The Role of an Outsider in Local Theology

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Chapter 2 MISSIOLOGICAL ISSUES AND RESEARCH DESIGN

Introduction

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss several missiological issues that need to be further unpacked and to describe the research design of this study. I have isolated a few topics that I believe are relevant and will argue that these provide the backdrop for this study.I begin with local theology, since the synergistic interaction of theological education and development raises several questions: What model(s) of contextualization shapes the local theology in this study? How does my story as an outsider converge with the story of the community towards local theologizing? What role does this academic study have in engaging theology in a specific context?

Constructing a Local theology of Pastoral Formation

Evangelicals believe in an eternal Word of God and yet live in an ever-diverse and ever-changing world. It is the intersection of these two realities that is at the heart of contextualization. As previously noted, contextualization may well be one of the most important and debated aspects of missiology today. Shifts in perspectives,concentrating on the role that circumstances play in shaping one’s response to the gospel are center stage in this debate. Schreiter (1985:1) explains,When discussing how contextualization shapes a local theology, it is helpful to be reminded that three recurring concerns threaded their way through all the theologies that were primarily emerging out of the South.First, new questions were being asked, questions for which there were no ready traditional answers. Existing frameworks of theology or the biblical story were not adequately framing the realities of community’s story. Second, old answers emanating from the story of the North (older churches) were urged upon cultures and regions with new questions. Taylor’s (1963:24) statement illustrates this well,Third, the philosophical underpinnings of a new theology32 began to converge on context and procedure. What contextual procedure should guide the construction of a local theology? The development of a local theology demands a complex process, aware of contexts, histories, of the role of experience, of the need to encounter the traditions of faith in other believing communities. It is also obvious that contexts are complex, that histories can be variously read, that experience can be ambiguous, that the encounter in faith is often dimly understood.

 What Shapes the Local Theology?

