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We analyze the effect of state visits by the Catholic pope on human rights in the host country to understand how a small theocracy like the Vatican can exert disproportionate political influence in international politics. Our theory of the strategic interaction between the Catholic Church and host governments describes how the pope's use of conditional approval and criticism incentivizes governments to refrain from human rights violations. Drawing on a new dataset of papal state visits outside Italy and a novel identification strategy, we test for the first time whether governments react in anticipation of a papal visit by improving their human rights protection. Our empirical analysis offers robust evidence for this causal effect, which is supported by qualitative evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catholic biblical scholarship since Vatican II has reclaimed the centrality of the Bible in Catholic theology and practice; unfortunately, cognate noncanonical materials have been left to the side in this ressourcement. A sola scriptura ideology has shaped contemporary biblical studies. Because of the long history of use of apocryphal texts in Catholic tradition, Catholic biblical scholars can make an important contribution to redressing this imbalance, thereby broadening and deepening our understanding of the biblical texts and the communities that produced them. This presidential address will use the Acts of Thecla to illustrate how transgressing the canonical boundaries can expand our understanding of the early Christian movement and its emergent discourse in the late first and early second centuries c.e. That expanded understanding also provides an important touchstone for the contemporary church to discern future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of the sixteenth century in the (nascent) Dutch Republic, a new balance between government and Church was set as the Reformed Church became the public church. In the public church, the government had the authority to announce special days of prayer without permission from the ecclesiastical authorities. Furthermore, ministers were expected to give religious justification for the government's policy. This article presents a case study of special days of prayer in the city of Groningen. Every year a special church service was held in Groningen on the so-called Groninger Landdag, the day on which the States distributed the official positions. This paper discusses two sermons delivered by Groningen ministers on such a Groninger Landdag. The first is the 1650 sermon from Johannes Martinus, the second the 1666 sermon from Thomas Alberthoma. I will argue that these sermons show how the ministers operated as civil servants and followed the government, and at the same time operated as servants of the Word of God and therefore could be critical towards the authorities. The regents needed divine warrant for their position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores seventeenth-century Scottish theologian Samuel Rutherford's (1600–1661) views on adiaphora and the regulative principle of worship (RPW). Rutherford criticised those who endorsed the authority of civil magistrates and church government to legislate ecclesiastical laws concerning indifferent matters in worship. Scholars have focussed on the RPW of the Westminster Standards, but the theological and philosophical controversies surrounding the RPW and its relationship with adiaphora in early modern Britain remain understudied. While the Scottish Presbyterian understanding of the RPW and its relationship with adiaphora has faced criticism for perceived inconsistency, this paper argues that Rutherford's view on the RPW and adiaphora is coherent. It further asserts that Rutherford's RPW and his notion of adiaphora were rooted in the Reformation emphasis on Scripture and grace given through Christ. Also, the study highlights that Rutherford's RPW was supported by his Two Kingdoms doctrine, emphasising Christ's evangelical rule in the Church. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Political Formation: Being Formed by the Spirit in the Church and World" by Jenny Leith explores how the Holy Spirit shapes ethical and political formation within and beyond the church. Leith emphasizes the need for the church to be receptive to the Spirit's activity both inside and outside ecclesial practices. She engages with various theologians and theorists to discuss how the Spirit's formation extends to civic and political engagement, offering imaginative ways for the church to seek and find the Spirit in political and ecclesial contexts. Leith's work contributes to ongoing conversations about pneumatology and mission, highlighting the importance of discerning the Spirit's work in diverse settings. [Extracted from the article]

Scholarship on Congregationalism in Scotland has tended to explain its origins as resulting from the gospel preaching of the Haldanes and the general development of evangelical enthusiasm in the late-eighteenth century. However, this article demonstrates the diverse range of factors that contributed to its development and identifies a story of polygenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of IGKOJEI Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat is the property of Fakultas Peternakan Universitas Papua and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

