MICHAEL CASSIDY Lay Apostle to the Cities of Africa. A biographical, interpretive and critical study of the role of Michael Cassidy, as a layman, in the life of the Church and its mission in Africa. (1957-2007) -0- John Vincent Tooke -0- Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor In the Faculty of Theology University of Pretoria South Africa Promoters: Prof P G J Meiring Co-Promoter: Dr A M Meiring Department : Science of Religion and Missiology May 2010 ©© UUnniivveerrssiittyy ooff PPrreettoorriiaa CURRICULUM VITAE. John V. Tooke was born in Pretoria on 1 December 1937. His early work experience was in commerce, industry and politics. His conversion, during the first mission of African Enterprise in Pietermaritzburg led him, in time, to join this work in 1967. He studied Missiology at UNISA under David Bosch and at Fuller Seminary School of World Mission in Pasadena during 1972 obtaining the degrees of B.A. with a major in Missiology. He received a Master degree in Missiology after two spells at Fuller Seminary in 1974 and 1994 In 1974 he attended the Lausanne Congress. He later served a number of years on the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelisation. He was the Africa representative for 5 years for the Mustard Seed Foundation that encourages mission and ministry in local churches in Africa’s big cities. He was ordained into the Methodist Church in 1990. During his time at African Enterprise he helped to set up a number of National conferences for Christian leaders. These included the Durban Congress in 1973 the South African Christian Leadership Assembly in Pretoria 1979. He convened the theology group for the National Initiative for Reconciliation. He has a special interest in the legacy of Michael Cassidy the founder of Africa Enterprise. ii SUMMARY. This work is a reflection about and case study in Apostolicity. It is also about the power of an individual to be a change agent in socio-political contexts. Its subject is Dr. Michael Cassidy who is founder and former international team leader of African Enterprise, an international Evangelistic organisation, that partner with churches in Africa to foster the growth of the Christian movement in cities through its ten national indigenous teams spread through Africa. Cassidy is also regarded as a prominent Evangelical leader at home and abroad, and is a strong influence in the Lausanne movement. The thesis traces the ministry of Cassidy in his years leading up to the founding of the work and his nearly 50 years of witness in the turbulence of Africa and South Africa during and after the Apartheid years. This historical review has special interest for the ecumenical witness of the church in its fight against Apartheid through great conferences like The Durban Congress on Mission and Evangelism 1973, The South African Christian Leadership Assembly (SACLA l and SACLA ll), the National Initiative for Reconciliation and the Rustenburg Church Consultation. In the research the theological, missiological and philosophical motifs of Cassidy’s work are discussed, with special attention to the issues of truth and the socio-political implications of love. The thesis also describes Cassidy’s involvement in the Marriage Alliance and the struggle to bring a biblically based outcome to the South African legislation on the matter of gay marriage. Cassidy’s worldview and his spirituality, weighed against the current debate on these issues, are examined. A primary interest expressed in the thesis is the concept of Lay Apostolicity, a concept that was powerfully raised by Cassidy whose ministry has been as a layman who has not been ordained. The structures for mission are deeply examined from Protestant and Catholic perspectives. The writer argues that Cassidy’s ministry has special value as a model and example for others in understanding and participating in the apostolic ministry of the ordinary Christian man and woman in the local church or in the working context. The thesis takes as its leitmotif the Prayer of Jesus in John 17 - and the life of Cassidy is discussed alongside reflections of and in relation to Jesus’ prayer for in his Apostles ( and those who follow) in the hours before his passion. The ‘marks’ in Jesus’ prayer have been identified as: Mission, Glory, Unity, Love, Truth, Holiness, Spirituality, Joy, Successive Chapters on each of these appear in the thesis. An analysis of Cassidy’s witness and mission was made through a survey with 120 respondents to measure the effect of Cassidy’s ministry. The chapter on Joy deals with this. The final chapters deal with an assessment of Cassidy’s life and work. The first of these looks at the dynamics of leadership and a critical assessment of his peers and others. The last chapter on “The measure of the man” attempts to list and clarify special significances, abilities and characteristics that have contributed to a unique calling and contribution to our understanding of Lay Apostolicity. iii DEDICATION. In writing this Thesis on Michael Cassidy I would seek to celebrate the ministry of a lifelong friend and colleague shared, in periods, in a mutual experience of evangelism and the journey of mission. His is a life that blesses and influences. As the idea of ‘team’ was innate to Cassidy, this work also honours former colleagues in the first generation team. These stand as living, stones in the foundation of the work of African Enterprise. The dedication must go to my beloved wife Rona. Who knows the manifest sacrifices, difficulties and fears that my obedience to God wrought in her life? She has always loved, always endured, always partnered and provided space for ministry that kept me from her side. Through this let her be tenderly remembered and thanked as well. I acknowledge also the promptings and encouragement of my three sons Lance, Larry and Lloyd which were largely influential in promoting the idea of a thesis on Michael Cassidy. Perhaps this was a strategy to keep me from atrophy. Sons outgrow their father’s wisdom as they cultivate their own. I hope that they might, in due course, read what is hidden here of things beyond their ken. Thanks are rendered to Dr Calvin Cook who has filled my life on occasions with Grace and love. His guidance as a Church Historian and theologian carried wonderful insights that gave strength and help at key moments. Colleen Smith kindly helped with proofing the text. This fosters also the memory of David Bosch who stimulated the writer’s interest in Missiology and demonstrated its meaning and spirit profoundly in his life, teaching and example. He was a companion on the Way who is greatly missed. v TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE....................................................................................................................................1 Chapter 1. THE RELEVAMCE OF MICHAEL CASSIDY’S MINISTRY.........................1 1.1. The Relevance of Michael Cassidy’s Ministry...............................................................1 1.1.1. Evangelism in Crisis........................................................................................................1 1.1.2. Following Jesus................................................................................................................2 1.1.3. The power of Movement and the dangers of Institution.............................................2 1.1.4. An evolution of the understanding of mission and contextualisation.........................3 1.1.5. A struggle for independent theological reflection and church unity.........................4. 