Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 1986 The Concept of Contextualization and its Implications for the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Education in India Melchizedek M. Ponniah Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, and the Curriculum and Instruction Commons Recommended Citation Ponniah, Melchizedek M., "The Concept of Contextualization and its Implications for the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Education in India" (1986). Dissertations. 638. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/638 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. INFORMATION TO USERS While the most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this manuscript, the quality of the reproduction is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. For example: • Manuscript pages may have indistinct print. In such cases, the best available copy has been filmed. • Manuscripts may not always be complete. In such cases, a note will indicate that it is not possible to obtain missing pages. • Copyrighted material may have been removed from the manuscript. In such cases, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, and charts) are photographed by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand corner and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each oversize page is also filmed as one exposure and is available, for an additional charge, as a standard 35mm slide or as a 17”x 23” black and white photographic print. Most photographs reproduce acceptably on positive microfilm or microfiche but lack the clarity on xerographic copies made from the microfilm. For an additional charge, 35mm slides of G”x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations that cannot be reproduced satisfactorily by xerography. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 8704326 Ponniah, Melchizedek Mithraraj THE CONCEPT OF CONTEXTUALIZATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN INDIA Andrews University Ph.D. 1986 University Microfilms International300 N. Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 Copyright 1986 by Ponniah, Melchizedek Mithraraj All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. PLEASE NOTE: in all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible w ay from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a checkV mark. ■I. Glossy photographs or pages______ 2. Colored illustrations, paper or print_______ 3. Photographs with dark background_____ 4. Illustrations are poor co_______ p y 5. Pages with black marks, not original _______copy 6. Print shows through as there is text on both sides of page________ 7. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pages V*— ' 8. Print exceeds margin requirements______ 9. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine________ 10. Computer printout pages with indistinct print_______ 11. Pane(s)_____________ lacking when material received, and not available from school or author. 12. r a y e ( s_____________ ) seem to be missing in numbering only as text follows. 13. Two pages numbered . Text follows. 14. Curling and wrinkled pages______ 15. Dissertation contains pages with print at a slant, filmed as__________ received 16. Other________________________________________________________________________________ University Microfilms International Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Andrews University School of Graduate Studies THE CONCEPT OP CONTEXTUALIZATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN INDIA A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Melchizedek Mithraraj Ponniah August 1986 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE CONCEPT OF CONTEXTUALIZATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN INDIA A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Melchizedek Mithraraj Ponniah APPROVAL B1£/#HE COMMITTEE: /; Charimanf Roy C.' Naden Dean, School of Graduate Studies "A.) L ^ y { J / *4j L/Y\ j L. D C 1 0 / , Committee Member: Walter Douglas D^te Approved If-*-***- — . Committee MemberGottfried Oosterwal Cmnmitbe Member: Edward A. Streeter Extwrrna 1 ZExa m me . Jenson Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Melchizedek M. Ponniah 1986 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT THE CONCEPT OF CONTEXTUALIZATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN INDIA by Melchizedek M. Ponniah Chairman: Roy C. Naden Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University School of Graduate Studies Title: THE CONCEPT OF CONTEXTUALIZATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN INDIA Name of researcher: Melchizedek M. Ponniah Name and degree of faculty adviser: Roy C. Naden, Ed. D. Date Completed: August 1986 Problem The Seventh-day Adventist chruch in India operates in a rapidly changing pluralistic context and a predomi­ nantly Hindu culture. Response to the emerging opportuni­ ties and demands suggest the reconstruction of theological education in more contextual terms. It is imperative that the institutions and practice of ministry be shaped and evaluated in terms of the manifold functions to be performed in the varegated and highly differentiated cultures within which the Adventist church functions. 1 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Method This study utilized the historical and descriptive methods. Literature was reviewed to gather concepts related to the concept of contextualization and contextu­ al ization of theological education. Conclusions 1. The existing Seventh-day Adventist theological education in India does not adequately address the ministe­ rial context. Consequently, a more contextual curriculum construct was a necessity. 2. The religious, socio-cultural, economic, and educational contexts of India are significant determinants for the contextualiztion of theological education. 3. The data in this study indicated that contextualization was a theological, ecclesiological, educational, and sociological necessity. 4. Involvement in the contexts of ministry during the theological training tend to reinforce the various needs, issues, and problems a future minister might con­ front, and thus give opportunity to address them in the class discussions. Recommendations 1. Inasmuch as Adventist theological education in India was in need of contextualization, it is recommended that the proposed contextual construct be studied by Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 3 concerned entities with a view to implementation. 2. Contextualization is a dynamic and ongoing process. It is recommended, therefore, that Spicer memorial College in conjunction with the Southern Asia Division and union missions set up a committee to evaluate theological education annually. Of necessity, this committee should include both theologically trained church leaders, theology educators, experienced ministers, ministers in training, and laypersons. 3. It is recommended that field seminars be conducted in all the union missions of India to facilitate the process of contextualization as a mission methodology. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Delhi lcutta\ Bombay Poona Madras Bangalore Coimbator irunelveli INDIA Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. DEDICATED TO Dr and Mrs. John Matthew Fowler who have been inspiration to me. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ..................................... v LIST OF T A B L E S ..................................... v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....................................