From a review of previous research on global reactions to food crises, most studies have focused on economic aspects. This review identified the following gaps: (1) There is no study discussing the synergy between the church and the government in addressing food crises; (2) No research is available on the role and social anticipation of communities in the context of food crises. This research is urgently needed because synergy between the government and the church is crucial in the context of food security in North Sulawesi. The objective of this research is to fill this research gap through a holistic and comprehensive approach to the synergy between the Provincial Government of North Sulawesi and the Evangelical Christian Church in Minahasa in anticipating the global food crisis by enhancing farming and livestock activities in North Sulawesi. The research method used is a descriptive qualitative design through content analysis combined with a missiology analysis approach of the church. Data collection was carried out using participatory observation, interviews, and literature studies. The novelty of this research includes: (1) The synergy between the Provincial Government of North Sulawesi and the Evangelical Christian Church in Minahasa in responding to and anticipating the global food crisis; (2) The combination of content analysis methods with church missiology analysis as a new approach. The output of this research is a conceptual framework and a strong missiological approach strategy in building and optimizing relevant and effective synergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines a problematic of the ordinary as it emerges in the poetical theology of an early poem of John Milton. This poem, Lycidas, has captured the attention of every major critic from the 18th century to the present, who has minutely examined its odd formal and generic character, its peculiar mix of personal grief and political outrage, and its role in Milton's own personal development at a particularly decisive moment in English history. Yet, despite this extensive interpretive history, 'the ordinary' has never become an extended object of critical analysis. This article accordingly seeks to uncover and examine the importance of a certain set of contemporaneous significations of the ordinary in Lycidas, which implicate the institutions of Church, state, and university in perhaps surprising ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article delves into the enduring significance of theological declarations such as the Barmen Declaration of 1934 and their relevance in contemporary discourse, particularly regarding issues like Christophobia in Europe. It explores the historical contexts and theological underpinnings of declarations like Barmen, Belhar, and the Heidelberg Disputation, highlighting their confrontations with oppressive political and ecclesiastical powers. Additionally, it examines critiques of European attitudes towards Christianity by scholars such as Joseph H.H. Weiler and discusses the transformative potential of movements emphasizing the power of the Holy Spirit, such as Pentecostalism. The article underscores the ongoing theological dialogue surrounding liberation, social justice, and the enduring relevance of biblical theology in addressing contemporary challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tiempos Modernos is the property of Tiempos Modernos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aims to determine how work discipline and motivation affect teachers' performance. This study used total sampling for data collection, which involved distributing questionnaires and measuring the results with a Likert scale. Work discipline and motivation are the study's independent variables, and Teacher Performance is the study's dependent variable. The outcomes of this study demonstrate that work discipline and motivation positively and significantly affect teachers' performance. Conclusion Teacher performance is significantly impacted by work discipline. This demonstrates that teachers' performance at Bakong Pittaya School in Thailand will improve the more work discipline they possess. With the T-statistic value of 6.947, the influence of work discipline is more significant than motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commune and the parish are units of two divisions: government and church administration. Both were created for the better functioning of structures and the implementation of central activities: government and the mission of the Church. Their functioning is based on meeting the needs of the local community. In turn, their goals, although seemingly divergent, often overlap, because the main mission of both types of units is the good of community members. Therefore, it was deemed necessary to address in this article the issue of methods of cooperation at the lowest level between local government authorities and parish priests operating in the commune. This article presents a theoretical introduction, analyzing the ways in which both spheres operate, with an emphasis on places of cooperation in order to create a unified community, which is defined as both a commune and a parish. The aim of this article is to outline a framework for future empirical research that could clearly indicate the factors shaping the methods and forms of