1.1.6. The fellowship principle.................................................................................................5 1.1.7. A Witness against Apartheid and its elaboration.........................................................5 1.1.8. The Challenges of the New South Africa......................................................................6 1.1.9. A Search for morality and truth....................................................................................6 1.2. Hypothesis and aim of the thesis...................................................................................7 1.2.1. A renewal of Lay Witness............................................................................................. 8 1.3. Methodology....................................................................................................................9 1.3.1. Quantitative study...........................................................................................................9 1.3.2. Qualitative Study...........................................................................................................10 1.3.3. Participant Observer....................................................................................................11 1.3.4. Former research............................................................................................................11 1.3.5. Leitmotiv: The ‘Jesus’ prayer in John 17...................................................................11 1.3.6. The tone and tenor of the research..............................................................................12 1.4. Propositions and axioms.............................................................................................. 14 1.4.1. A creeping reversal......................................................................................................14 1.4.2. A structural imbalance................................................................................................15 1.4.3. A Philosophical switch.................................................................................................16 1.5. Themes...........................................................................................................................17 1.6. Key Words....................................................................................................................17 1.7. Overview of the Thesis....................................................................................................20 Chapter 2.THE MAKING OF THE MAN ...........................................................................24 2.1. What’s in a name? .........................................................................................................24 2.2. Powerful and enduring childhood influences...............................................................25 2.3. The Christian Persuasion...............................................................................................28 2.4. The Reasoned Thinking of Anglican Theologians in England....................................29 2.5. The example of Independent Missionary Response.....................................................30 2.6. The Billy Graham Connection.......................................................................................32 2.7. Fuller Theological Seminary..........................................................................................33 2.8. Packer and Schaeffer......................................................................................................34 2.9. Abraham Vereide...........................................................................................................35 2.10 Influences out of Africa..................................................................................................36 2.11.Coherence and congruence...........................................................................................41 Chapter 3. THE MARK OF MISSION. ( The universal mandate) .....................................43 3.1. Defining mission..............................................................................................................43 3.1.1. Evangelism and Mission ............................................................................................44 vi 3.1.2. The relevance of the Gospel..................... ..................................................................... 45 3.1.3. Evangelism Imperilled by its spiritualised focus..........................................................46 3.1.4. Light on the definition of Mission and Evangelism.....................................................46 3.1.5. Evangelism and Social Concern....................................................................................51 3.1.6. Incorporating this into African Enterprise..................................................................54 3.1.7. The Lausanne A Structural theology of evangelism..................... ..............................51 3.1.8. Modalities and Sodalities.............................................................................................. .57 3.1.9. The Mustard Seed Foundation congregational project model of mission........................................................................................................................................ 60 3.2. Evangelism to cities .........................................................................................................62 3.2.1. The calling to a City........................................................................................................62 3.2.2. Perspectives on Urbanisation.........................................................................................66 3.2.3. The Growth toward an understanding of mission in the city.....................................67 3.3. The Cosmic Christological Determinant.........................................................................69 Chapter 4. THE MARK OF GLORY. ( The Gospel and Proclamation.) ...........................72 4.1. The glory as repetitious conformity..................................................................................73 4.2. Evangelism...........................................................................................................................73 4.2.1. But what is Evangelism.................................................................................................. 