Preaching in the Perichoretic Space: A social trinitarian postcolonial homiletic for the Canadian context

This thesis addresses continuing manifestations of colonialism and imperialism in the contemporary world, and their impact on the practice of preaching. Preaching has a role to play in the healing and transformation of ecclesial relationships that have been negatively affected by colonial discourse. Of particular interest is the manner in which preaching addresses relationships among postcolonial subjects in Canadian Presbyterian congregations; and among Canadian Presbyterian congregations and global partner churches. Postcolonial theory and Jurgen Moltmann's social doctrine of the Trinity provide pathways for recognizing and responding to the presence of colonial discourse in the practice of preaching. Postcolonial theory and God's life-in-Trinity deconstruct colonial discourse, and demonstrate life-giving relationships characterized by freedom, self-giving, self-differentiation and openness. I propose a constructive metaphor, Perichoretic Space, which encompasses trinitarian perichoresis as well as postcolonial Third Space and hybridity in order to imagine a space of encounter for Christian postcolonial subjects. I demonstrate postcolonial biblical criticism through a discussion of the colonial context of Mark 7:24-30, and employ the story of Jesus and the Syrophoenician Woman as an encounter between colonial subjects that produces change and healing. Other-oriented homiletic perspectives offer significant insight for postcolonial preaching, yet can also be critiqued and expanded in light of postcolonial theory. Moving from theory to practice, I situate the practice of preaching within the Perichoretic Space. Practices of a postcolonial imagination: postcolonial hermeneutics, imaginative conversation and testimony, lead to a concrete application of postcolonial theory and Moltmann's social doctrine of the Trinity, demonstrated by sermon excerpts.