cooperation between these two entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Church governance is not often debated within a philosophical or theological sphere. This is perhaps because church governance has been part of tradition since Constantine and the initial Greek philosophical world view of sovereignty and hierarchy. Such a stance has led towards a managerial mindset that follows and conforms to the world, which plays out within the Anglican polity in the setting of an adversarial parliamentary style synod. This style encourages bounded communities of power that often refute the burgeoning inspirations of the Spirit. In changing the underlying theological basis of such a stance, by invoking the understanding of an undeniable community in the singularity of the Triune God, governance becomes more open. Engaging with, primarily, Agamben but also others from philosophy, a new viewpoint is presented to challenge the manner through which tradition is wielded as the only possibility. In seeing through a differing lens, communities can be conceived as both porous and interconnected, thus allowing the body of Christ to respond with transformative action as opposed to a continuum of conformance with secular legality. In this manner, the bishop's role may become more centralised towards a Eucharistic one, as opposed to the managerial mindset and role, to enhance the possibilities of God's love. This then removes the need for a hierarchy driven by a sovereign mindset that tradition bolsters, whilst maintaining loving and authoritative oversight that tradition suggests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides an overview of the Synod on Synodality, a gathering of experts and representatives of the Catholic Church to discuss various topics. It highlights the unique nature of the Synod, which includes non-episcopal and non-clerical members, and emphasizes the importance of representation and diversity within the assembly. The article discusses the consultation and preparation process of the Synod, as well as its significance in addressing issues such as the role of women and teaching on sexuality. It also raises questions about the structure and future of the Synod, its relationship with other institutions, and the balance between theology and sociology/leadership studies. Overall, the Synod on Synodality is seen as an experiment in creating a more global and diverse Church and redefining the relationship between papal primacy, episcopal collegiality, and ecclesial synodality. [Extracted from the article]

Although the United Nations, governments, and other nongovernmental organizations NGOs) are putting efforts into promoting peace education in Africa, challenges remain due to challenging environments". A "challenging environment," as defined in this paper, is an environment that neither fully permits nor bars the teaching of peace. This is typical of environments where peace is introduced, especially in third world countries. When the UN and prominent NGOs advocate for peace education, governments are often willing and quick to comply, but numerous challenges hinder the teaching of peace. Based on practical experiences in establishing a peace course across faculties, the authors draw several lessons from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) experience. Tasked with the mammoth goal of establishing peace programs, the authors faced challenges including: (1) an unstable economic and political environment; (2) student demonstrations linked to economic challenges; (3) large classes and few lecturers; (4) a lack of teaching materials; and (5) being housed under a different department. Experience has shown that it is possible to teach peace in such environments, provided certain tactics, such as being creative in sourcing materi- al, are used. Peace education has limited teaching materials, and even if the materials were to be purchased, acquiring enough books for a large number remains a challenge. As noted by the authors, they resorted to creative ways of finding teaching materials, including assigning different topics to students and then combining the re search to create a material base, using newspaper articles to test conflict resolution skills in students, etc. Creative teaching methods include adopting a student-centered approach rather than a lecturer-centered one and transforming the environment through engagement in conflict transformation programs. As part of community engagement, the lecturers participated in transforming campus conflicts through the NUST Campus Dialogue Initiative, as well as providing community training in churches and government institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the University of Pretoria, Historical Theology consists of various sub-disciplines, that is, History of Christianity, History of Doctrine, History of Theology, History of Missions, Church History, and Church Polity. This article is located in History of Missions, as a contribution to the centenary celebration of the Maranatha Reformed Church of Christ (MRCC). The main focus of this contribution is an analysis of Prof. P.S. Dreyer’s mission theology as reflected in his publications, and how it shaped the mission policy of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA) and the growth of the MRCC. For 35 years (1954–1989), Prof. Dreyer was a member and chairman of the Mission Board of