Plans progress for native theological institute

KELLY HENSCHEL
CW Staff Writer
— Winnipeg —

Combining culture with theology is a challenging task for native North American leaders. For some, understanding the place of indigenous culture within Christian tradition has become
a mission.

Richard Twiss, president of Wiconi International, is one of several leaders hoping to establish a new institute that would give
academic and theological backing to native cultural expressions.
While still in the early planning stages, the Institute of Indigenous Theological Studies would involve a partnership of native Christian leaders from across North America with theological colleges and seminaries. In theory, students could take courses from any of the schools and come together to discuss topics, research and write papers which could then be published.

Twiss says the goal is to identify young emerging native leaders, equip and disciple them. “As aboriginal leaders we need to begin really searching the scriptures for ourselves to see what the Bible says to us as native people.”
Twiss, who organized the Many Nations One Voice conference held November 16-18 in Winnipeg, says the event was a good example of the type of thoughtful discussion emerging as interest in developing a native theology gains momentum.

More than 600 participants from 40 First Nations groups across North America “were able to see some of the finest native thinkers, speakers, and native theologians who are fully articulate, intelligent and sophisticated to communicate Biblical truths with insight and anointing,” he says.

Increased confidence

The conference was the fourth in a series featuring times of worship, workshops and speakers highlighting issues faced by native North American Christians.

“The native community that participated with us in the conferences has had an increased sense of confidence about what God is doing among native North Americans,” says Terry LeBlanc, manager of aboriginal programs for World Vision Canada. “It is an authentic, God-led, spirit-directed movement toward a place, a role and a function in the body of Christ that we’ve never had before.”

LeBlanc, also a key supporter for the theological institute, says it would offer much needed native perspective on doctrinal issues such as the role of God the creator, church structure or the use of native instruments and dance in worship.

The evangelical community is seeing a shift in the way native Christians think about their culture and the role of theology, says Joe Jolly, general director for Native Gospel Ministries of Canada. Western ideas first presented by white missionaries are no longer as accepted.
“Now you have people who are second and third and fourth generation native Christians and there’s a change…there are native theologians emerging who are asking questions. They’re taking the initiative to redeem and repossess some of the things that were taken away from them, without changing the gospel message,” he says.

At the same time, care needs to be taken to guard against syncretism and reducing theology to just cultural forms, propositions or inner experience, says Ray Aldred, co-chair of the aboriginal task force for Evangelical Fellowship Canada.

“An indigenous theology should start with the gospel story instead of beginning with western theological propositions or the other end of the extreme, liberal theology which [emphasizes] personal experience,” he says. “Anytime the gospel doesn’t call people for a conversion in their thinking, it has become syncretistic.”

Far-reaching impact

It is not only the native community who could benefit from the institute.
Wendy Peterson, who teaches aboriginal studies at Providence College and Seminary, says the evangelical community is more open to the ideas being expressed by native Christians. “In the past the non-aboriginal church has lost out in not being able to tap into so many of the values and the wisdom in the aboriginal community,” she says.

Cornelius Buller, staff ethicist at the Salvation Army Ethics Center in Winnipeg, has worked extensively with native ministries and agrees it is time for the voices of native Christian leaders to be heard.

“I don’t think the evangelical community in North America has had a place for the aboriginal part of the body of Christ. The traditional approach of missions has been to wipe out the culture and make them white before they can become a Christian,” he says.

“We [the planning committee] thought it would be really good to find a way to mentor people who already have a lot of knowledge, insight and wisdom, but don’t have the academic training, necessarily.”

Twiss also agrees the institute could have a far-reaching impact. “I see enough evidence in North America of a willingness to consider things that a previous generation didn’t consider. More importantly, I see a group of native leaders being raised up who can articulate clearly, who are theologically sound, and reflect what I think God’s heart is for true partnership between natives and non-natives.”

Planning continues for the institute and organizers hope to have the first sessions available by the summer of 2001.