This dissertation reflects on the growing social problem of housing in South Africa, and reviews the contribution that Christians should make to address the issue. One basic assumption is that the Church as God's agent has a role to play in issues affecting the wider society. Drawing on the social teaching and pastoral care in the Wesleyan tradition, the Ubunye Free Methodist Church in Pietermaritzburg is dedicated to offer housing services to the poor including survivors of domestic violence, through the Ubunye Cooperative Housing initiative. The dissertation builds on the vision of Wesley and in dialogue with Paulo Freire, argues that 'humanization' is the key goal of Christian social witness. This dissertation then explores to what extent the Ubunye Free Methodist Church promotes humanization and what humanization means in the practice and implementation of housing policy. The research has unveiled that residents' training and participation in the running of the Ubunye Cooperative Housing initiative are some of the key issues, which need more attention in an attempt to bring about change. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Bethel Theological Seminary, 1994. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 314-322).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity International University, 1999. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 352-357).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity International University, 1999. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 352-357).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Bethel Theological Seminary, 1994. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 314-322).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity International University, 1999. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 352-357).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Bethel Theological Seminary, 1994. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 314-322).

The environmental crisis and the poverty crisis, are among the major challenges the Church in Zambia is facing. In this work I argue that poverty and the ecological crises are interrelated. However, a major problem has been that many programmes carried on by the Churches or church-based organizations seem to focus on poverty alleviation not recognizing the linkage between poverty and the ecological crisis. For this reason, this study represents the situation of poverty in Zambia and indicates its links to the environmental crisis. The aim of this dissertation is to remind the Free Methodist Church in Zambia and the Church in Zambia in general, that as Christians we are mandated to respond to these social issues of poverty and ecological degradation. We have the theoretical and theological contributions necessary to address the above two challenges, if we are keen to transform and build up the community we are ministering to. What is needed is to put into practice our beliefs. I argue that unless adequate environmental awareness is carried out, and that Christians understand the relationship between poverty and the ecological crisis we will not manage to break the cycle of poverty in the community. The Church efforts to carry out environmental awareness based on biblical and theological foundation teachings are a unique contribution that Christians can offer to respond to the earth crisis as well as to contribute to poverty eradication. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

この研究は、三人の日本自由メスジスト教団指導者たち（柿原正次、河邊貞吉、土山鐵次）の宣教活動を辿り、一国家の市民であることと宗教共同体の一員であることとの接点を探求する。彼らはそれぞれ、日本人キリスト者が同胞へのキリスト教伝道者となり得ること、さらには同胞のみならずアメリカ人や中国人への伝道者にもなり得ることを証明しようとし、キリスト教を「西洋の」宗教ではなく、「日本の」宗教であると同時に国境を越えた宗教であると再定義を試みた。 / Tracing the missionary activities of three Japanese Free Methodist leaders–Kakihara Masaji, Kawabe Teikichi, and Tsuchiyama Tetsuji–in three developing phases, this study explores these Japanese Free Methodists' attempts to make Christianity simultaneously "Japanese" and transnational, challenging assumptions that Christianity and Christian missionaries were "Western." It demonstrates how they skillfully navigated competing national and religious borders and how they shared their spiritual power with American and Chinese Christians. By pointing out the uncertain ground of national, cultural, and religious identity, this study suggests Christianity's possibilities and limitations as a way of bringing people together across boundaries of politics and nation. / 博士(アメリカ研究) / Doctor of Philosophy in American Studies / 同志社大学 / Doshisha University