the NHKA. As part-time Superintendent of Mission and chairman of the Board, he not only had many administrative and financial responsibilities, but he also played a role in the establishment of at least 60 congregations in black communities, as well as the theological education of more than 200 MRCC students and ministers. All of this was based on a clear understanding of the nature of the church, as well as the responsibility and calling of the church to proclaim Jesus Christ to all people. Contribution: This article addressed the role of theology and individual theologians in the history of the church and mission in South Africa, and how it impacted upon the relationship between different race groups and the development of an indigenous Christianity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many conservative Catholics in the US have managed to project an aura of orthodoxy and submission to the Magisterium even as they move the Catholic Church to identify more firmly with neoconservative and free-market political movements. By outlining this "masked dissent" (portraying itself as radical fidelity to the Magisterium) and bringing the ecclesiological insights of Joseph Komonchak to bear on the assessment of this new form of dissent, this article outlines the limits of reception and dissent in the life of the church and suggest that a shift to a more collaborative and consultative polity, such as the exploration of a "synodal way" currently explored at the Synod of Bishops, supplies a way forward in keeping with the very nature of the church which nevertheless requires a dramatic shift in the popular understanding of authority and teaching. This shift in polity holds the promise of promoting an authentically catholic unity, providing space for the "forbearance" of certain kinds of dissent as the Pilgrim Church waits on God's voice, even if the latter provides no clear resolution, as in the case of the biblical story of Job. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the pastoral theology of John Knox during his time at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. It discusses the practical aspects of Knox's ministry, including church finances, property ownership, and church governance, which he believed were crucial for the church's well-being. The article also provides historical context on the Scottish Reformation and Knox's experiences in St Andrews before his ministry in Edinburgh. It concludes with an analysis of the pastoral emphases found in Knox's work. Additionally, the text explores the challenges faced by Knox in Edinburgh, such as conflicts with Mary, Queen of Scots, and the death of his wife. It also discusses the introduction of the office of superintendent in the First Book of Discipline to address the shortage of ministers and further evangelization efforts. The text delves into Knox's personal grief and the political landscape of the time, including concerns about the Protestant cause in Scotland due to Mary, Queen of Scots potentially remarrying. It highlights the emergency Convention of Estates called in January 1561, which presented a revised version of the First Book of Discipline to establish the Church of Scotland. The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland was formed, addressing issues such as suppressing idolatry and managing church finances. While the nobility accepted the theological aspects of the Church's organization, they rejected some financial proposals. Despite Knox's pessimism, the nobility's actions aimed to maintain stability during the transition from the Roman Catholic Church to the Scottish crown. The text also discusses Knox's concerns and [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the historical and theological assessments of the Puritan Sabbath, challenging the commonly held critical view. It argues that the controversy surrounding the Puritan Sabbath was driven by political and pragmatic considerations rather than theological or historical concerns. The article also highlights the differences between the Puritans and the Anglican Establishmentarians, who had differing views on the Sabbath and church authority. Despite facing opposition and persecution, the Puritans defended their Sabbath doctrine with biblical and theological arguments, showcasing their courage and clarity. [Extracted from the article]

The challenge posed by 18th-century rationalism to the 16th-century Reformed doctrine, initiated a trajectory in which Reformed churches assumed the responsibility of preserving the essence of the Reformation. The emergence of the Open Declaration [ Openlike Verklaring ] as a response to rationalism served as a call to unity and a reaffirmation of adherence to the Presbyterian Church government system established in 1618–1619. The objective of this study was to examine the significant contributions of the Open Declaration to Church Polity [ Kerkreg ] and the Reformed Churches of South Africa (RCSA)[ Gereformeerde Kerke van Suid-Afrika (GKSA)] by focusing on three key elements: the declaration of faith and commitment; the acknowledgement of liturgical practices and ecclesiastical governance; and the plea for unity and ecclesiastical communion [ Kerkverband ]. Drawing on scholarly literature and relevant church documents, the analysis explores the role of the Open Declaration in shaping the identity and practices of the RCSA/ GKSA within