Jon-Philippe Ruhumuliza | University of Toronto (original) (raw)

Conference Presentations by Jon-Philippe Ruhumuliza

Paper presented at the Eastern Great Lakes Biblical Society Meeting (March 14, 2019), 2019

Paul’s desire to make the gospel known, would mean taking additional professional risks to reach ... more Paul’s desire to make the gospel known, would mean taking additional professional risks to reach the very edges of his trade networks; leading to increased contact with network clusters. Adding to his success the chance for providential encounters with fellow traders like Lydia (from Thyatira!) would inevitably strengthen associations within Asia Minor’s interior. When we emphasize Paul’s profession and then place him within likely associations, Paul’s itinerary as found in the text begin to change—hopefully in exciting ways. Applying multiple layers of analysis to direct our reconstruction of Paul’s itinerary presents a new way of looking at Paul’s ministry network.

Paper presented at the Ninth Triennial Association of Seventh-day Adventist Historians (ASDAH) Conference at Southwestern Adventist University (May 17, 2019). , 2019

In the past, the lack of minority representation in the dissemination and interpretation of sacre... more In the past, the lack of minority representation in the dissemination and interpretation of sacred text have led to significant blind spots for the church. For example, I have discovered a nuanced discrepancy between EGW’s intention and church officials understanding around African American inclusion which I will expand upon in this presentation. We will look at EGW’s counsels (especially her 1909 counsels found in T9) along with Daniells interpretation and application of her counsels in his response to the People’s Church in 1906. I propose not only that Daniells interpretation became the interpretation of EGW on this issue, but that he created the twentieth-century model for church interpretation. By way of conclusion I will connect this method to some of the concerns found in the July 30 and Aug. 1 1919 Bible conference minutes.

Thesis Chapters by Jon-Philippe Ruhumuliza

Emory Theses and Dissertations, 2020

The purpose of this research is to explore the possibilities of using cartography to unpack lived... more The purpose of this research is to explore the possibilities of using cartography to unpack lived spaces within social relationships. To do so I utilize biblical text along with epigraphy to explore the range of possibilities that connect and disconnect communities. To limit this project, I have chosen to engage in conversation with John Knox and Robert Jewett whose chronologies on Paul diverge significantly because of different approaches for how to use the book of Acts within a framework built around Paul's letters. Looking specifically at their disputes around Acts 13-14 affords me the opportunity to begin transcribing their tables to maps while also exploring the human relationships that exist within the ancient record. I argue that Acts 13-14 is more important than either Knox or Jewett realized because it offers important insights into how Paul formed and established relationships around Galatia. As a contribution to New Testament studies, this project points to a tendency to limit the study of Paul’s journeys to matters of timelines and relative chronologies without fully considering how Paul’s professional and religious associations enabled him to travel and spread the gospel. This has led to chronologies and maps that do not fully consider the nuances of Mediterranean travel and interactions and have consequently failed to change popular perceptions of Paul. When we change our perspective from concerns around time to matters of social connectivity, we can use chronology to engage historical material and observe nuanced social interactions. And new technologies, like Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), allow us to build interactive models that bring to the fore the lived spaces in maps.

Papers by Jon-Philippe Ruhumuliza

Andrews University Seminary Studies, 2021

This article offers a comparative analysis of Ellen G. White's and Arthur G. Daniells's positions... more This article offers a comparative analysis of Ellen G. White's and Arthur G. Daniells's positions concerning race relations. Through a careful survey of White's writings-especially Testimonies to the Church, vol. 9, pp. 199-226 and The Southern Work-I argue that she never supported separationism. I hypothesize that Adventist separationism gained precedence through Daniells's selective compilation of White's counsels in his 1906 response to the People's Church. My findings unpack White's beliefs in spiritual leadership and ministry. She called for workers able to simultaneously accommodate culture and undermine prejudice internally through the gospel. Her vision necessitated the adjustment of methods on a local level, and thus she opposed official race-based policies. Daniells's eagerness to settle racial tensions led to a push for racial separation. He would interpret White's "no policy" stance as justification for instituting a separationist policy in DC and ultimately wherever racial tensions existed. Effectively, Daniells created a hermeneutical method for aligning administrative initiatives with the writings of White and was critical in solidifying segregation within the Seventhday Adventist Church.

