This work explores the idea of a multicultural church and the possibility of its existence through the formation and development of multicultural ministry as a programmatic tool. The ideas and vision of a multicultural church and the development of multicultural ministry are presented through an auto-ethnographic lens using the participant-observer methodology. The study draws on the multicultural experiences of three mainline Christian Churches in different western contexts, with a particular focus on the United Reformed Church in the UK, to highlight the possibilities and the challenges of multicultural church and ministry. Looking at New Testament multicultural ecclesial models as proto-types for what Christ’s Church in the twenty first century ought to look like, the study found the struggle to live with difference and diversity to be just as much of a blockage today, if not more pronounced. An underlying assumption throughout the work is that the multicultural ecclesial model is a core and central characteristic of Christ’s church.

This study argues that imitation of god is a principle for ethical character and conduct in the world today. The contribution is to examine imitation of god in the psalms; hence, eleven psalms, namely psalms 8, 15, 25, 33, 72, 94, 101, 109, 111, 112 and 113 have been analysed using an integrated exegetical approach of historical-critical and literary-critical methods in combination with canonical-theological approach. the findings show, firstly, that humans are created in the image of god, and therefore they are to represent god’s character and conduct in the world. secondly, god’s character and conduct are characterized by righteousness, justice and ___, which are demonstrated by god’s care and concern for, and liberation of the poor, needy and oppressed. thirdly, in addition to liberation, god’s righteousness and justice include punishment for the oppressors, which is expressed in the so-called psalms of “vengeance”, in which the psalmists’ call for god to exercise vengeance against their oppressors is a call for justice and righteousness to prevail. fourthly, the human ethical response is motivated by the blessings and punishment of the righteous and the wicked respectively, the fear of the lord and by offering praise to god.

Gurdwara legislation, Gurdwara management and institutions of Sikh leadership affect all Sikhs and are in existence to uphold and perpetuate Sikh religious traditions and values. This study is a historical and theological evaluation of the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, which was a secular legislation introduced in 1925 by the British administration in India. It evolved as a response to the Gurdwara Reform Movement, which was a religiously motivated struggle, to provide a scheme of management for Gurdwaras. The study constructs a narrative which evaluates the historical context and factors leading to the creation of the Act. Through a theological evaluation which engages in the interpretation and application of the Sikh Sacred Scriptures, the study then highlights that there is a contradiction which should not exist between: the content and implementation of the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925; the constitution and actions of Sikh leadership institutions (the SGPC and the SAD); and between the theological teachings of the Sikh Dharam. The study ultimately suggests that there is need for the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 to be redeveloped so that Gurdwara legislation, Gurdwara management and institutions of Sikh leadership epitomise and are a more authentic reflection of the teachings within the Sikh Sacred Scriptures.

Prayer ministry evolved from John Wimber’s five-step model for healing prayer. The one-to-one encounter practised in ministry time was the third part of the threefold structure in a Wimber Vineyard event. Wimber’s personal history included conversion in his late twenties, church leadership, and knowledge of church growth. He drew on colleagues to build a theology of worldviews, the kingdom of God, phenomena and experiences, and the supernatural. This thesis argues that using his undoubted charisma he profoundly influenced Wimber Vineyard communities, who take every opportunity to engage in prayer ministry. Wimber, often using his characteristic rhetoric taught that observable signs, phenomena and manifestations occurring during prayer ministry could be understood by the participants to signify the presence, activity and power of God. Combining the research methods of participant observer and discourse analysis, I argue that Wimber’s charismatic leadership style obscured the strong possibility that the power of God and the Holy Spirit, can become indistinguishable from human power. The analysis reveals that Wimber could be uncertain about conveying this model to all, and that he could seem to own personally the ability to heal. Drawing on insights from professional counselling, this research proposes that a greater awareness of the significant difference between prayer ministry (Gods power) and power praying (human power) should be recognised and acknowledged by current Vineyard leaders and an appropriate response made.

This thesis argues that theorising about the phantasmatic nature of binary gender, by commentators such as Judith Butler, provides fruitful openings for the formation of new metaphorical models for Divine-human relationship. I am concerned with what it means, at the level of each specific human life, to be imago Dei, particularly as this relates to genders that are ambiguous, fluid or otherwise complex. Expanding the feminist theological rubric of ‘experience‘ to include the individual and the quotidian, I apply the qualitative research method of grounded theory to data gathered from transgendered people, to develop a methodology of silent waiting: Grounded Theology. I analyse the experiences of each of three narrators as imago Dei, and generate three metaphors with which to discuss the nature of both genderedness and the Divine: Thinness, or numinous insubstantiality; Proteanism, or ceaseless mutability; and Opacity, or transcendent unknowability. I contend that a renunciation of attachment to binary gender is necessary for the establishment of justice for those rendered unintelligible by binary norms. I conclude that theologies that draw metaphorical models, whether androcentric or gynocentric, from binary gender alone are not wholly adequate either as descriptions of human gendered experiences or as satisfactory signposts to the Divine.

