Off to school for the both of us. The 9th graders were back from their high school visits. I attended the last half day of the qualitative research course. This last day was on analysis, which is where I am in the process. In addition to strategic information, I found the professor’s presentation fascinating with both a reflection on his work in Cameroon and an integration of several of the theories he incorporated. This included a discussion on grounded theory, which is more of an inductive approach versus deductive. It was an interesting example of archival work and fieldwork integrating theories for compelling outcomes. The results are in his book, Communication and Conversion in Northern Cameroon: The Dii people and Norwegian Missionaries, 1934-60, Leiden: Brill 2009, 244 p.
PhD students gather at couches for lunchtime fellowship. There were only three of us today, but the conversation was interesting (for us) as we discussed liturgical reform in the Lutheran church in Norway, Tanzania, and the USA, the representative countries of us three PhD students. While it may seem ho hum for many of you, consider the “worship wars” that many churches went through. Then add the Norwegian Lutheran church, which until about 2 years ago, was a state church. Pastors are still paid by the state, but so are the rabbis, imams, and others. The liturgy is to be honored with a close following in every church which has its pastor paid for by the state. Thus, no contemporary worship allowed! In Tanzania, the Pentecostal movement is exploding, so the influence upon the Lutheran church is significant. However, the Sunday morning liturgy is again followed conservatively, while evening prayer services are developing in some Lutheran congregations which have a charismatic feel. (Charismatics are Pentecostal in style but remain within their non-Pentecostal denomination, like Lutherans and Roman Catholics.) So, fascinating for me, but I realize not for all.
Anya continues to be immersed in Norwegian language learning. I can’t imagine the challenges of language learning with the expectation of understanding content in so many different classes. Imagine all that vocabulary!
With blessings,
Beth