This interdisciplinary study is a work of missiology and aims to formulate a model of partnership for mission in the Anglican Communion which can be used as a critical tool in order to understand the failures of the past and enable planning for the future. Throughout the thesis a consistent method of modelling is applied. This consists of the formulation of explanatory models from the examination of real instances, and their application as exploratory models in other contexts. It is argued that the explanatory models guiding the development of mutual responsibility and interdependence between the provinces of the Anglican Communion have been insufficient. Evidence is given of their inadequacy as exploratory models. It is further argued that models developed in response to crises in the Anglican Communion do not take seriously The Anglican Way of “discerning the mind of God.” An alternative explanatory model is distilled from the relationship between Paul and his community and the community of Christians in Philippi. This is applied as an exploratory model and is shown to enable a critical assessment of past and present programmes, and to be useful in developing new initiatives.

Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972), a refugee scholar from Hitler's Europe, became a significant Jewish theologian and a famous social activist in the United States of America. The thesis begins with a brief biography, which puts his work into context, personally, culturally, and historically. There follows an examination of the style and method of presentation of Heschel's thought, asking why it is that some commentators reject him as a serious thinker. He is then located within the tradition and discipline of theology, with an examination of what he calls "depth-theology". Part II begins with an examination of Heschel's major contribution to modem theology-"the divine pathos"-and its place in the impassibility/passibility controversy. Its influence on other (Christian) theologians is demonstrated, together with a response to major criticism (from Eliezer Berkovits). Heschel's theological anthropology is then shown to be entirely dependent upon the concept of the divine pathos, and to have lasting value. Finally, the thesis explores Heschel's commitment to interfaith dialogue (specifically with Christians) made possible by the universal applicability of his insights into the nature of God, humankind, and the relationship between them.

This thesis studies the nature of grassroots unity during the charismatic renewal of the 1970s and its significance for ecumenism. It argues that the renewal made an important contribution to ecumenism by means of complementarity of institution and charisms, and christology and pneumatology. It is based on the five international conferences of the Fountain Trust in the 1970s and focuses on two grassroots activities: worship in general and the celebration of the eucharist in particular. Worship in this setting nurtured unity through charisms, but the eucharist exposed the inadequacy of this grassroots unity because of doctrinal and ecclesiological differences. The thesis aims to suggest a way forward by searching for the complementarity of institution and charisms, and christology and pneumatology in a charismatic context. It argues that the two emphases of the charismatic renewal, charisms and the Holy Spirit, complement the institutional commitments of the church and ecumenism. The concepts of Christus praesens and Spiriti praesens are considered intrinsic to the charisms, and thus christology and pneumatology should both be considered significant for ecumenism. It finally discusses the complementarity of ecumenical institutions and the charismatic renewal, the convergence of ecumenical streams and continuity in modern ecumenical history.

The primary aim of this thesis is to explore the biographies and theologies of non-normative Christians. Prioritising the importance of sharing life stories as a source for theology, this thesis mobilises self-produced narratives from three individuals. By exploring the lives of the protagonists, we see how biographies and beliefs are revisited and revised throughout individual life courses. Mobilising resistance and rupture as characteristics of queer theory, I engage in a process which breaks free from traditional research paradigms. Thus, the secondary aim of this work became the development of an 'undoing' methodology, which liberates the researcher and allows me to approach and analyse the life stories using intuitive, reflective and creative methods. My critical insights on these participant stories reveal that all theologies are fluid, thereby exposing the temporal nature, but not significance, of all theology. Theologising from the basis of experience is always subject to revision. The process of 'undoing' theology points to a belief system based on experience which can never be rigidly fixed. The thesis reveals how 'undoing' theology is characterised by contingency, temporality, fluidity, becoming and unbecoming as its key indicators.

This thesis aims to investigate how evangelical Christians and their Protestant forebears, labeled early orthodox Protestants, have dealt with the classic puzzle of New Testament criticism known as the Synoptic Problem. The particular theories considered are the Independence Hypothesis, the Augustinian Hypothesis, the Two-Gospel Hypothesis, the Two-Source Hypothesis, and the Farrer Hypothesis. Starting with John Calvin and continuing to modern-day, consideration is given to the various hypotheses provided by early orthodox Protestant and evangelical biblical scholars throughout the centuries. Special attention is given to major evangelical contributors to the subject since 1950. In addition, a chapter is devoted to the role ecclesiology has played in evangelical consideration of the synoptic problem. After considering the opinions offered over almost half a millennium, the thesis notes how arguments have changed, and how they have remained the same.

This thesis is an investigation into the nature of Christology among ordinary Pentecostals in India. Pentecostalism is growing rapidly among Tribal-groups, Dalits, lower castes and ordinary people. However, the movement has not articulated its theological identity in order to consolidate and further its development. Therefore, this study aims to analyse the ordinary Christology using qualitative research methods such as interviews, focus groups, and participant observation. It is argued that their Christological understandings have been formed and expressed in challenging circumstances and given extraordinary energy through Pentecostal phenomena associated with revivalism. Ordinary Indian Pentecostals understand Jesus as the healer, exorcist, provider and protector in the context of poor health-care, a spirit worldview, extreme poverty, caste-system and religious persecution. Their Christian experience enables them to acknowledge Jesus as the Saviour, Lord and supreme God. These Christological themes are consonant with the larger Pentecostal tradition, theology and indeed the New Testament testimony. The argument critically engages with scholarship in Pentecostalism and the broader Christian tradition to propose a modification of these Christological categories.