This thesis is concerned with the monastic rules that were written in seventh century Iberia and the relationship that existed between them and their intended, contemporary, audience. It aims to investigate this relationship from three distinct, yet related, perspectives: physical, literary and philological. After establishing the historical and historiographical background of the texts, the thesis investigates firstly the presence of a monastic rule as a physical text and its role in a monastery and its relationship with issues of early medieval literacy. It then turns to look at the use of literary techniques and structures in the texts and their relationship with literary culture more generally at the time. Finally, the thesis turns to issues of the language that the monastic rules were written in and the relationship between the spoken and written registers not only of their authors, but also of their audiences. This is concluded with an investigation into the employment of Latin synthetic passive and deponent verb forms in the texts and its implications for the study of language change and language use in early medieval Iberia.

Very little research has been undertaken on the development of the DG in the lifetime of the Tenth Guru, and therefore this research seeks to address this gap. This thesis begins with an examination of the editing and dating of primary sources, so that an accurate chronology can be constructed of the textual history. This has been explored in reference to late seventeenth and eighteenth century hagiographies, with a number of novel primary sources introduced herein. They are examined alongside several extant seventeenth century DG manuscripts; amongst these is the famous ‘Anandpuri’ recension (1696), and other newly discovered manuscripts. With supplementation from secondary sources, a stemma of the manuscript transmission has been constructed. A major development in the textual history of the DG was its standardisation and subsequent printing in 1897, however some original manuscripts contain extra ‘apocrypha’ which are absent from the printed edition. The compositions in the standard version of the DG have been examined, along with new translations and discussion of the ‘apocrypha.’ By re-examining the earliest sources, it is clear that the Scripture of Guru Gobind Singh was compiled in his Court. Therefore, this challenges the modern theory that the DG was compiled by Bhai Mani Singh.

In December 2009, a group of ecumenical Palestinian Christians released a document entitled: Kairos Palestine. The document has had an international impact, eliciting responses from numerous Jewish, Muslim and Christian groups as well as top-level Israeli and Palestinian politicians. From those who denounced the document as a dangerously one-sided portrayal of a complicated conflict to those who embraced its message and call, few would deny its significance. This thesis is chiefly concerned with an academic analysis of the origins of the document, its historical, political and theological claims and context as well as an assessment of and interaction with the responses and ramifications of the document. This includes exploration of the Christian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, the area where the document’s impact can be most demonstrably seen. Of particular focus throughout has been Kairos Palestine’s significance for understanding contemporary Christian positions in relation to the Israel/Palestine conflict. While some Christians have seen a Biblical obligation to support the State of Israel, Kairos Palestine argues that there is a duty to resist the State. This study examines Kairos Palestine contributing new knowledge to the contradictory ways that modern Christians are approaching Israel.

This thesis aims to explore and provide a better understanding of the ways in which religion and spirituality, as social constructs, impact on ethnic entrepreneurship. The choice to focus on religion and spirituality was informed by the gap in the literature as well as the increasing emphasis on the importance of integrating issues related to these sets of values in the wider contemporary business discourse. The research project is grounded in the mixed embeddedness framework and argues that, although very complex, this model focusses too much on opportunity structures, ethnic and social capitals while failing to acknowledge the potential of religious and spiritual values in shaping ethnic firms. In this concern I have used qualitative triangulation to build 11 in-depth case studies of ethnic minority businesses. The findings have shown that religious and spiritual capitals are important in same spheres of the business such as forming social support networks, shaping business decision, motivation and aspirations, employee relations and constructing a positive company culture. Additionally, the evidence suggests that spiritual values are likely to encourage the participation of women in ethnic entrepreneurship. However, their influence is not representative for matters related to accessing and utilising financial capitals.

Chaplaincy provides a microcosm through which the public role of religion can be examined and interrogated. Only two studies have examined the question of minority faith involvement in chaplaincy, both conducted before the large-scale introduction of formalised substantive chaplaincy posts for minority faith groups. The rapid development of Muslim chaplaincy, from visiting ministers to lead chaplains, has begun to be explored. But it is clear that a study concerning all minority faith groups involved is necessary in order to fully understand how far the boundaries of inclusion and exclusion have shifted since the turn of the century. Practitioner literature barely accounts for these developments in chaplaincy, while contributions by minority faith groups are rare. This thesis develops this literature by exploring the status and integration of minority faith groups in acute healthcare chaplaincy. This is achieved through a multi-site ethnography of five case studies of chaplaincy teams across England. Minority faith involvement is largely, but not solely, characterised by mediation, negotiation, and stagnation. These findings are situated within a broader framework of participatory parity, which not only refers to distribution and recognition, but also the socialisation 'gap' that exists for many minority faith chaplains. These factors impact on their ability to speak the language of the institution and the chaplaincy profession. These findings and analyses are then compared with the chaplaincy literature to show the situatedness of the mainstream chaplaincy discourses around spirituality, marginality, professional identity, and collegiality. The findings and analysis have significant implications for an understanding of how the roles of religious professionals adapt and change in a diasporic context, but also for understanding how religion is mediated in the National Health Service.