May 3, 2016: The defense is done!

I am because we are, and since we are therefore I am.*

This African proverb relays my gratitude today for all who have supported me on the 4+ year journey of a PhD.

So, I will pass on any title when being addressed. I wouldn’t be here without the support of many others. I extend my gratitude and blessings to:

• For Knut Holter, my revered adviser, who saw the potential of the proposal and nurtured this project to fruition beyond my expectations with his relentless support, constructive critiques, and modeling of exemplary diplomacy. He significantly strengthened the outcomes, yet any shortcomings are consequently mine;
• For Charlie and Pam Scalise, who launched and encouraged me on the path of scholarship. This dissertation topic was sparked by Pam, but I ended up at MHS through Charlie’s phronesis (practical wisdom);
• For my Maasai conversation partners. I would prefer to honor you by name if research protocols allowed it, but this project would not have been possible without your generous participation. I have been transformed by you. Ashe Naling.
• For M. Kananen, Jean Wahlstrom, and Elaine Elness, for valiant transcribing and intrepid proofing of multiple versions of the dissertation; and the support of Elenn’ Elness and “Research Assistant” Anya Hanson, for the painstaking help with citation checks and more proofing;
• For daughter Anya Hanson, who accommodated times of my absence, my stressed stints, and travel to Africa and Norway (OK, a perk!);
• For my parents, Elaine and Jerry Elness, who instilled in me a love for the world and other cultures, but especially for following Jesus Christ; and together with Bill and Karen Hanson, for their love, encouragement, and financial support;
• For the administrators, library staff, faculty, student colleagues, research community, and Birkeland’s Legacy at Misjonshøgskolen. Thank you for your gracious assistance, scholarships, and a six-month research fellowship. Special words of thanks go Tina Dykesteen Nielsen, Hoyce Jacob Lyimo-Mbowe, Zephania Shila Nkesela, and Rebecca Solevåg.
• For Elizabeth Hayes, who helped a budding scholar collect scattered thoughts into a cohesive proposal and has encouraged me all along the way;
• For the hospitality of Rev. Professor Joseph Parsalaw and the archives at Tumaini University Makumira; and Dr. Seth Msinjili, Ciwila Shirima, and Rebecca Ernest at the MaaSAE Girls Lutheran Secondary School.
• For the Catherine and Tom Boysen family; the Kristi Middleton and Peter Youngs family; and Janet Cederberg, who graciously cared for Anya while I was away;
• For the memory of Eric T. Hanson, my late husband, whose reminiscences and Nordic fascinations have been part of this journey;
• For all who have cared, prayed, encouraged, and tolerantly listened to obtuse descriptions of this project, as well as given numerous airport rides;

Indeed, I am, because of you.

So how did the day go?

I woke up with my SleepTime app telling me that I slept 5 hours of REM and deep sleep. A record for me by at least an hour! (My previous record was just about 4 hours in the middle of a vacation!) I know people are praying, and this is truly amazing! So, I woke up rested.

I had breakfast (more brunost, brown goat cheese, on bread) with Tanzanian tea I brought. I spent time with a bit of review, re-reading my summary chapter and some notes I had prepared.

I arrived in good time to set up the powerpoint for the introduction for those in the audience who had not read the 328 page dissertation (and I wouldn’t ask you to!). The 10 minute introduction gave the highlights, and thankfully, Knut jumped up to advance the sides on my cue as the remote was not working–despite an earlier test.

Dr. Fernando Segovia was the first “opponent” in the “disputation.” Fortunately, he re-framed the session to a conversation and was graciously challenging. Some questions I was ready for, to some degree, but there were others that stretched me. We are aligned in the interest of intercultural hermeneutics, but we are a bit different in our ideological perspectives, but with a respect for where the other comes from. So, it was a bit of a dance to represent in a scholarly context my point-of-view of the Bible as Scripture and the faith-motivated service to the church motivations underpinning my research.

At the break, people indicated that they thought it went well, and that I seemed calm as I gave thoughtful responses. There was a lunch (I chose a Norwegian salmon sandwich) with the defense committee, the PhD Coordinator, my adviser, and me. It was amazingly comfortable, and Dr. Segovia commended me on my last theistic response. I had a wonderful conversation with Dr. Madipoane Masenya, which helped to build the connection with our shared passions for marginalized women and girls in Africa, but these weren’t part of my dissertation. So, I think this was a way to share in ways that connected us perhaps in a way she didn’t expect from just reading the dissertation. But more on this below.

Toward the end of the break, I had a few minutes with my two future colleagues from Sweden, who had some encouraging words. At times I feel a little theologically vulnerable navigating the protocols of academia and scholarship for the defense committee, while still having a representation of my faith convictions which resonate with the mission of my future Swedish institution.

No one from the audience (ex-auditorio) wanted to ask a question, which made things easier. The question from the audience could come out of nowhere by people who have not read the dissertation. So it could have been a bit of a wildcard.

Dr. Madipoane Masenya picked up the pace of the questioning. Some questions I expected in a general sense. There were others that made me think on my feet. I think I handled one in a way that was cogent, and almost surprised me how it made sense. She had a portion of the questions which asked about the Maasai culture, and I thought that this is easy. I know this stuff better than anyone in the room. It took up some time with some interesting cultural aspects, and I was able to bring in other related content beyond my dissertation. Whew! However, she did still challenge me on not foregrounding (yes, this is a word used meaning to focus on or make prominent) some of the feminist issues. I hear her and really see her perspective. I’ll be pondering this seriously.

So, it was a great example of what a defense is to be as other exceptional scholars affirmed but graciously challenged in a way that strengthens my project and will be reflected in the revisions prior to publication. I’m pleased.

Now, I’m off to a celebration of God’s faithfulness throughout this journey with a dinner and Norwegian cake buffet at the home of Marta and Kjell. What a blessing!

With blessings,

Beth

 

*Source: John Mbiti, African Religions and Philosophy, 2nd Revised & Enlarged Edition (Oxford: Heinemann, 1969), 110.