for Mission of Linguistic and Cultural Contexts 112 3.6 The Social Context of Wales 114 3.6.1 Welsh Social Patterns 114 3.6.2 The Gwerin 115 3.6.3 The Welsh Socialist Tradition 117 3.6.4 The Validity of Gwerin as a Social Feature 119 3.6.5 Rugby as a Social Unifier 120 3.6.6 The Implications for Mission of Social Contexts 122 3.7 The Political Context of Wales 124 3.7.1 Welsh Political Aspirations 124 3.7.2 Wales, England’s First Colony 128 3.7.3 The Emotional Legacy of English Influence 131 3.7.4 The Roots of Welsh Nationalism 132 3.7.5 The Development of Welsh Nationalism 134 3.7.6 Civic Nationalism 135 3.7.7 The Implications for Mission of Political Contexts 137 3.8 Reflections on Chapter Three 139 Chapter Four: Contemporary Approaches to Local Church Mission in Wales 4.1 Welsh Nonconformity at the Start of the Twenty-first Century 141 4.1.1 Growth and Decline Statistics and Trends 142 4.1.2 The Waleswide Survey of 2012 147 4.1.2.1 The Structure of the Survey 147 4.1.2.2 The Scope and Participants of the Survey 148 4.1.2.3 The Limitations and Subjectivity of the Responses 148 4.1.2.4 The Growth and Decline Patterns 148 4.1.2.5 How the Churches Communicated their Message 152 4.1.2.6 The Churches’ Connections to their Communities 153 4.1.2.7 Regional Variations in Expressions of Mission 155 4.1.2.8 Subsequent interviews: format and purpose 157 4.2 Patterns of Nonconformist Mission in Wales 159 4.2.1 The Evangelistic Approach to Local Church Mission 159 4.2.1.1 The Origins of the Tradition 159 4.2.1.2 The Emphasis of Evangelistic Churches 160 4.2.1.3 Evangelistic Approaches to Mission 163 4.2.1.4 The Evangelistic Means of Communication 169 4.2.1.5 Adjustment to the Aspects of Context 175 4.2.1.5.1 The Religious Aspects of Welsh Context 175 4.2.1.5.2 The Geographic Aspects of Welsh Context 179 4.2.1.5.3 The Ethnic Aspects of Welsh Context 184 4.2.1.5.4 The Linguistic and Cultural Aspects 187 4.2.1.5.5 The Social Aspects of Welsh Context 192 4.2.1.5.6 The Political Aspects of Welsh Context 195 4.2.1.6 Reflections on Evangelistic Adjustments to Context 198 4.2.2 The Lausanne Approach to Local Church Mission 199 4.2.2.1 The Origins of the Tradition 199 4.2.2.2 The Emphasis of Lausanne Churches 200 4.2.2.3 The Lausanne Approach to Mission 202 4.2.2.4 The Lausanne Means of Communication 205 4.2.2.5 Adjustment to the Aspects of Context 207 4.2.2.5.1 The Religious Aspects of Welsh Context 207 4.2.2.5.2 The Geographic Aspects of Welsh Context 208 4 4.2.2.5.3 The Ethnic Aspects of Welsh Context 210 4.2.2.5.4 The Linguistic and Cultural Aspects 211 4.2.2.5.5 The Social Aspects of Welsh Context 214 4.2.2.5.6 The Political Aspects of Welsh Context 216 4.2.2.6 Reflections on Lausanne Adjustments to Context 218 4.2.3 The Missio Dei Approach to Local Church Mission 219 4.2.3.1 The Origins of the Tradition 219 4.2.3.2 The Emphasis of Missio Dei Churches 220 4.2.3.3 The Missio Dei Approach to Mission 221 4.2.3.4 The Missio Dei Means of Communication 224 4.2.3.5 Adjustment to the Aspects of Context 226 4.2.3.5.1 The Religious Aspects of Welsh Context 226 4.2.3.5.2 The Geographic Aspects of Welsh Context 228 4.2.3.5.3 The Ethnic Aspects of Welsh Context 229 4.2.3.5.4 The Linguistic and Cultural Aspects 231 4.2.3.5.5 The Social Aspects of Welsh Context 233 4.2.3.5.6 The Political Aspects of Welsh Context 234 4.2.3.6 Reflections on Missio Dei Adjustments to Context 236 4.2.4 The Liberal Approach to Local Church Mission 237 4.2.4.1 The Origins of the Tradition 237 4.2.4.2 The Emphasis of Liberal Churches 237 4.2.4.3 The Liberal Approach to Mission 240 4.2.4.4 The Liberal Means of Communication 244 4.2.4.5 Adjustment to the Aspects of Context 247 4.2.4.5.1 The Religious Aspects of Welsh Context 247 4.2.4.5.2 The Geographic Aspects of Welsh Context 250 4.2.4.5.3 The Ethnic Aspects of Welsh Context 251 4.2.4.5.4 The Linguistic and Cultural Aspects 254 4.2.4.5.5 The Social Aspects of Welsh Context 256 4.2.4.5.6 The Political Aspects of Welsh Context 258 4.2.4.6 Reflections on Liberal Adjustments to Context 261 4.2.5 The Emergent Approach to Local Church Mission 262 4.2.5.1 The Origins of the Tradition 262 4.2.5.2 The Emphasis of Emergent Churches 263 4.2.5.3 The Emergent Approach to Mission 265 4.2.5.4 The Emergent Means of Communication 268 4.2.5.5 Adjustment to the Aspects of Context 271 4.2.5.5.1 The Religious Aspects of Welsh Context 271 4.2.5.5.2 The Geographic Aspects of Welsh Context 272 4.2.5.5.3 The Ethnic Aspects of Welsh Context 273 4.2.5.5.4 The Linguistic and Cultural Aspects 273 4.2.5.5.5 The Social Aspects of Welsh Context 274 4.2.5.5.6 The Political Aspects of Welsh Context 275 4.2.5.6 Reflections on Emergent Adjustments to Context 277 4.3 Reflections on Chapter Four.