Michael Jagessar

IS JESUS THE ONLY WAY? DOING BLACK CHRISTIAN GOD-TALK IN A MULTI-RELIGIOUS CITY (BIRMINGHAM, UK)

Abstract In the context of the multi-religious landscape of Birmingham (UK), what does it mean to be a Black British Christian and how do we engage in Black God-talk that would remain true to our contexts and experiences (i.e. Black) where not all Black persons are Christians. This essay makes what may seem an obvious case: that authentic Black British God-talk needs to urgently engage with the diverse religious landscape of which it is a part. In the process, the essay seeks briefly to scrutinize past and present Black British theological discourse, explore the overtures with regard to engagement with multi-faith and interfaith issues and offer some tentative observations and practical suggestions on the way forward.

Cultures in Dialogue: The Contribution of a Caribbean Theologian

Abstract It can be said that globally we have become plurality. Through technology and globalization, cultures are becoming irrevocably linked and interdependent. Yet, it is also evident that conflicts do arise at the intersections of cultures, with terrifying consequences. In the UK, riots in Bradford, Burnley and Oldham raise the question as to why there is such community fragmentation along social, cultural and ethnic lines. Whatever the reasons, there is a general consensus on the urgent need to learn to live creatively in a plural/diverse context. In the light of this urgent challenge (globally and nationally), are the insights and articulation of Philip Potter on the ‘dialogue of cultures’ of any relevance? As the first Black General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Potter comes from a region (Caribbean) that was the locus of the world’s first multicultural project. Hence, one should not be surprised at his effort, from a theological perspective, to articulate the need for the dialogue of cultures. This paper explores Potter’s articulation and underscores aspects of his insights that can serve as important pointers in the search to build a harmonious and authentic community in the context of a diversity of cultures.

The Sea Is History: The Caribbean Sea and the Deep as Paradigms for Doing Theology on a Postcolonial Landscape

Abstract Drawing on the insights of Caribbean writers (Derek Walcott, Wilson Harris, and Edouard Glissant), this article is a tentative exploration of the Caribbean Sea as a paradigm/metaphor that offers possible openings to release theological discourse in the Caribbean (and its diaspora) and in the Black British theological landscape. The underlying question of this article is, Given the historical and present realities of the Caribbean, how can we plumb the sea as coordinates for our theological discourse, delving into and employing the deep (drawing on the work of Catherine Keller) for renewal of our God-talk?

Navigating “Worlds” in an Ecumenical Journey: Philip A. Potter (1921–2015) – A Tribute with a Difference

Abstract Philip A. Potter was one of the “giants” of the ecumenical movement in the middle to latter half of the last century. A Caribbean Methodist, Potter was a gregarious polymath, whose interests spanned Biblical studies, systematic theology, inter faith relations, and, of course, ecumenism. Potter died a few months ago and although advanced plans were already in place for this issue of the journal in terms of the agreed content, we felt it would be remiss of us if space were not found to mark the death of this great man. This essay is a slightly adapted essay that was previous published in a reader dedicated to marking the life and indefatigable work of Philip A. Potter.1

Dis-Place Theologizing: Fragments of Intercultural Adventurous God-Talk

Abstract A danger for all Black contextual/liberative theologians is that of unconsciously somersaulting into homogenizing and static tendencies about Black experiences and contexts. So while we (Black and Asian theologians) argue for cultural agency before “dominant” White audiences and in the company of our own punters, is it not possible that we become complicit in the cause of “levelling” our intra-cultural dynamics as we ignore our own cultural biases and often un-deconstructed inherited traditions? If Black theology (or any liberative form of God-talk) is about embodying change and transformation, this article suggests that intercultural conversations, with necessary caveats, are a necessary undertaking. What will an intercultural vocation in Black liberating God-talk look like? Can such a multi-faceted habit/method through creolized spaces of (inter)action/being open up new vistas for constructive dialogue with, between and among theological perspectives and towards a more holistic model of transformation?

Liturgical Studies and Christian Worship: The Postcolonial Challenge

Abstract This article is a first attempt to sketch an agenda for scrutiny of Christian worship through a postcolonial optic. It is suggested that postcolonial theology challenges notions of inculturation and inclusivity as these are sometimes expounded in the context of liturgical studies. Texts and ritual practices are opened to scrutiny and some modest constructive, revisionist proposals are made.