Paper presented at the Eastern Great Lakes Biblical Society Meeting (March 14, 2019), 2019

Paul’s desire to make the gospel known, would mean taking additional professional risks to reach ... more Paul’s desire to make the gospel known, would mean taking additional professional risks to reach the very edges of his trade networks; leading to increased contact with network clusters. Adding to his success the chance for providential encounters with fellow traders like Lydia (from Thyatira!) would inevitably strengthen associations within Asia Minor’s interior. When we emphasize Paul’s profession and then place him within likely associations, Paul’s itinerary as found in the text begin to change—hopefully in exciting ways. Applying multiple layers of analysis to direct our reconstruction of Paul’s itinerary presents a new way of looking at Paul’s ministry network.

Paper presented at the Ninth Triennial Association of Seventh-day Adventist Historians (ASDAH) Conference at Southwestern Adventist University (May 17, 2019). , 2019

In the past, the lack of minority representation in the dissemination and interpretation of sacre... more In the past, the lack of minority representation in the dissemination and interpretation of sacred text have led to significant blind spots for the church. For example, I have discovered a nuanced discrepancy between EGW’s intention and church officials understanding around African American inclusion which I will expand upon in this presentation. We will look at EGW’s counsels (especially her 1909 counsels found in T9) along with Daniells interpretation and application of her counsels in his response to the People’s Church in 1906. I propose not only that Daniells interpretation became the interpretation of EGW on this issue, but that he created the twentieth-century model for church interpretation. By way of conclusion I will connect this method to some of the concerns found in the July 30 and Aug. 1 1919 Bible conference minutes.

Emory Theses and Dissertations, 2020

The purpose of this research is to explore the possibilities of using cartography to unpack lived... more The purpose of this research is to explore the possibilities of using cartography to unpack lived spaces within social relationships. To do so I utilize biblical text along with epigraphy to explore the range of possibilities that connect and disconnect communities. To limit this project, I have chosen to engage in conversation with John Knox and Robert Jewett whose chronologies on Paul diverge significantly because of different approaches for how to use the book of Acts within a framework built around Paul's letters. Looking specifically at their disputes around Acts 13-14 affords me the opportunity to begin transcribing their tables to maps while also exploring the human relationships that exist within the ancient record. I argue that Acts 13-14 is more important than either Knox or Jewett realized because it offers important insights into how Paul formed and established relationships around Galatia. As a contribution to New Testament studies, this project points to a tendency to limit the study of Paul’s journeys to matters of timelines and relative chronologies without fully considering how Paul’s professional and religious associations enabled him to travel and spread the gospel. This has led to chronologies and maps that do not fully consider the nuances of Mediterranean travel and interactions and have consequently failed to change popular perceptions of Paul. When we change our perspective from concerns around time to matters of social connectivity, we can use chronology to engage historical material and observe nuanced social interactions. And new technologies, like Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), allow us to build interactive models that bring to the fore the lived spaces in maps.

Andrews University Seminary Studies, 2021

This article offers a comparative analysis of Ellen G. White's and Arthur G. Daniells's positions... more This article offers a comparative analysis of Ellen G. White's and Arthur G. Daniells's positions concerning race relations. Through a careful survey of White's writings-especially Testimonies to the Church, vol. 9, pp. 199-226 and The Southern Work-I argue that she never supported separationism. I hypothesize that Adventist separationism gained precedence through Daniells's selective compilation of White's counsels in his 1906 response to the People's Church. My findings unpack White's beliefs in spiritual leadership and ministry. She called for workers able to simultaneously accommodate culture and undermine prejudice internally through the gospel. Her vision necessitated the adjustment of methods on a local level, and thus she opposed official race-based policies. Daniells's eagerness to settle racial tensions led to a push for racial separation. He would interpret White's "no policy" stance as justification for instituting a separationist policy in DC and ultimately wherever racial tensions existed. Effectively, Daniells created a hermeneutical method for aligning administrative initiatives with the writings of White and was critical in solidifying segregation within the Seventhday Adventist Church.