1. Model for Theological Reflection
DOING THEOLOGY –
Model for Theological Reflection

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

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

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

5. 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

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

7. 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.

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

9. 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’

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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

13. Whitehead Model for“doing Theology”

14. Culture and Faith as Traditions of Meaning

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

16. Seminal Works

17. Seminal works

18. Whiteheads’ Model for ‘doing Theology’

19. 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

20. 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

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