the broader context of Reformed church history. As a result of completing this study, it is discovered that the Open Declaration should be interrogated at local level and Article 48 should be read in the light of Article 29. Major assemblies should be understood from the local Church Council, Classis, regional Synod, and General Synod – not only Classis, regional Synod and General Synod. Contribution: The proposed shared understanding of the Open Declaration aims to foster a sense of unity among delegates, emphasising the importance of aligning and binding decisions made by the Church Council, Classis, Regional Synod, and General Synod during meetings. In conclusion, local churches should revisit the Public Declaration, engage in local church dialogues to promote ongoing cooperation, prioritise theological education and training to foster unity, upholding the 16th-century Reformational theology, celebrate Holy Communion in one church building, pursue Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), seeking biblical ways to address and resolve conflicts between local churches, and supplementing the mechanism provided by Article 31 of the Church Order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an analytical summary of various texts related to Golden Age literature. It mentions three unpublished pieces of satirical and hagiographic comedies preserved in the National Library of Spain. It also addresses the theme of self-diegesis and self-satire in Cervantes' "El viaje del Parnaso". Another topic discussed is the conflict between power and rebellion in the comedy "El prodigioso Príncipe transilvano". Additionally, it describes the comfortable life of the Jesuits in New Spain and examines a satirical masquerade that criticizes the ecclesiastical government of Guadalajara in 1663. This article examines a satirical masquerade that criticizes the government of the incumbents of the church of Guadalajara around 1663. It also analyzes the historical-political circumstances in the ecclesiastical administrations in the kingdom of Nueva Galicia that led to the creation of these verses. It focuses on the satire of the literary institution and the professionalization of poetry in the Golden Age. It also studies poems from a Portuguese songbook that reflect the appropriation of Luis de Góngora's epilio and protest poetry in a Sephardic songbook. Finally, it analyzes the burlesque and satirical poetry of Luis de Góngora and the unpopular figure of the Count-Duke of Olivares in Spanish opinion. This article analyzes a poem in rhymed couplets called "Al marqués de Mancera cuando volvió de virrey de Lima", which belongs to manuscript 3917 of the BNE, also known as volume 6 of the Spanish Parnassus. The main objective is to edit the poem and provide explanatory notes to facilitate its understanding, offering a minimal interpretive framework about its context (the economic situation of the 1640-1650 decade) and, most importantly, about the protagonist of the text (due to his performance as viceroy of Peru). The keywords are clandestine poetry, Marqués de Mancera, forgery, inflation, Peru, viceroyalty. This summary presents several articles that address different aspects of satirical literature and textual criticism in Spanish literature. The first article analyzes the transfiguration of the epic tradition in heroic-comic poetry, highlighting the work of António Joaquim de Carvalho and his poem "Os Toiros". The second article examines the satire of loyalty and vassalage in Cervantes' "Don Quijote" and Quevedo's "El Buscón". The third article performs a semantic-stylistic analysis of the satirical letrillas "Corcovilla" and "Pata coja", attributed to Quevedo and Juan Ruiz de Alarcón respectively. The fourth article offers a new perspective on the relationship between Luis Vélez de Guevara's "El Águila del Agua" and Quevedo's comedy "Pero Vázquez de Escamilla". Finally, the fifth article highlights the importance of studying punctuation in textual criticism, in homage to Francisco Rico. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines a satirical masquerade that criticize the government of incumbents of the church of Guadalajara around 1663. Additionally, it looks into historical-political circumstances in the ecclesiastical administrations in the kingdom of Nueva Galicia that led to the creation of this verses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses faculty experiences tackling global knowledge asymmetries by examining the decolonisation of higher education in Africa in the aftermath of the 2015 'Rhodes Must Fall' student uprising. An overview of the literature reveals a rich debate on defining 'decolonisation', starting from a critique of Eurocentrism to propositions of alternate epistemologies. These debates are dominated by the Global North and South Africa and their experiences of curriculum reform. Our focus is on the experiences of political scientists in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. These countries share the same Anglophone political science traditions but represent different political trajectories that constitute a significant condition for the discipline. The 26 political scientists we interviewed acted toward increasing local content and perspectives in their teaching, as promoted in the official strategies of the universities. They noted that what was happening in lecture halls was most