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THE APOSTOLATE OF THE LAITY: A RE-DISCOVERY OF HOLISTIC POST-WAR MISSIOLOGY IN SCOTLAND, WITH REFERENCE TO THE MINISTRY OF TOM ALLAN ALEXANDER C. FORSYTH Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD at the University of Edinburgh in 2014 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my academic supervisors, Professor David A.S. Fergusson and Professor Stewart J. Brown, for all of their support, insight and encouragement in the preparation of this thesis. My thanks to Maggie Boulter for donating the papers of her father (Tom Allan) to New College, University of Edinburgh; to Maggie, John Harvey, Bill & Betsy Shannon, Andrew MacGowan and Allan Clark for kindly providing access to papers and recordings in their private possession and for their encouragement; to Frank Bardgett for additional extracts from D.P. Thomson’s diaries; to Kenneth Roxburgh for quotes relating to ‘Tell Scotland’ from the Billy Graham archive at Wheaton College, Illinois; to David Smith for his analysis; and, for all of their help, to the staff in the libraries of New College, University of Edinburgh; of Union Theological Seminary, New York City, and in particular to Betty Boden; and of the World Council of Churches, Geneva. My thanks to the Arts and Humanities Research Council; New College, University of Edinburgh; and the Hope Trust for financial assistance. Thanks to Bryce Calder, Andrew Wilkin and my wife, Dr Joy Forsyth, for their helpful comments on draft material. Excerpts from two journal articles previously published on Tom Allan under my name, as set out in the bibliography, have been included. With special thanks and love to Joy, and to our daughters, Eilidh and Katie, without whom none of this would have been possible. This thesis is dedicated to the memory of my parents, Russell Forsyth (1937-2013) and Jean Forsyth (1938- 2004), and of my good friend, Chris Dalgleish (1967-2008): ‘Chi mi a-rithist thu’. 3 ABSTRACT This thesis offers principles for Christian mission in the present Western milieu derived from a retrieval of the missiology in post-war Scotland of Tom Allan. Allan was a minister, evangelist and theologian of particular public prominence in Scotland and beyond in the period from 1946 to 1964. His missiology focused upon the ‘apostolate of the laity’ through the ‘contextualisation’ of Christianity and Church. It was drawn from diverse, rich sources in Scottish and European theology and tradition. Allan’s gift was to collate and apply such influences contextually to two working-class parishes in Glasgow, and to articulate them within his seminal work on lay evangelism, The Face of My Parish. From 1953 to 1955, Allan was the Field Director of the ‘Tell Scotland’ Movement, which sought to implement his missiology on a national scale. The decision, at Allan’s instigation, to invite Billy Graham to conduct the ‘All-Scotland Crusade’ of 1955 diverted attention from Allan’s lay missiological focus, fatally polarised the differences in emphasis within the Movement, and has since tainted the perception of mission in Scotland. Following consideration of the implementation of Allan’s model of mission, analysis is undertaken of his sources and inspirations, of the underlying causes of the triumphs and failures of his model, and of Allan’s place in mission theology. In particular, inherent tensions are considered between aspects of the model which together straddle the ‘modern’ and ‘postmodern’ to form a ‘tale of two paradigms’; such as the reliance on the institutional Church as both agent and object of mission or the utilisation of mass evangelism, in contrast with the overarching purpose of the lay formation of a New Testament koinonia by a ‘congregational group’. Consideration of Allan’s work is thereafter broadened by considering several contemporaneous streams which further enhanced ‘contextualisation’ of both mission and Church, to be exercised by and for ordinary people: the East Harlem Protestant Parish; the Gorbals Group Ministry; and Robert Mackie, Ian Fraser and Scottish Churches House. Then viewing the work of Allan and his contemporaries through the lens of present global missiology and sociological theory, general principles are derived for mission now. Such principles form the basis of a model within ‘late modernity’ of contextual mission which might move beyond the private/public constraint on religious expression. It is a model of ‘local’ mission in conversation with the ‘global’, by the empowerment of the laity to act within the ‘micro-cultures’ which they inhabit. It is a model which re-asserts the primacy of the ‘whole people of God’; seeking the organic growth of koinonia with or without reference to the institutional Church; through a ‘both/and’ missiology of word and deed; exercising ‘prophetic dialogue’ in ‘bold humility’; in cross-cultural translation as a two-way process towards a fuller ‘interculturation’. 