Central Research Issue, Subproblems, Assumptions, Delimitations

Central Research Issue

Through a study of four culturally–diverse groups in the Wesley Uniting Church (Newcastle, Australia), I investigate how and in what ways music mediates communitas in Eucharistic Services, with particular focus on the contribution of music in nourishing unity in diversity and enabling cross–cultural mission. 

Subproblems

The first subproblem is to identify points of unity and diversity between four culturally distinct groups in the Wesley–Uniting–Church (Wesley).
1. How is cultural identity understood and expressed in different musical preferences, practices and expectations?
2. What factors draw these groups into community?

The second subproblem is to explore if and how music nourishes unity indiversity and mediates communitas in Eucharistic services at Wesley.

1. How is music used within Eucharistic Worship? 
2. How does communitas operate within eucharistic activity? 
3. What is the mediating role of music in forming missional communitas? (What are the signs of emerging congregational unity and interdependence?)

The third subproblem is to identify and evaluate cross–cultural responses to God’s call to mission at Wesley.
1. How are the groups’ understandings of God’s call to mission challenged and changed as the groups interact in worship?
2. In what ways are their missional responses helped or hindered by cross– culturalism?

Assumptions

The first assumption is that ‘God’ is understood as the Christian Triune God. 

The second assumption is that a core aspect of the missional Church is to proclaim God’s grace through sacramental activity.

The third assumption is that it is desirable to bring the diverse groups together around the Lord’s Table to develop communitas.

The fourth assumption is that a core purpose for developing Eucharistic communitas is to equip and send the community out in mission, even when this is not always achieved.

The fifth assumption is that the trinitarian liturgical framework for Worship including Communion will consist of the following classifications:

1. Creating the Missional Community 
2. Equipping the Community through encountering Human and Divine 
3. Nourishing and Empowering for Mission 

The sixth assumption is that participation in music–making includes everyone at the event and that this is both an embodied (physical) activity and a spiritual one.

Delimitations

The examination of music practices among groups focuses on times of hospitality involving shared meals, including the Eucharist.

The research–setting is limited to the activities of the people of the Wesley Uniting Church in Newcastle, Australia.

I have not included members of the Wesley community who were under 15 years of age in this study.


Definitions