74 4.2.2. Evangelism Communicates a Truth...............................................................................77 4.2.3. What is the Gospel? ........................................................................................................78 4.2.4. Christ is the Message......................................................................................................79 4.2.5. Evangelism, Church and Kingdom................................................................................83 4.2.6. Response and persuasion in Evangelism........................................................................85 4.3. Conversion...........................................................................................................................87 4.3.1. Clarity on Conversion......................................................................................................87 4.3.2. Conversion is not baptismal regeneration.....................................................................88 4.4. Discipleship. ......................................................................................................................89 4.4.1. Sanctification....................................................................................................................89 4.4.2. Suffering Servanthood and Costly Grace......................................................................94 4.4.3. Mentorship........................................................................................................................95 4.5. Hope....................................................................................................................................97 Chapter 5. THE MARK OF UNITY. (Gathering the saints.)................................................98 5.1. Unity in Evangelism............................................................................................................99 5.2. Gathering then Church..................................................................................................... 98 5.2.1. Cottesloe. ........................................................................................................................101 5.2.2. The Durban Congress on Mission and Evangelism....................................................102 5.2.3. The Pan-African Christian Leadership Assembly......................................................105 5.2.4. The South African Christian Leadership Assembly...................................................110 5.2.5. The Rustenburg Consultation.......................................................................................113 5.3. Church/Parachurch Unity................................................................................................114 5.4. Conclusion and reappraisal..............................................................................................116 Chapter 6. THE MARK OF LOVE. ( The social Witness of the Gospel.)...........................118 6.1. Love in personal perspective........................................................................................118 6.1.1. Luthando Charlie..........................................................................................................119 vii 6.1.2. Forgiving slander...................................... ....................................................................119 6.2. Love as justice...............................................................................................................121 6.2.1. Love as political virtue..................................................................................................122 6.2.2. The failure of Violence to create an ethos of peace....................................................122 6.2.3. Two books on Love.......................................................................................................123 6.3. Love as Reconciliation..................................................................................................125 6.4. Love as Peace.................................................................................................................130 6.4.1. The refusal to use violence...........................................................................................130 6.4.2. Shalom............................................................................................................................131 6.4.3. Conversion.....................................................................................................................132 6.4.4. Analysing violence.........................................................................................................132 6.4.5. Reviewing History.........................................................................................................134 6.4.6. Other peace initiatives.................................................................................................134 6.4.7. God in politics................................................................................................................136 6.5. Love and Social reformation. .......................................................................................137 6.6. Love and Marriage...........................................................................................................138 6.7. The Recovery of the Judeo-Christian Moral.................................................................139 Chapter 7. THE MARK OF TRUTH. ( In defence of the Faith).........................................142 7.1. Sacramentalism and Evangelical belief........................................................................143 7.2. Faith precedents and continuities and theological liberalism....................................145 7.2.1. The book “Reflections on Christian Basics”..............................................................145 7.3. Contemporary philosophical challenges.....................................................................146 7.3.1. Modernism and Post-Modernism................................................................................146 7.4. Religious pluralism.........................................................................................................151 7.4.1. Attitude...........................................................................................................................152 7.4.2. Tolerance........................................................................................................................153 7.4.3. Revelation......................................................................................................................153 7.4.4. Co-operation..................................................................................................................154 7.5. A view on Liberation Theology.......................................................................................154 7.6. The Bible as the Source for Truth..................................................................................154 Chapter 8. THE MARK OF HOLINESS. ( Witness in but not of the world)...................156 