Essential information is often lost when in reading a piece of work the identity of an audience or the recipients is overlooked. The first hearers of the letter to the Colossians were a diverse group of people in a colonized country under the imperial rule of Rome in the first century. The writer of the letter addressed possible concerns presented to him from the evangelist, Epaphras, a native of Colossae. In identifying the audience whether they are first recipients or future readers, ideologies and theologies are discovered which add to the existing criticism genres. The process of identifying the audience allows one to reread the work through the lens of various peoples. This process also allows one to make comparisons between the various audiences. A comparison is made in this thesis between the 1st century readers and the enslaved Africans who lived on the continent of North America who were later exposed to concepts that stemmed from the letter. In viewing the identities of both groups the most damaging find was the derogatory labels placed on them. This thesis, an African American postcolonial re-reading of the letter to the Colossians, looks beyond the labels to ascertain the meaning of the Colossians letter, giving voices to each group.

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores. Energia. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2010

Les photodétecteurs rapides sont des composants optoélectroniques qui permettent de générer et de détecter des ondes de fréquences sub-THz et THz. Cette thèse présente la conception, la fabrication et la caractérisation de photodétecteurs rapides à semiconducteurs III-V. L’objectif est de proposer des systèmes fonctionnant à la longueur d’onde de 1550 nm, et donc compatibles avec les technologies des télécommunications. Nous étudions en détail des photoconducteurs en AsGa-BT pour le sous-échantillonnage, des photodétecteurs de type MSM-InAlAs/InGaAs pour le sous-échantillonnage et le photomélange et des photodiodes UTC en InGaAs/InP pour le photomélange. / Fast photodetectors are optoelectronic devices wich allow to generate and to detect electromagnetic waves at sub-THz and THz frequencies. This thesis presents the design, the fabrication and the characterization of fast photodetectors made using III-V semiconductors. The objective is to develop systems working at a wavelength of 1550nm, compatibleswith the telecommunication technologies. We will study in detail LT-GaAs photoconductors for sub-sampling, InAlAs/InGaAs-MSM photodetectors for sub-sampling and photomixing and InGaAs/InP UTC-photodiodes for photomixing.

Neue methodische Entwicklungen zur Untersuchung der Ursachen des weltweit beobachteten Bienensterbens sind nötig, um die lebenswichtige Ökosystemdienstleistung der Bestäubung zu gewährleisten. Die ökologisch und wirtschaftlich bedeutsame Honigbiene (Apis mellifera) ist ein wichtiger Nichtziel-Organismus im Zulassungsverfahren für gentechnisch veränderte Pflanzen. Bisher sind vor allem Methoden zur Testung erwachsener Bienen unter Laborbedingungen verwendet worden, aber für eine Risikobewertung mit Hilfe von standardisierten Bienenkolonien oder in vitro gezüchteten Honigbienenlarven sind keine robusten Methoden oder standardisierte Protokolle vorhanden. In dieser Arbeit wurde eine Vielzahl an neuen methodischen Ansätzen für die Biosicherheitsforschung entwickelt: eine Mortalitäts-Falle (Kapitel II), ein "Full-Life-Cycle" Test (III), eine robuste in vitro Aufzucht-Methodik (IV), ein standardisierter in vitro Test für Bt-Pollen (V), eine gemischte Toxizitätsprüfung für transgene Reinproteine (VI) und eine Überprüfung der Darmmikroflora sowie der Pollenverdauungrate (VII). Die Ergebnisse dieser Studien zeigten keine nachteiligen Wirkungen von Bt-Maispollen oder Bt-Reinproteinen im "Worst-Case" Szenario auf Honigbienen. In Anbetracht der Datenlage ist eine Schädigung der Honigbiene durch den getesteten Bt-Mais Mon89034xMon88017 unwahrscheinlich. Die Anwendung der Untersuchungsmethoden in zukünftigen Biosicherheitsstudien für transgene Pflanzen wird empfohlen. / Honey bee pollination is an ecologically and economically important ecosystem service. New methodological developments are needed to research the underlying factors of globally observed bee losses. The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is a key non-target arthropod species for environmental risk assessment of genetically modified (GM) crops. For GM-crop risk assessments, mainly methods for monitoring adult honey bees under laboratory conditions are documented. However, protocols with robust methods for standardized colonies or in vitro reared honey bee larvae are currently lacking. Within the research, presented in this this dissertation, multiple methodological developments are achieved; a mortality trap (Chapter II), a ‘full life cycle test’ (III), a novel in vitro rearing methodology (IV), a standardized in vitro test for Bt-pollen (V), a mixed toxicity test for purified transgenic proteins (VI), and a bacterial flora test with pollen digestion rate monitoring (VII). Overall, the studies did not indicate a detrimental effect caused by Bt-maize pollen, or by purified Bt-proteins at worst case exposure levels. Considering the risk for honey bees and larvae, we conclude that the tested Bt-maize Mon89034xMon88017 is not likely to cause harm to honey bee colonies. The study methods presented are highly recommended for future environmental risk assessment studies testing GM-crop biosafety on honey bees.