Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 2-1-2017 Instilling Health and Vitality into the Third Wave Oraon Churches in Jharkhand Samuel Stephens George Fox University, [email protected] This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Stephens, Samuel, "Instilling Health and Vitality into the Third Wave Oraon Churches in Jharkhand" (2017). Doctor of Ministry. 215. http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/215 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY INSTILLING HEALTH AND VITALITY INTO THE THIRD WAVE ORAON CHURCHES IN JHARKHAND A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GEORGE FOX EVANGELICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY SAMUEL STEPHENS PORTLAND, OREGON FEBRUARY 2017 George Fox Evangelical Seminary George Fox University Portland, Oregon CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ________________________________ DMin Dissertation ________________________________ This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of Samuel D. Stephens has been approved by the Dissertation Committee on February 16, 2017 for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Global Perspectives. Dissertation Committee: Primary Advisor: MaryKate Morse, PhD Secondary Advisor: Debby Thomas, PhD Lead Mentor: Jason Clark, DMin Copyright © 2016 by Samuel Stephens All rights reserved. ii Dedicated to The thousands of unrecognized front line warriors, especially those in Jharkhand, who are part of God’s Third Wave. These men and women are changing the face of Christianity. A silent revolution sweeping across the world through them beckons the attention of God's people. iii Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................. vii ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... viii INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................. 7 People Movements to Christ in India .............................................................................. 7 Definitions of Key Terms and Concepts ......................................................................... 9 Christward Movements .............................................................................................. 10 Caste .......................................................................................................................... 10 Dalit ........................................................................................................................... 11 Great Tradition and Little Tradition .......................................................................... 11 Subaltern .................................................................................................................... 12 Adivasis ..................................................................................................................... 12 Indigenous and Indigenize ......................................................................................... 13 Autochthonous ........................................................................................................... 13 Church Planting Movement ....................................................................................... 13 Definitions of Contextualization, Contextual Theology and Inculturation ................... 14 Contextualization ....................................................................................................... 14 Contextual Theology ................................................................................................. 15 Indigenous Movements in Africa, Latin America, and Asia ......................................... 16 CHAPTER TWO .............................................................................................................. 18 The Emergence of the Indigenous Church in India ....................................................... 19 The Tradition of St. Thomas and the Thomas Christians of India ................................ 20 Indigenization of Christianity ........................................................................................ 24 Indigenous Identity ........................................................................................................ 27 Noteworthy Contributions of Individuals to Indigenous Christianity ........................... 30 Indigenous Christian Movements since the 1900s ........................................................ 31 Indigenous Missionary Movements .............................................................................. 34 Subalterns in India – The Dalitsand Tribals – A Receptive People .............................. 35 The Bible—An Icon and Liberator ............................................................................ 42 Biblical Narrative—ALiberation Theology for the Dalits ........................................ 43 The Third Wave ......................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER THREE .......................................................................................................... 54 The Kurukharof Jharkhand ........................................................................................... 55 Origin and Migration of the Kurukhar .......................................................................... 58 iv Tribals and Their Land .................................................................................................. 62 Millenarian Movements in Chotanagpur ....................................................................... 64 The Tana Bhagat Movement among the Oraons .......................................................... 65 The Kurukhar of Jharkhand—Landand the People ....................................................... 69 Village Organization, Economic Life, Government, and Kinship of the Kurukhar ..... 70 The Village (Basti) .................................................................................................... 71 Kinship Relationship ................................................................................................. 74 The Kurukh Social Environment ................................................................................... 74 The Dhumkuria: The Bachelors’/Community House ................................................ 75 Work Taboo ............................................................................................................... 77 Rice Beer ................................................................................................................... 78 The Kurukh Religion and Religious Practices .............................................................. 79 Religious Ideals and Morals .......................................................................................... 85 Kurukh Festivals, Song, and Dance .............................................................................. 86 The Sarhul Spring Festival and the “Lady of the Environment” ............................... 87 The Karam Festival and Tribal Honor of Women ..................................................... 87 The Advent of Christianity into Chotanagpur ............................................................... 90 The German Evangelical Lutheran Mission .............................................................. 90 The Church of England Mission ................................................................................ 91 The Catholic Mission ................................................................................................. 92 The Present Time .......................................................................................................... 93 Distinct Cultural Traits and Pre-existent Worldview Inducing Positive Response to Christ’s Invitation .......................................................................................................... 94 Contributory Factors .................................................................................................. 95 Immediate Factors ..................................................................................................... 97 Toward a “Third Wave” Healthy Kurukh Church ........................................................ 98 CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................................................... 105 From Indigenization to Contextualization and Inculturation ...................................... 106 Biblical Models of Contextualization and Inculturation ............................................. 115 Old Testament Models ............................................................................................. 115 New Testament Models ........................................................................................... 118 Historical Models of Inculturation and Contextualization .....................................