4 LAY SUMMARY OF THESIS This thesis offers principles for the expression of Christianity in the present social context derived from a retrieval of the actions and writing in post-war Scotland of Tom Allan. Allan was a minister, evangelist and theologian of particular public prominence in Scotland and beyond in the period from 1946 to 1964. His ideas on the basis of Christian ‘mission’ were centred on the importance of allowing ordinary people, rather than the clergy, to express their faith in word and deed in the ‘contextualisation’ of Christianity and the Church i.e. in making Christianity ‘real’ for the struggles and joys of everyday life on the streets. It was drawn from diverse, rich sources in Scottish and European theology and tradition. Allan’s gift was to collate and then apply such influences to two working-class parishes in Glasgow, and to set out both his inspirations and the practical outcomes in his book, The Face of My Parish. From 1953 to 1955, Allan was the leader of the ‘Tell Scotland’ Movement, which sought to implement his ideas on a national scale. The decision, at Allan’s instigation, to invite Billy Graham to conduct the ‘All-Scotland Crusade’ of 1955 diverted attention from Allan’s focus on the lives and witness of ordinary people, split the Movement by alienating those who disagreed with Graham’s methods, and has since tainted the public perception of Christian ‘mission’ in Scotland. After considering how Allan’s ideas were implemented in his work, analysis is undertaken in the thesis of his sources and inspirations, of the underlying causes of the triumphs and failures of his model, and of Allan’s place in broader theologies of mission. In particular, inherent tensions are considered between aspects of his model which were of an older era and those which were forward-thinking and innovative for his time. The thesis then broadens the consideration of Allan’s work by looking at several other attempts in Allan’s time to ‘contextualise’ Christianity, in ways which were both through and for ordinary people: the East Harlem Protestant Parish; the Gorbals Group Ministry; and Robert Mackie, Ian Fraser and Scottish Churches House. Then viewing the work of Allan and his contemporaries in the light of current religious and sociological thinking from around the world, general principles are derived for Christian ‘mission’ now. Such principles form the basis of a model in our times of an expression of Christianity which is not restricted to a private enclave, but ‘crosses over’ to the public realm. It does so by emphasising that ordinary people should be equipped to develop faith communities with or without reference to the institutional Church; through an expression of their faith which involves not only voicing their beliefs but also a constant self-offering for social service for all in the broader community. Such ‘mission’ must be humble and respectful, but be prepared to stand up to injustice in word and deed. The goal is a meeting of Christianity and culture, such that both will be changed for the better as a result, and to the benefit of wider society. 5 DECLARATION I certify: (a) that the thesis has been composed by me, and (b) either that the work is my own, or, where I have been a member of a research group, that I have made a substantial contribution to the work, such contribution being clearly indicated, and (c) that the work has not been submitted for any other degree or professional qualification except as specified. Signature: 6 CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………………2 ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………………….3 LAY SUMMARY OF THESIS………………………………………………………………..4 CHAPTER 1– INTRODUCTION – THE CONFLUENCE OF STREAMS………………10 CHAPTER 2 - MINISTRY AND MISSIOLOGY OF TOM ALLAN (1916-65) Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………..24 2.1 ALLAN’S MISSIOLOGY IN ACTION, 1946-64 2.1.1 North Kelvinside 1946-53……………………………………………………………25 2.1.2 The Face of My Parish 1954…………………………………………………………29 2.1.3 ‘Tell Scotland’ 1953-1955……………………………………………………………35 2.1.4 The Crusade and its Aftermath………………………………………………………50 2.1.5 St George’s Tron, 1955-64……………………………………….………………..69 2.2 CONCLUSIONS…….…………………………………………………………........…...…78 CHAPTER 3 - SOURCES, INSPIRATIONS AND ANALYSIS OF TOM ALLAN’S WORK Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..……79 3.1 SOURCES AND INSPIRATIONS 3.1.1.