Training Theological Reflectors to Facilitate Ordinary Theology in Churches
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This paper argues that there are good reasons why church and academy need better to hear and take account of the ordinary theology (hereafter O.Th) of practising Christians. It is an important form of practical theology which not only can inform current theological debates and even challenge existing theological norms, but also provide deep learning experiences both for ordinary theologians and those ministering to them. To facilitate the articulation of O.Th, trained theological reflectors are needed who can listen to ordinary Christian people with a ‘theological ear’ and become ‘people’s theologians’. Also needed is a workable model for small-scale research into O.Th. Empirical research into O.Th has hitherto been undertaken by the application of significant resource, either by an individual researcher (often the doctoral thesis) or a team. Such resource-intensive endeavour has provided important data on various aspects of O.Th, and has put O.Th firmly on the research map. However, there is a clear need for O.Th research to become something which can be more easily undertaken by ministers and others in roles of pastoral responsibility and theological education. A research model based on an expanded pastoral cycle makes this possible.
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6
Elaine Graham, ‘Frailty and Flourishing: Good News for Humanity – Response to Alister McGrath’, Practical Theology, 4, 3 (2011), pp. 333–8, at p. 334.
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David Brown, Tradition and Imagination: Revelation and Change, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999).
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8
David Brown, God and Mystery in Words: Experience Through Metaphor and Drama (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008), p. 274.
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Jeff Astley, Ordinary Theology: Looking, Listening and Learning in Theology (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2002), pp. 3–4.
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Astley (2002), p. 56.
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Astley (2002), p. 7.
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Astley (2002), p. 119 – points out that facilitating the self-description of a person’s theology can be a ‘powerful engine for learning change’. What almost always happens is that ‘the individual, in articulating their own beliefs, slides naturally and easily into assessing them critically. .… Unearthing a person’s O.Th is therefore itself part of the critical task.’
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Astley (2002), p. 147.
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Astley (2002), p. 148.
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Astley (2002) , p. 150.
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Astley (2002), pp. 150–1.
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Michael R. Armstrong, ‘Ordinary Theologians as Signal Processors of the Spirit’, in Exploring Ordinary Theology, pp. 65–76.
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Astley (2002), pp. 146–7.
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Astley (2002), pp. 114–22.
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Pete Ward and Sarah Dunlop, ‘Practical Theology and the Ordinary: Visual Research among Migrant Polish Catholic Young People’ Practical Theology 4.3 (2011), pp. 295–313.
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Astley (2012).
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Astley (2002), p. 104.
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Green (2009), p. 37.
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Green (2009), p. 45.
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Green (2009), pp. 82–5.
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Green (2009), pp. 98–100.
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Green (2009), pp. 134–5. David Heywood has also recognised the importance of theological reflection as an essential part of ministerial training and applies the wisdom of Laurie Green to this endeavour. See his ‘Learning How to Learn: Theological Reflection at Cuddesdon’ Journal of Adult Theological Education 2009; 6(2), 164–175, and ‘Educating Ministers of Character’ Journal of Adult Theological Education 2013; 10(1), 4–24.
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For example: Ann Christie, Ordinary Christology: Who Do You Say I Am? Answers From The Pews (Farnham: Ashgate, 2012); Andrew Village, The Bible and Lay People: An Empirical Approach to Ordinary Hermeneutics (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007); Mark J. Cartledge, Testimony in the Spirit: Rescripting Ordinary Pentecostal Theology (Farnham: Ashgate, 2010); Andrew P. Rogers, Congregational Hermeneutics: How Do We Read? (Aldershot: Ashgate, forthcoming).
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For example: Cameron et al. (2012); Helen Cameron et al., Talking About God in Practice: Theological Action Research and Practical Theology (London: scm, 2010).
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Cameron et al. (2010), p. 26.
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Training Theological Reflectors to Facilitate Ordinary Theology in Churches
In: Ecclesial PracticesSearch for other papers by Michael R. Armstrong in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
This paper argues that there are good reasons why church and academy need better to hear and take account of the ordinary theology (hereafter O.Th) of practising Christians. It is an important form of practical theology which not only can inform current theological debates and even challenge existing theological norms, but also provide deep learning experiences both for ordinary theologians and those ministering to them. To facilitate the articulation of O.Th, trained theological reflectors are needed who can listen to ordinary Christian people with a ‘theological ear’ and become ‘people’s theologians’. Also needed is a workable model for small-scale research into O.Th. Empirical research into O.Th has hitherto been undertaken by the application of significant resource, either by an individual researcher (often the doctoral thesis) or a team. Such resource-intensive endeavour has provided important data on various aspects of O.Th, and has put O.Th firmly on the research map. However, there is a clear need for O.Th research to become something which can be more easily undertaken by ministers and others in roles of pastoral responsibility and theological education. A research model based on an expanded pastoral cycle makes this possible.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 537 | 56 | 8 |
| Full Text Views | 285 | 4 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 80 | 9 | 0 |