8.1. Culture............................................................................................................................157 8.1.1. Natural Religions..........................................................................................................159 8.2. Worldview......................................................................................................................161 8.3. Ideologies........................................................................................................................162 8.4. The Ethical Reflections..................................................................................................166 8.4.1.The nature of human beings..........................................................................................168 8.4.2.The nature of the universe.............................................................................................168 8.4.3.The nature of God as revealed in Jesus Christ............................................................168 8.4. The Gay Marriage issue.................................................................................................169 8.5. Conclusion........................................................................................................................172 Chapter 9. SPIRITUALITY FOR MISSION. (Prayer Godliness and faith) ...............175 9.1. A spirituality that frees for mission............................................................................176 9.1.1. Spirituality expresses itself comprehensively..........................................................176 viii 9.2. The sources for Spirituality..................... ....................................................................177 9.3. The Cassidy Journals..................................................................................................178 9.4. Prayer at the Core of the Ministry.............................................................................179 9.5. Spirituality by comparison.........................................................................................182 9.5.1. Fascination with the Love of God and Christ..........................................................182 9.5.2. Union with God and Personal Holiness and the Witness of Christian Living.........................................................................................................................182 9.5.3. Trust in God................................................................................................................182 9.5.4. Loving service and humility......................................................................................183 9.5.5. A Reflection on these.................................................................................................183 9.6. A Paradigmatic Complexity.......................................................................................184 9.7. Shades of Abraham.....................................................................................................185 9.7.1. Calling.........................................................................................................................185 9.7.2. The requirement of sacrifice.....................................................................................187 9.8. Conclusion....................................................................................................................187 Chapter 10. THE MARK OF JOY. (The Outcome of Mission and its human effect)...188 10.1. Introduction................................................................................................................189 10.2. The experience of and perceived effect of Cassidy’s ministry................................190 10.3. The administration of the questionnaire.......................................................................190 10.3.1.To whom sent.............................................................................................................190 10.3.2. Distribution...............................................................................................................190 10.4. Experience and perception from the Survey response.......................................... 192 10.5. An Analysis of the response.......................................................................................254 10.6. Continuities. ..............................................................................................................202 10.7. Conclusion....................................................................................................................203 Chapter 11. THE MARK OF SUCCESSION. (Witness, a continuing journey for all)..............................................................................204 11.1. Introduction.................................................................................................................204 11.2. Voluntarism.................................................................................................................205 11.3 Cassidy’s calling a fruit of this movement.................................................................207 11.4. The Church Institution and independent initiative. ...............................................210 11.5. The Laity Issue and the Priesthood of all Believers.................................................212 11.5.1. Church Based or Church Centred..........................................................................212 11.5.2. The Priesthood of all Believers................................................................................213 11.6. The Matter of Lay Apostolicity the Catholic Precedent........................................216 11.6.1. The Papal Call for a lay apostolate.........................................................................216 11.6.2. Why Vatican II emphasised the Lay Apostolate...................................................218 11.7. Biblical insight and Precedent....................................................................................220 11.7.1. Jesus and religious institutions................................................................................220 11.7.2. Paul and the free association of all with mission...................................................221 11.8. Apostolic Laity a perplexity in Denominational Institution....................................223 11.9. Lay Apostolicity expanded in other contemporary models...................................225 11.9.1. Internships and mentorships..................................................................................226 11.9.2. The short term mission......................................................................................... .226 11.9.3. Local Church evangelism........................................................ ..............................226 11.9.4. Cell Churches and Church-Planting......................................................................227 11.9.5. Business as Mission ..............