important. The academic decolonisation debate appeared overambitious or even as patronising to them in their own political context. National politics affected the thematic focus of the discipline both as far as research topics and students' employment opportunities were concerned. Although university bureaucracies were slow to respond to proposed curricula changes, new programmes were approved if there was a market-based demand for them. International programs tended to be approved fastest. Political economy of higher education plays a role: dependency on foreign funding, limited national resources to conduct research and produce publications vis-à-vis international competition, and national quality assurance standards appeared to be most critical constraints for decolonising the curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dr Perold de Beer was a missionary pioneer who contributed as both a church leader and a theologian to the Reformed Church in Africa (RCA). This research recorded his contribution to the RCA as this church navigated political issues during apartheid, multireligious positions and the challenges accompanying church unity; all of these ended up in the Laudium Declaration (LD) which De Beer drafted and was then accepted as the church's official position. In addition to De Beer's views, other, differing positions from his colleagues and contemporaries were used to reflect on the eventual decisions and theologies developed in the RCA. The article's social and scientific value lies in both recording and reflecting on the work of a missionary pioneer not yet investigated; it addressed and informed issues that are still relevant today (racism, pluralism and unity) and which are still heading the church's agenda. Both literature study and interviews were employed. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: While this article investigated missiology (mission theology, social justice and church unity), it also contributed to religion studies (interfaith dialogue), church history, and polity (the history and documents of the RCA) and systematic theology. It offered insight into the history of a specific segment of South African society during apartheid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the end of the 15th century, the moral control in London, looking at the Middle Ages as a whole, reached its peak. Both the Church and the secular powers sought to control people’s moral lives; either to reduce the number of transgressions or to punish severly those who committed them. Indeed, by the second half of the 15th century, there was a decline in the number of marriage cases, especially those involving clandestine marriages, while the number of sexual transgressions, such as adultery, increased. This trend was reversed at the beginning of the 16th century, when the number of marriage-related cases increased, while those involving sexual transgressions decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lusitania Sacra is the property of Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, Centro de Estudos de Historia Religiosa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The competence of the institutions of the Roman Curia can be examined from a material point of view to evaluate the legitimacy and impact of the functions assigned to them by the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium of Pope Francis. The contribution focuses on the “external” limits of material competence, which involve the relationships between the Church and temporal realities as well as on the “internal” limits which derive from the need to safeguard specific ecclesial juridical assets (such as the unitas fidei and the rights of the faithful), proposing a remedy to encourage the revision of the norms in the synodal Church that define the attributions and prerogatives of the apical structures of government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decolonization and decoloniality offer potential gains to African Women Theology (AWT) to address the intersections, continuities, and discontinuities between the pre‐colonial, colonial, and Christian gender ideologies that have disempowered African women. While African women theologians have, at different points, identified the patriarchal forces in these three spheres, an intentional intersectional approach has not always successfully challenged the colonial meta‐narratives of the construction of the African man. Decolonization and decoloniality offer a critical theoretical framework to not only deal with gender meta‐narratives but to deconstruct and dismantle these narratives to develop responses that are appropriate for their communities. These perspectives will also cement AWT as a major player in the renewed calls for decolonization and decoloniality in Africa. This article acknowledges an intersectionality of traditional, colonial, and post‐colonial patriarchies and the persistence of coloniality in the present spaces in which AWT operates, as well as discontinuities in the gender perspectives in these different periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"First women to..." labels define the ways in which women leaders are characterized as "exceptional". As already pointed out by some feminist scholars, exceptionalism discourse valorizes women's achievements to the benefit of institutions and their patriarchal culture. While