Theology has been defined in different ways, reflecting different biases. For the purpose of this study, theology will be understood using Paul Tillich’s (1967:3) definition,The above definition of theology not only emphasizes the divine source of theology,it also underscores the temporal situation in which the eternal Presence must be discerned, appropriated by and interpreted for each generation and context (Imasogie 1983:20).In the procedural construction of a local theology, I propose that choosing a model33 of contextualization should not be confined to rigid parameters, but should utilize a situational procedure. Schreiter (1985:16) validates this proposal, “Given the circumstances in which a community finds itself, one or other model may be the more useful at a given time.”The logic underpinning my argument is straightforward. Just as theologizing needs to pay more attention to the context, so should the process pay more attention to the situation variables in which theologizing takes place. For example, a Wycliffe Bible translator in Mozambique has a specific interest in faithfully translating the Scriptures. Because the Bible has its own cultural contexts and imagery (Kraft 1979:134; Ramm 1970:138ff), these need to be translated into concepts, the equivalents of which are then sought in the local language. This is a translation model,which utilizes Kraft’s (1979) dynamic equivalence method.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
SUMMARY 
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 
Chapter 1 PURPOSE AND INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose and Aim of this Study
1.2 Relevance of this Study 
1.3 Problem Statement 
1.4 Missiological Method
1.5 Delimitations and Departure Points
1.5.1 Evangelical Perspective
1.5.2 The Church in Africa
1.5.3 Missiological Reflection
1.5.4 The Locus of Theology-and-Development
1.5.5 Freirian Philosophy for Theological Education
1.5.6 People-Centered Development
1.6 Path of this Study 
1.7 Conclusion 
Chapter 2 MISSIOLOGICAL ISSUES AND RESEARCH DESIGN
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Constructing a Local Theology
2.2.1 What Shapes the Local Theology?
2.2.2 The Role of an Outsider in Local Theology
2.2.3 The Role of this Study in Local Theology
2.3 The Challenge of Ethnocentrism
2.4 Constructivist Epistemology
2.5 African Identity 
2.6 Dependency/Empowerment
2.7 Development and Poverty
2.8 Theology of the Laity 
2.9 Training, Education and Reluctance
2.10 Research Design of this Study
2.10.1 Discussion of Theory
2.10.2 Background Studies
2.10.3 Data Collection and Analysis
2.11 Summary
Chapter 3 MISSION AS THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION
3.1 Introduction
3.1.1 Defining Theological Education
3.1.2 Theological Education and Philosophy, Jerusalem or Athens?
3.1.3 Mission as the Locus of Theological Education
3.2 Education Debates
3.3 Theological Education Debates
3.3.1 Theological Education as Message and Engagement
3.3.2 Theological Education and Equipping for Ministry
3.3.3 Dynamics of Theological Education in the African Context
3.4 Education and Culture 
3.4.1 Traditional African Educational Thought and Practice
3.4.2 Goals of Traditional African Education
3.4.3 The Oral Tradition in African Education
3.4.4 Traditional African Education as Moral Education
3.4.5 The Process of Initiation in African Education
3.4.6 Africa and the Northern Educational Paradigm
3.5 Education as Community
3.6 Education as Spiritual Formation
3.7 Education as a Process
3.7.1 Discussion on Models of Education
3.7.2 Non-Formal Education Values
3.7.2.1 Dialogic Pedagogy
3.7.2.2 Praxis
3.7.2.3 Problem-posing Education
3.7.2.4 Assessment and Accountability in the Learning Experiences
3.8 Towards a Local theology of Pastoral Formation
3.8.1 Mission, Vision and Objectives in a Local Theology
for Pastoral Formation
3.8.2 Freirian Philosophy in a Local theology of Pastoral Formation
3.8.3 A Vision for What Could Be
3.9 Summary
Chapter 4 MISSION AS DEVELOPMENT: THEORETICAL REFLECTIONS
4.1 Introduction
4.1.1 An Interim Understanding of Development
4.2 Historical Contours Development
4.2.1 Development as Modernization
4.2.2 Development and Dependency Theories
4.2.3 Development as World Systems Theory
4.2.4 Development as Globalization
4.2.5 Alternative Development Theories
4.2.6 Development as Transformation
4.3 Missiological Reflection on Development 
4.3.1 The Development Debate
4.3.2 The Problem of Contextualizing Development
4.3.3 The Dynamic of Leadership and Development
4.4 Summary
Chapter 5 MISSION AS DEVELOPMENT: THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Theological Perspective on Poverty
5.2.1 Biblical Concept of Shalom
5.2.2 God’s Preferential Option for the Poor
5.2.3 Corruptio Totalis
5.3 Theological Perspective on Empowerment 
5.4 Theological Reflection on Development
5.4.1 Compassion in Theology
5.4.2 Towards a Theology of Compassion
5.4.3 Compassion and the Practice of Ministry
5.5 Theological Themes of Development
5.5.1 Image of God
5.5.2 Holism
5.5.3 Pursuing Justice
5.5.4 Solidarity and People-centric Practice of Ministry
5.5.5 Prophetic Role of the Church
5.5.6 Local Congregation as Church-in-Mission
5.5.7 Hope and Action
5.6 Summary
Chapter 6 TOWARDS A LOCAL PRAXIS OF PASTORAL FORMATION: PRINCIPLES, PRACTITIONERS AND RESOURCES
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Luapula Case Study
6.2.1 Identification
6.2.2 Analysis
6.2.3 Theological Reflection
6.2.4 Strategies for Mission
6.2.5 Summary of Case Study
6.3 Towards a Local Praxis of Pastoral Formation
6.3.1 Principles
6.3.2 Practitioners
6.3.3 Resources
6.3.3.1 Prayer as a Resource
6.3.3.2 Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) as a Resource
6.3.3.3 Appreciative Inquiry (AI) as a Resource
6.3.3.4 Competency-based Learning Design (CBL) as a Resource
6.3.3.5 Planning-Assessment Resources
6.3.3.6 Capacity Building as a Resource
6.4 Summary
Chapter 7 IMPLICATIONS FOR MISSIOLOGY
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Implications for Missiology
7.3 Issues for Further Research
7.3.1 A Theology of Power and Authority
7.3.2 A Theology of Economics
7.3.3 Continued Research in Curriculum Design
7.3.4 Continued Development of Broad Appraisal Resources
7.4 Conclusion 
7.5 Epilogue 
APPENDICES

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