Model for Theological Reflection DOING THEOLOGY – Model for Theological Reflection

Theology is something you do It is more than something you learn. It is both process and product.

Doing theology is a Method of: theological enquiry meaning-making knowledge construction

‘Doing theology’ brings together Life (human experience) Culture Faith

Doing Theology as a mode of human enquiry As a method of knowing, doing theology: stands beside other methods of human enquiry, has generated an important human knowledge base, has contributed much to the development of Western cultures is now being shaped by exposure to many cultural influences

Goal to enlighten and direct the pastoral and missional involvement of an individual or group

Leadership Heritages The various leadership heritages in the New Testament texts, and indeed the texts themselves, grew out of theological reflection on pastoral and missional challenges.

Implicit models We probably all have an implicit of theological reflection in our repertoire of skills as leaders, but is it adequate?

Practical Theology: An ecumenical endeavour Catholics tend to talk about ‘theological reflection’ Protestants talk of ‘practical theology’. These days both tend to use the term ‘practical theology’

Model and Process Practical theologians talk about a ‘model’ and a ‘process’ of theological reflection. The model identifies the elements that must be brought into dialogue A model can give rise to a number of processes.

Sound Model A sound model: Respects the nature of the meaning-making process Respects the people involved. Can be used by individuals or by groups.

Respecting the Meaning-making Process means bring together: the worldview of culture, the worldview of faith, (both of which are trusted traditions of meaning) in making sense of human experience and responding to pastoral needs

Whitehead Model for“doing Theology”

Culture and Faith as Traditions of Meaning

Culture and Faith Each contain a unique wisdom You cannot change the world, but you can change someone’s world - Mother Teresa

Seminal Works

Seminal works

Whiteheads’ Model for ‘doing Theology’

Respecting people The human experience of people that provides the starting point. You see this clearly illustrated in the Catholic tradition in the development of Catholic social teaching The teaching has developed as human experience has unfolded across the past two centuries

Respecting Human Experience Human experience is the starting point in both doing theology and mission – otherwise both are abstractions Doing theology seeks to find where ‘Kingdom spaces’ can be created Mission is the process of creating them Doing theology and mission are two sides of the same Kingdom coin

Pastoral and missional Imperative How do we bring faith and culture together in making sense of life situations and so responding effectively to them?