…………………………………………………….228 ix 11.9.6. Evangelism in the Market Place…. … ……...……………………………………229 11.9.7. Tent-Making Ministries………….………………………………………………..229 11.10. Lausanne in Manila...................................................................................................230 11.11. Fostering the call to self-offering.............................................................................231 11.12. Conclusion.................................................................................................................234 Chapter 11. TREASURE IN AN EARTHEN VESSEL. An Assessment of a Missionary journey............................................................................235 12.1. Introduction.................................................................................................................235 12.2. An Historical Perspective...........................................................................................235 12.2.1. The Apartheid years to the 1990s...........................................................................235 12.2.2. The post Apartheid years........................................................................................236 12.3. Early Dynamics and developments in Leadership..................................................238 12.3.1 The initial team. a democratic vision with egalitarian commitments.............................................................................................................238 12.3.2. A common life, equality and identity......................................................................238 12.3.3. Cassidy as the leader................................................................................................239 12.4. Management and Mission and Vision.......................................................................239 12.4.1. The antecedents of management.............................................................................240 12.4.2. Handmaiden and threat...........................................................................................240 12.4.3. Succession.................................................................................................................240 12.5. Other Leadership Dynamics......................................................................................241 12.5.1. A culture of kenosis..................................................................................................241 12.5.2. Opportunity and prominence..................................................................................242 12.5.3. The growth of complexity and disintegration........................................................242 12.5.4. The Second generation.............................................................................................243 12.5.5. A measure of isolation and new outlets..................................................................243 12.5.6. Cooption and delegation and mentoring................................................................244 12.5.7. A Marathon at breakneck speed............................................................................245 12.5.8. The creation of temporary and provisional expressions of institution................246 12.5.10 Personal power but political weakness.................................................................246 12.6. Assessments by his peers...........................................................................................247 12.7. The critical assessment of others .....................................................................248 12.7.1. The Manley Matter..................................................................................................248 12.8. A critical assessment by writer in Conclusion........................................................253 12.8.1. Between Conflict and Peace....................................................................................354 12.8.2. Between Alienation and Reconciliation..................................................................254 12.8.3 Between Church and Mission................... ............................................................. 354 12.8.4. Between Evangelism and Theology........................................................................256 12.8.5. Between Independence and accountability............................................................257 12.8.6. Between strategy and reality...................................................................................258 12.8.7. Between Nazareth and Jerusalem...........................................................................258 12.8.8. Between the Social and the Spiritual......................................................................259 12.8.9. Between Word and Deed .....................................................................................261 12.8.10. Between non-violent resistance and revolution...................................................261 12.8.12. Between prospect and promise..............................................................................262 12.8.13. Between Focus and Range.....................................................................................262 x Chapter 13. CONCLUSION........................... .....................................................................264 13.1. Introduction: The knowledge and the presence of God.........................................264 13.2. The Hypothesis Revisited..........................................................................................264 13.3. Summary....................................................................................................................265 13.4. Mojalefa, The heir....................................................................................................266 MICHAEL CASSIDY’S CREED AND PHILOSOPHY..................................................268 BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................................................................................. 269 DIAGRAMS. DIAGRAM A1 Apostolicity enabled and supported by Deacons.....................................15. DIAGRAM A2 The Primacy of institution over Apostolic Movement.............................15 DAIGRAM B. The professionalisation of ministry created a new class..........................16. DIAGRAM C. The displacement of the Christian Worldview..........................................16 DIAGRAM D Strategic perspectives on evangelism.....................................................55-56 DIAGRAM E. A Model for Church structures...................................................................59 DIAGRAM F. Differences between Church and Parachurch Structures.......................60 DIAGRAM G. SACLA Ecclesial Identity..........................................................................106 DIAGRAM H. Responses Identifying Source....................................................................192 DIAGRAM I. Percentage choices in the sample. .............................................................201 xi