such valorization might enhance gender representation in spaces previously reserved for men, it also commodifies women's capabilities. This, I argue, calls for resisting the subtle, less visible, often unintentional, and sometimes patronizing forms of discrimination that sustain the patriarchal culture of institutions such as "the church". Many feminist theologians have repeatedly named "the cultural-political power at work in our world as patriarchy". Questions about the relationship between patriarchal institutional culture and the legitimate presence of women leaders are central to the argument presented here. The case of South African feminist theologian, Mary-Anne Plaatjies Van Huffel, is used to illustrate the relentless task women face of having to challenge pervasive gender-bias in the patriarchal institutional culture of the church. I then explore the plausibility of reflective solidarity as a theo-ethical concept and its potential to transform the patriarchal institutional culture of the church. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Good Government and Church Order: Essays on the Role of Secular Authority in the German Reformation," is a collection of essays and a translated text that explore the governance of Lutheran territorial churches during the Protestant Reformation. The focus is on Johannes Brenz, a lesser-known reformer who implemented a new model of ecclesiastical governance in the duchy of Württemberg. The author argues that Brenz's model, which involved separate magistracies reporting to the duke, was more influential than other models of church polity. The article also discusses the influence of late medieval context and the role of secular rulers in religious reform. Overall, the collection sheds light on the commonalities of sixteenth-century learned culture and the ways in which reformers resurrected Catholic structures with new doctrines. [Extracted from the article]

This article looks at how ZANU and ZAPU, the two main Zimbabwean nationalist groups in UDI-era Rhodesia, sought to present and engage with Christianity in their propaganda. Given that the Rhodesians cast themselves as defenders of 'Christian civilisation', it was inevitable that the media war would touch heavily upon ecclesiastical issues. It is contended here that the nationalists developed a powerful argument: that the Rhodesian government and the Churches of southern Africa were falling far short of the ideals of Christianity. This message then in turn served as an important part of their critique of the white minority regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ayer: Revista de Historia Contemporánea is the property of Asociacion de Historia Contemporanea and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article explores the early years of David Bandinel, the first 'Anglican' Dean of Jersey (1620–1645), who was appointed during James I's efforts to impose episcopacy and Prayer Book conformity in the region. It mentions some historical records claim he was born in Geneva to Italian parents, this research delves into the possibility of his family's roots in the Italian Bandinelli family highlighting his Italian identity despite being the 'foreigner' Dean in Jersey.

The Seventh‐day Adventist (SDA) church in Australia differed from most Christian churches in its response to World War One, openly condemning the war as an evil to be avoided while attempting to remain focused on its evangelistic mission. This article explores the philosophy of the SDAs that allowed them to stand apart from the bulk of the churches, and the evolving nuanced path forward negotiated between the ideals of the church and the needs of the government. The success of the SDA church in maintaining its spiritual focus broadens our understanding of the relationship between churches and state in Australia in World War One, and adds a level of subtlety in understanding the government's response to a church that had an ambivalent response to the state's war goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Deferral of Constitutional Monarchy Great Britain's propagation of the Anglican commonwealth model of world order entailed the ecclesiological negotiation of "similar issues to those in England" in the process of African national formation.[93] Following the cession of Lagos, the Saro-Egba intercepted Britain's efforts to negotiate a Yoruba monarchy, and declared a parliamentary body, the Egba United Board of Management (EUBM). In theory, modern bureaucracy presupposes a system wherein the duties of government are delegated to functionaries, fixed by laws, and administrative procedures.[94] The Egba government would not have known, however, that the established Western churches preconditioned the international system of sovereign territorial states established in the Peace of Westphalia.[95] The Egba-Yoruba would, consequently, struggle to reconcile the royal hierarchy and the bureaucratic state, without a national church of Western Nigeria. In 1841, the Church of England launched the Colonial Bishoprics' Fund to finance colonial episcopates and "missionary bishops separate from and independent of the state."[44] This missionary bishopric concept emerged in the context of the early American republic and was regarded as embodying a "primitive ideal of the early church, which the contemporary church had lost.". [Extracted from the article]